NZ premier in call for Fonterra inquiry
Print Edition
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that he wants a government inquiry into the Fonterra contamination scare to allay consumer fears in China, possibly with a Chinese representative.
His announcement came as two other inquiries — one by Fonterra and one by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries — were formally announced to look into how 38 tons of whey protein was contaminated with a bacterium that can cause botulism.
“One possibility is that if we can find an eminent Chinese scientist with a specialization in this area we may well put them on because it would hopefully give them more confidence in their market,” Key told Television New Zealand.
The terms of the inquiry and other details had yet to be settled, but he said he wanted the inquiry to be completed before he goes to China.
“I need the answers of the inquiry so I can look down the barrel of their cameras and say ‘Have confidence in our product; we’ve fixed this’,” Key said.
The ministry said yesterday that it had begun an investigation into whether Fonterra complied with its regulatory obligations in informing the authorities of the contamination, which is believed to have occurred in May last year.
“This compliance investigation will determine whether regulatory requirements under the Food Act and the Animal Products Act were met by all parties involved, or whether any parties may have committed any breaches or offences,” the ministry said.
The probe would be completed in three to six months.
Maximum penalties for breaching regulations under the Food and Animal Products Acts range from NZ$100,000 to NZ$500,000 (US$80,438 to US$402,188) and up to 12 months imprisonment, depending on the offence.
Fonterra said yesterday that its board had set up an inquiry committee charged with overseeing an independent review into the contamination.
It also said that its products in China are free from the chemicals that had sparked a recall in Sri Lanka.
On Sunday, Sri Lanka ordered the recall of milk powder that showed traces of a toxic agricultural chemical.
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