12. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) Link to this
to the Minister for Food Safety
Does she intend to sign up New Zealand to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand plan, to add folic acid to bread, at the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council this month; if so, why?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
The Minister is on record as being a strong supporter of folic fortification, and will take into account the submissions and advice she has received to date, and will continue to receive, when she participates in the discussion on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand proposal at the upcoming ministerial council meeting.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Why would she commit New Zealand to a rushed-through new plan for mandatory fortification of most breads with folic acid, when folic acid supplements will still need to be taken to prevent neural tube defects, when evidence of effectiveness is in doubt with this new plan, and when a public opinion poll shows that more than 80 percent of New Zealanders are against mandatory fortification?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
This is not a rushed process. When we came into Government in 1999 that member led the charge to have folic fortification. There has been much discussion about the level of fortification within bread, and it is important that we do not have levels that are unsafe. That member supports that position, and I am sure he will support—or he should support—the precautionary approach being proposed.
Steve ChadwickHon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Yes, I believe she has, in the Sunday Star-Times of 23 July, where Dr Hutchison called for more time for consultation, which would delay the introduction of the one known means of reducing neural tube defects. The question I ask of Mr Hutchison is this: does he support this or does he not?
Madam SPEAKER
Barbara StewartCan we expect to see further Government action aimed at removing additives such as excess sugar from food, once a precedent has been set for the Government to interfere with food by adding folic acid to bread on a population-wide basis?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Any proposal such as that is up for discussion between officials of Australia and New Zealand, which is the agreed process.
Sue KedgleyWill the Minister listen to the appeals of the baking industry and the entire organics industry, and seek to exempt organic breads from mandatory fortification, thereby ensuring some consumer choice, or will she undermine the entire organics standard, which explicitly prohibits the adding of synthetic additives to organic products?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I know that the Minister is aware of the issues around organic production, and will take on board those concerns when she has discussions with officials from Australia and her counterparts from Australia.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Why is she considering adopting mandatory fortification of most breads without due consultation, when even the New Zealand Food Safety Authority as recently as 31 July this year stated: “All the government departments involved in this joint submission have strong concerns at the very short consultation period provided for the proposal.”, and why is she going off, once again, half-baked?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
For that member to claim this has been a rushed consultation process is ridiculous. He himself was advocating for this in 1999 when we came into Government. There has been extensive consultation. The Minister is to have discussions with her colleagues in Australia, and decisions will be made then.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that in the excellent article by Dr Paul Hutchison in the New Zealand Herald in 2000 he states that there would initially be voluntary fortification of bread; and that in the United Kingdom, 6 years later, in the light of new evidence, the UK scientific advisory committee on folate and disease has requested further time to consider potential risks and benefits of increased folic acid intake?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I believe that that member does support folate fortification. The approach in the proposal is a precautionary one. The proposed levels are quite low but will assist to reduce neural tube defects in the New Zealand population, which currently run at about 50 a year.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Has the New Zealand Government undertaken any substantial ethical processes relating to the introduction of mandatory fortification of most breads; if yes, what are they; if not, why not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I am not aware of the detail of that. If the member would like to put down a question, I am sure we can get a substantive answer for him.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
Does she agree with the joint food standards submission that a comprehensive monitoring programme should have been developed as part of the draft assessment report, and can she offer proof that New Zealand is ready for a comprehensive monitoring programme; if not, why not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I am sure those assurances and those issues will be part of the discussion that the Minister will have next week in, I believe, Australia.
Hon Paul SwainI seek leave of the House for Paul Hutchison to table the excellent letter from Paul Hutchison on this subject.
I seek leave to table a document that indicates that at the ministerial council next week we will have one vote out of 10. The Australians will have nine votes, and we will have one.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
I seek leave to table the excellent article in the New Zealand Herald.