Damien
O’Connor
Primary Industries Spokesperson
24 April 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT
Humiliation for Government in Chinese dictat
New Zealand’s food safety systems should be respected by our trading partners, but instead the Government has been
humiliated with the Chinese dictating the terms of our infant formula production, Labour’s Primary Industries
spokesperson Damien O’Connor says.
“The Government compromised our food safety system after neutering the power of our Food Safety Authority by putting it
into the Ministry of Primary Industries.
“It is critically important that our food safety procedures are internationally respected. Our systems should be so
highly regarded that they are not questioned.
“Under this Government that is not the case.
“Recently our regulations have been questioned by both the US and Chinese authorities. Now the Government has been
completely humiliated by the Chinese who are dictating terms.
“The Government must set up an independent food safety authority. The next Labour Government will do that.
“Unfortunately it seems John Key’s trip to China failed to get clearance for Fonterra’s infant formula products.
“The National Government must up its game before we lose our traditional reputation as being a world leader in food
safety,” Damien O’Connor says.