Headline: Kiwi babies and parents deserve same protection
Chinese parents will know more about what they are feeding their babies than their Kiwi counterparts following a move to clearly label all infant formula exported to China, says Labours’ Primary Industries and Food Safety spokesperson Damien O’Connor.
The Government has set up a brand register for New Zealand-made infant after concerns about product being sold under false labels in China.
“However, while the move is obviously welcome news for Kiwi dairy exporters and farmers it doesn’t address the current exemption from ANZFSA food labelling in New Zealand.
“And that means Chinese parents will get more information and more protection for their babies than Kiwi parents and their babies.
“Our dairy industry depends on New Zealand’s reputation for producing safe food, particularly when it comes to the very sensitive product of infant formula.
“The value of registration and labelling to ensure customers in China know exactly what they are buying has finally been recognised by MPI and is a significant step forward to protect that reputation.
“Now it’s time Minister Nikki Kaye protected Kiwi consumers in the same way by making Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) mandatory.
“Labour has already indicated its support for the Food Bill if an amendment to introduce CoOL is included. That would provide the same level of information and protection for Kiwi parents as these latest changes will mean for Chinese ones.”
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