Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
The opposition claims that the Ministry for Primary Industries has ‘dumbed down’ the expertise needed to handle major food safety issues such as the recent 1080 threat.
Labour’s rural issues spokesman Damien O’Connor told Dairy News that such matters require technical expertise and are a crucial area of government.
It’s a worry, he says, alluding to many stories he has heard of delays, confusion and uncertainty in the food safety area that shouldn’t occur in a country so dependent on this. He reiterated his call to pull food safety and biosecurity out of the ‘conglomerate’ of MPI. He says each of these two groups needs to focus solely on its specific tasks.
O’Connor says he’s concerned at way the Government handled the release of the 1080 threat.
“The national launch about the threat was overplayed, the fact that it didn’t continue was great,” he said.
“It was over-hyped from the first press conference. What politicians including the Prime Minister have done is unhelpful. The timing of the disclosure will be exposed in the review of this matter, as will the confusion over how and when exporters should have been notified….
“Some exporters have had product certified by MPI on the water yet MPI knew full well it could be affected by requirements for further testing and that has annoyed a number of exporters.”
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
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