Controversial Food Bill hard to swallow

A controversial new law governing how what we eat is produced, handled and sold is creating a stir, with opponents saying it is excessive regulation.

The Government says the proposed Food Bill, which hasn't changed in 30 years, will cater to more than 35,000 business and 200,000 casual food traders in New Zealand and will ensure the food we eat is safe.

The hefty piece of legislation is not one size fits all. The risk posed by a certain food, trader or business, will determine the regulatory system it will operate under.

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says high risk businesses such as baby food manufacturers and restaurants will fall under a stringent food control plan.

Medium risk businesses like pre-packaged food manufacturers and bakeries will be have more flexibility under a national programme.

And the lower risk categories such as farmers markets, roadside stalls and charity sausage sizzles will incur no extra cost, but will receive food handler guidance information.

The draft Food Bill has been open to public consultation over the past four years and in 2011 went through Parliament's select committee with cross party support.

But it has its fair share of public opposition, with those against the changes saying despite public submissions; there has not been enough consultation.

An online petition against the bill currently has over 15,000 signatures.

And there have been conflicting arguments over whether it affects people living off the land.

There are a lot of positive things about the bill, Green Party MP and the spokesperson for soil and health New Zealand, Steffan Browning told TV ONE's Breakfast.

"But it really drives down far too far bureaucratically into what is really kiwi culture. Green Party certainly wants healthy safe food, affordable food, local food, so that's positive. But this bill discourages rather encourages people that are small growers."

"While we can see the whites of the customers eyes you can actually pass it to them, sell it to them, you can barter, you can do whatever, as long as you can see that person.

"As soon as you decide you've got a bit surplus and you want to put it through the local shop, local dairy, organic shop if it was me, that's when it goes to hang and you have to start being regulated.

He said some growers might get an exemption.

"There's huge power to the minister that you wouldn't expect in terms of regulation and we actually need to push back a bit and have more people exempt."

He said enough has not been said about this bill.

"Most people were unaware that the submissions process was there."

One woman spoken to by TV ONE's Breakfast reinforced this saying: "I haven't really heard enough about it to tell you the truth. I feel like I need to know more. It sounds really scary."

Another said she is really appalled by the process.

"I don't think New Zealanders understand the ramifications about this. It's really, really bad."

But, Katherine Rich, chief executive of the food and grocery council, told TV ONE's Breakfast this just shows unnecessary angst that has been caused over the bill.

"Some of the more outrageous comments that have been made about the bill - that MAF food police are going to be coming to your house with guns and confiscating your carrots, and all sorts of things, shutting down farmers markets - none of that's true."

She said the bill is very practical and is really just an update of the Food Act of 1981.

She said it won't make much of a difference but it will ensure the safety of food.

Rich said there is always compliance cost when you have a business, and for people at the lower risk end all they have to do is follow food handling guidance, she said.

"If you actually read that pamphlet really its stuff that you and I have learned from our mothers and grandmothers about safe handling of food. Unfortunately in New Zealand some of that common sense has been lost."

She said there has been quite a lot of say since it was introduced to Parliament two years ago.

"If some specific things have been overlooked that can be dealt with through a supplementary order paper when the bills being debated in the committee stage. Certainly the FGC does not support sending it back to a select committee."

She said it is important to restate how to handle food correctly.

"It doesn't matter whether someone makes four jars of pickle or 4000 jars if some is poisoned and worst case scenario someone dies the New Zealand public will go directly back to MAF and right back to Government and say: 'Why haven't you done this?' 'Why have you exempted these people and said that they don't have to provide safe food?'."

Source: TVNZ