Tuesday, 28 July 2020 06:55

MPI says it will act

Written by  Staff Reporters
Infant formula in China. Infant formula in China.

MPI says it takes the claims made by Jane Li seriously and where it has evidence that exporters are not meeting their requirements, it will take action.

Li says New Zealand's dairy industry risks being exposed to a ‘ticking time bomb’ of unethical players unlawfully passing off New Zealand-made and packed milk powder products in China as supplements for babies. Read more here.

“We take complaints against New Zealand businesses very seriously,” a MPI spokesperson told Rural News.

He says that the safety and wellbeing of the public is central to the rules and requirements New Zealand has in place to ensure food and beverages are safe and suitable. 

MPI says there are strict requirements in place throughout the food supply chain to which all manufacturing and exporting businesses must adhere to.

“Dairy exporters are responsible for ensuring their products comply with New Zealand’s requirements, as well as any extra importing country requirements that have been agreed between MPI and the relevant government authority of that country. 

“These are notified by way of Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMAR). All trade between countries is governed by such arrangements.”

MPI oversees compliance, through formal processes, including audits to confirm companies are meeting requirements, which are carried out by MPI-approved third party verifiers. 

In addition, dairy companies and MPI also conduct regular and thorough testing to provide further confidence that products, including infant formulas, are safe and meet the necessary specifications.

MPI says New Zealand businesses must ensure their products leaving our shores are true-to-label, not misleading and safe.

“Once the dairy products arrive overseas, further processing and labelling may occur, and will be subject to the laws and regulations of that country.” – Sudesh Kissun

More like this

NZ wine grapples with oversupply despite export gains

The large 2025 harvest will exacerbate the wine industry's "lingering" supply from recent vintages, New Zealand Winegrowers Chief Executive Philip Gregan told attendees at Grape Days events around the country in June.

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Faking it

OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best…

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter