Scrapie In New Zealand

The National Nutritional Foods Association and beekeeping industry fully understands the Minister of Agriculture's and meat industry's indignation at Germany's false accusations regarding scrapie.

In November 1997, the Ministry of Health issued a similarly false statement, under privilege, that there was no scientific evidence that bee products had any nutritional or medicinal attributes.

"Despite being given over 500 scientific references proving that this statement was patently false, the Ministry has, to this day, refused to retract their untrue statement," says Ron Law, NNFA's Executive Director (09-832 4773).

Despite the Regulations Review Select Committee finding that the Ministry of Health abused its regulatory powers and moved in the House of Parliament in July 1999 that a regulation be revoked, the Ministry has refused to put right a wrong.

Despite a 5-person ministerial scientific review of the evidence finding against the Ministry of Health on all five terms of reference, the wrong has still not been put right.

Despite having had it scientifically proven that two Australian coroners established incorrect conclusions regarding deaths falsely linked to royal jelly, the injustice has not been put right.

Two years after the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration had pointed out to them that they had altered records to fit scientifically proven false evidence, nothing has changed.

"Perhaps Mr Sutton should set a precedent by getting his government's own officials to restore natural justice in New Zealand - then he will have a stronger platform for insisting the Germans do the same," said Ron Law.

Ron Law notes Meat New Zealand's claim that Germany's false statements could have long-term repercussions for New Zealand's meat industry. "The royal jellygate affair has already cost Australian and New Zealand industries a measurable $50 million dollars in lost sales and lost opportunity," says Ron Law, "and yet our officials have refused to even start putting right a terrible wrong."

"The Australian and New Zealand governments have excellent codes of good regulatory practice -- it's a shame officials in both countries aren't required to use them," said Ron Law.

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