Media release
14 January 2018
RETAIL NZ WELCOMES NATHAN GUY BILL ON FOOD CONTAMINATION
Retail NZ has applauded National MP Nathan Guy for proposing a Member’s Bill that will create stronger penalties for
deliberate food contamination.
“Following on from the many recent incidents in Australia involving needles in fruit, and copycat in New Zealand, Retail
NZ and the Food and Grocery Council have asked the Government to create a specific criminal offence relating to grocery
sabotage,” Greg Harford, Retail NZ’s General Manager Public Affairs said today. “While the Government has not responded
to our request, Retail NZ is delighted that National’s Nathan Guy has proposed a Member’s Bill to deal with this issue.
“It is essential that New Zealanders have confidence in the food and grocery sector, including at a retail level.
Indeed, our export sector and our economy are dependent on public confidence in food safety being maintained. The recent
needle issues, and the baby formula threats a few years ago demonstrate how vulnerable our food sector is to criminal
activity. While industry is doing its bit to safeguard security, we believe it is essential that there is a specific
criminal offence dealing with this issue.
“The recent needle incidents have imposed massive costs on retailers and led to enormous wastage of food. Sabotaging
food is a form of economic terrorism, and needs to be treated as such.
“The Australian Commonwealth Government has already made it a specific offence to tamper with food, and has recently
moved to strengthen the penalties associated with food terrorism. We think that it is important for New Zealand to
follow suit, and to send a clear message to would-be criminals that sabotaging our nation's food supply will not be
tolerated.”