12 June 2013

Green Party celebrates changes to food bill

The Government have made great strides on the revised Food Bill, the Green Party said today.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye has released the changes that will be made to the Food Bill which will significantly improve it. The major wins are the reinstatement of genetic engineering as a matter for potential consideration, the inclusion of a ‘Good Samaritan’ clause which allows people to keep donating food to those in need, the assurances around swapping food and the exclusion of seeds for growing being regulated under this Bill.

“This announcement today is a win for home gardeners, charities, and small businesses who worked with the Government to have their concerns addressed,” said Green Party agriculture spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“This is how law-making should look; the Minister listens to what the business and wider community need and makes changes to help them carry on their activities in a safe manner.

“I met with this Minister, and the previous Minister several times and am really pleased to see that the Green Party’s concerns have been incorporated, especially around genetic engineering.

“GE should never have been removed from the list of potential issues to be considered by food safety authorities, and our advocacy has resulted in it being put back where it belongs.

“This comes on the heels of another study published in the most recent Journal of Organic Systems that shows evidence of worrying food safety risks with GE foods.

“I am also pleased that the Bill is going back to the Select Committee to give MPs the chance to consider these changes.

“The issue I will continue to look at is opportunities for the Bill to safeguard our sovereignty around food safety decision making in the face of international trade agreements.

“On-going, I hope to hear from small producers and food businesses to ensure that they are not over-burdened with regulations that are too costly.”

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