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Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today released the report on the first stage of the Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate Contamination Incident and said the Government accepts in principle all 29 recommendations.

“This part of the inquiry focused on our dairy food safety system and we are pleased to confirm it found the whey protein concentrate (WPC) incident in August this year (2013) was not the result of any failure in the regulatory system,” Mr Guy says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have received the first of two reports from the Government’s inquiry into the whey protein concentrate contamination incident. The report is on Parts B and C of the inquiry.

Ministers will now consider the report on Parts B and C and its recommendations. The report will be released along with the Government’s response within the next two weeks.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today announced research has been commissioned to assess New Zealand consumer understanding and the impact of nutrition labelling on food.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye welcomes a food safety agreement signed today between New Zealand and China to strengthen cooperation in food safety and food quality. 

The Food Safety Cooperation Arrangement between the Ministry for Primary Industries(MPI) and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) was signed today in Wellington by the Chinese Vice Minister, Liu Peizhi and MPI Deputy Director General Carol Barnao.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye are welcoming Martyn Dunne CNZM as the new Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

“Mr Dunne has an outstanding record of service in the military, the public service and as a diplomat,” says Mr Guy.

“His appointment signals a fresh start for MPI. I look forward to working with him on important issues like biosecurity and doubling our exports by 2025.”

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today announced consultation has begun to define manuka honey to enable truth in labelling.

“The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will be asking the honey industry, scientists and other interested stakeholders for their say through this consultation process,” Ms Kaye says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have today confirmed details of the Government’s investigation into the whey protein concentrate contamination (WPC) incident, including two further members.

“Now that the Inquiries Act has passed into law, the terms of reference have been finalised and the appointments of Tony Nowell CNZM and Dr Anne Astin as inquiry members have been confirmed. The Inquiry will be officially established once it is notified in the New Zealand Gazette on 12 September 2013,” says Mr Guy.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have today released the draft terms of inquiry for the Government’s investigation into the whey protein concentrate contamination (WPC) incident.

“The Government has agreed in principle to establish a joint Ministerial-led Government Inquiry which will be divided into two parts,” says Mr Guy.

“Part A will look at how the potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate entered the New Zealand and international market, and how this was subsequently addressed.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye confirm that Nutricia has today narrowed the scope of the recall for infant formula.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye say the Ministries of Education, Primary Industries (MPI) and Health are assisting Palmerston North Girls’ High School with information about potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate the school used.

“The Ministry of Health has advised us that the product was used in a science project to make drinks. While some students may have consumed drinks with the product in them, it was last consumed on 19 April 2013,” Mr Ryall says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye confirm there have been no reported cases of infant botulism in New Zealand to date.

“There are also no cases where infant botulism looks likely to be the cause,” Mr Ryall says.

“The Ministry of Health has a rapid comprehensive reporting process for paediatric units where a child is admitted to hospital and infant botulism looks likely to be the cause and where other more common conditions have been excluded,” Mr Ryall says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye say Plunket nurses are today contacting as many Plunket mothers as they can who are using infant formula to ensure they are aware of the recall.

“And the Ministry of Health is discussing with Tamariki Ora WellChild providers to ensure they are passing on the information to their families using infant formula,” Mr Ryall says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye say a public information campaign is underway to inform parents about the voluntary recall by Nutricia of two lines of infant formula that may be contaminated.

“The recalled products are Karicare Stage 1 New Baby Infant Formula (from birth) and Karicare Gold+ Stage 2 Follow-on Formula (from 6 months) all batches,” Ms Kaye says.

“The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), as New Zealand’s food safety regulator, is able to assist companies when they do voluntary recalls.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have welcomed a voluntary recall by Nutricia of two lines of infant formula that may be contaminated.

“The recalled products are Karicare Stage 1 New Baby Infant Formula (from birth) and Karicare Gold+ Stage 2 Follow-on Formula (from 6 months),” Ms Kaye says.

“We have been advised that Nutricia has voluntarily recalled the products to ensure potentially affected stock is off the shelves until there can be complete confidence as to whether or not these products are contaminated.”

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye advise parents and caregivers to follow the updated Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) advice on potentially contaminated infant formula in New Zealand stores.

Ms Kaye says updated information on affected products can be found here: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/food/food-safety/whey-protein-contamination

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye is encouraging consumers to heed the advice on potentially contaminated products provided this afternoon by the Director General of Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

"The Director General of MPI has informed me today he is taking a cautionary approach and has exercised powers under the Food Act 1981 and the Animal Products Act 1999 to issue a Statutory Statement regarding potentially contaminated products on the New Zealand market and to provide advice to consumers," Ms Kaye says.

New rules for meat exports to China will be implemented on Monday next week, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye said today.

“On Thursday we were made aware that China had issued new rules for New Zealand meat certification,” Ministers say.

“In the last 48 hours we have sought clarity around the impacts of those requirements and officials have negotiated their implementation.”

It is a pleasure to join you today at this conference.

I would like to acknowledge all of you for the contribution you are making to science and our economic development.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye has today confirmed a work plan to further protect and strengthen confidence in New Zealand’s food assurance systems to match rapid growth in infant formula exports.

“As Food Safety Minister I have asked the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to undertake the following work programme:

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye has today announced changes to the Food Bill that ensure communities will be able to continue fundraising that involves the sale of food.

“The changes ensure better balance in the legislation so that high-risk food operators have the appropriate controls, while unnecessary burdens are not placed on communities,” Ms Kaye says.

“They are designed to clarify aspects of the law where people have raised uncertainty.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have this morning sought an update from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) about some consignments of New Zealand meat delayed in China.

“MPI has informed us that there are no food safety concerns around the product,” Ms Kaye says.

“We have been advised by MPI that most product is frozen and remains refrigerated. MPI also advises us that chilled product is being given priority clearance.

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye have paid tribute to Wayne McNee for his 14 years of service as a Chief Executive in the public service.

Mr McNee is resigning as Director General of the Ministry for Primary Industries to take up a new role as Chief Executive of the Livestock Improvement Corporation.

Consumers can now be confident that claims about health on New Zealand food labels are true and accurate, Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye said today.