MPI visit unlikely to resolve PKE threat – Feds

Grains executive members Colin McKinnon and David Clark travelled to Malaysia last September for an official Palm Industry Board briefing; they also made an unofficial, unannounced visit to another plant, chosen at random.

They saw PKE in silos open to birds and other animals, and contamination was probable. Product would probably not have met New Zealand’s Import Health Standard, but the mill owner believed it was suitable for export to New Zealand and was willing to sell it to them.

Clark and McKinnon detailed their concerns in a report to MPI in November (Rural News, December 4 and February 19). Late last month, the ministry issued a statement saying it took Feds’ report very seriously.

“There are stringent safeguards in place that ensure PKE is safe for use, and MPI is requiring full assurance that these safeguards have not been breached,” MPI director plants, food and environment, Peter Thomson, said.

MPI has reviewed all documentation for PKE shipments from Malaysia since 2011, met Malaysian officials to ensure full understanding of New Zealand’s concerns, and arranged this week’s visit.

Last week nobody from MPI was available for interview about Federated Farmers’ concerns but in a written response to Rural News’ questions Thomson said two MPI officials would be in Malaysia May 20-27, then Indonesia to June 1.

No independent third party, such as a Federated Farmers representative, journalist, or representative of any other non-governmental organisation would accompany the officials as MPI claims this would not be appropriate.

“The visit is to ensure the government-to-government assurances provided by the exporting countries are underpinned by appropriately robust systems…. 

“New Zealand would not accept industry or media participating in importing country audits of our export systems.”

Asked what measures would be taken to ensure a true picture of the import pathways is gained, Thomson said MPI had determined and informed the Malaysian government officials where the officials want to visit. “This is standard practice for visits of this kind.”

He did not answer whether MPI’s officials would take a tour independent of their Malaysian counterparts and visit some PKE plants at random.

As for how New Zealand farmers could be confident they’re not importing a biosecurity risk onto their farms with palm kernel, Thomson said MPI would review all steps in the supply chain process from the manufacturing plant to loading at the port “to ensure there is sufficient confidence in the security of the supply chain, and there is no possibility for product to enter the supply chain and be consolidated with product intended for export to New Zealand.”

MPI later confirmed officials would physically inspect all steps in the supply chain at a number of facilities. It also said the findings of its visit, and which mills were visited, would be made public in an audit report.

Clark says he hopes MPI’s officials “get the full look and an honest appraisal of the supply chain” but recognises they will not be able to make an unofficial visit as he and McKinnon did.

The kiwifruit industry is paying the price with PSA for relying on MAF’s assessment of risk from pollen imports, he points out.