1 May 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media release by the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)

DCANZ Welcomes Establishment of Joint Government/Dairy Industry Working Group On Food Testing

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) today met with the Ministry of Primary Industries and agreed to develop appropriate engagement protocols across dairy companies and MPI where a food integrity issue comes to light.

DCANZ Chairman, Malcolm Bailey, said that the meeting was a positive step forward in strengthening closer ties between dairy companies and government to meet market information needs on food testing.“New Zealand has one of the most robust food safety response systems in the world. The detection of DCDs was not a food safety issue but demonstrated strong interest from markets for information on food testing,” said Bailey.

“Today MPI and DCANZ agreed to formalise coordination and communication protocols related to all future food testing incidents, to help meet market needs both in New Zealand and overseas.”

Chief Executive of the Primary Industries Ministry Wayne McNee, said it is important that MPI and DCANZ have agreed engagement protocols to manage issues of milk composition and food integrity into the future.

“We pride ourselves on our food standards and it’s important that we have an agreed framework for dealing with issues around food integrity and food composition that will become more sensitive as testing moves forward in the future.”

The joint working group will include all DCANZ members and report back later in the year.

ENDS

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