New Zealand Sovereignty On Food Standards Lost To The Aussies

GE Free NZ support Annette King's formal complaint to Australian government after the removal of New Zealander's sovereign right to influence food standard legislation.

"We have seen overseas interests and big business continually served by ANZFA over the past few years particularly in regard to genetically modified foods, the new board with up to 5 members from corporations threaten to compromise public health and safety." "Whilst this move can be seen to support the public of Australia by allowing their parliament to overturn decisions made by ANZFA, the interests of the New Zealand public will be further eroded, we welcome the Ministry of Health's formal complaint," said Susie Lees of GE Free NZ.

" We feel that the best way forward would be for New Zealand to withdraw from the treaty since ANZFA are not serving the interest of the NZ public, who do not want GE foods, we would like to see the New Zealand government ban their importation."

Over the weekend ANZFA approved a margarine that will have to carry a health warning.

The erosion of standards by ANZFA has been continual over the past few years and this is the ultimate denial of New Zealanders right for safe food. Stakeholders' to ANZFA such as the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) have been exerting pressure on the board to deny consumers of mandatory labelling of all foods produced with the use of gene technology. ANZFA appeared at the Royal Commission after criticism of their approvals. The transcripts can be read on www.gmcommission.govt.nz

ENDS

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