6. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) Link to this
to the Minister for Food Safety
What initiatives is the Government implementing to promote food safety?
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister for Food Safety) Link to this
This week I was privileged to be invited on to the Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia to launch the New Zealand Food Safety Authority guide Te Kai Manawa Ora. The guide has been designed specifically for a marae setting, and provides food safety tips around gathering, storing, and cooking traditional Māori food. I am pleased to say the guide has been widely welcomed, and will hopefully be put to good use throughout the country.
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
Next week we will be releasing another food safety guide—a booklet titled Food Safety in the Home. The booklet aims to educate everyone on best practice in an effort to address food-borne illnesses, which cost New Zealand more than $86 million each year through lost productivity and medical expenses. Salmonella and campylobacter-related illnesses are a big concern in New Zealand, and the booklet offers expert advice on how to avoid bacterial risks.
Sue KedgleyIs the Minister aware that many New Zealanders are concerned about the adequacy of the food safety systems in some of the countries that we import food from, and want to avoid buying food from certain countries? Will she, therefore, commit to introducing mandatory country-of-origin labelling for fresh foods so that consumers can work out where their food comes from; if not, why not?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
I am aware that this issue certainly interests the Green Party, and, in fact, that that member was the author of the Consumer’s Right to Know (Food Information) Bill, which was actually voted down in the House in the last term. Mandatory country-of-origin labelling has long been debated. It is not a matter of food safety; incorrect labelling is covered by the fair trading legislation.
Is the Minister aware that more than 60 countries in the world already have mandatory country-of-origin labelling of food because their Governments accept that consumers have a right to know where their food comes from for many reasons, including food safety? Why will the Government not make good on the promise the Prime Minister made earlier this year that he would consider introducing mandatory country-of-origin labelling of fresh food?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
We are always willing to listen to good ideas and to consider them. I have not personally counted each country that has mandatory country-of-origin labelling, but I am happy to accept her word there are 60 of them.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. For the Minister’s benefit and for any member who is interested—
Mr SPEAKERIf the member is seeking leave to table a document she should make that clear at the outset, because the member cannot use a point of order to dispute what the Minister has said. The member may certainly use it to table a document, but she should make that clear at the outset when she raises the point of order.
Sue Kedgley: I was seeking leave to table a list of more than 60 countries that have mandatory country-of-origin labelling of food, for the Minister’s benefit and any other—