12. Export Sector—Mānuka HoneyHon DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) to the Minister for Food SafetyExport Sector—Mānuka Honey12. Hon DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) to the Minister for Food Safety: Why has the definition of mānuka honey changed from the definition previously announced by the Ministry for Primary Industries on 11 December 2017?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Food Safety): The change is a result of new information from industry that showed that the definition for identifying multifloral mānuka honey was initially set too conservatively and would exclude legitimate multifloral honey from meeting the definition. The definition for monofloral mānuka honey remains unchanged.Hon David Bennett: What consultation took place with the industry on setting the more stringent December test?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Consultation on this issue since 2013 has been exhaustive. I've met industry representatives on numerous occasions and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been working with the industry which resulted in new information placed before MPI last week which encouraged MPI to make the changes and indeed work to a point now where industry is right behind a definition for mānuka honey.Hon David Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very simple question and it was: What consultation took place with the industry on setting the more stringent December test?" The consultation that happened in the last week does not—the test was set in December. We are asking what consultation that Minister took with the industry in setting that December test and that was a very specific question.SPEAKER: Leaving aside the royal "we" the member can ask that supplementary again.Hon David Bennett: What consultation took place with the industry on setting the more stringent December test?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Lots.Hon David Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister cannot use the word "lots" as a response to a question in this House and if he does then maybe he needs to explain it. That's just inappropriate and he's just using this House—SPEAKER: Member sit down. I think he just did and I think at this stage of question time given the fact that the member had two cracks at it I think he's probably made his point and I don't think I should intervene. Is there a further supplementary?Rino Tirikatene: When was the issue of fraudulent New Zealand mānuka honey in the export market first raised?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: This information was raised by international trading partners in both Britain and China in 2013. Every month since that time New Zealand's reputation has been at risk and the former Government—including that former Minister—dicked around sat on their hands and did nothing. We've made a decision. We've made an alteration as we've needed and now we can assure the honey industry and this House and New Zealand exporters that people who buy mānuka honey offshore will be getting what the label says.Hon Nikki Kaye: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just want to clarify what the member actually said in terms of it may have been an unparliamentary remark. SPEAKER: I'm not absolutely convinced but if the member thinks he made an unparliamentary remark he will withdraw it.Hon Member: Well it wasn't on the West Coast but here it is.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Well it's not on the West Coast no. If the member's offended I'll withdraw the remark.SPEAKER: No. I think the member should just withdraw it.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I withdraw it.Hon David Bennett: Has the Minister received advice since legal proceedings were brought against the December definition that the necessary consultation requirements haven't been met?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: No.Hon David Bennett: Why didn't the Minister ensure adequate consultation before the more stringent definition was released as to the mānuka honey definition?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: There was adequate consultation.Hon David Bennett: Which test can consumers and markets have confidence in for mānuka honey: the stringent test the Minister announced in December or the lower test announced yesterday as the result of legal proceedings and a failure to consult?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: They can have absolute confidence in both. The first one applies to monofloral mānuka honey and the second one will now apply to multifloral mānuka honey.Hon David Bennett: Mr Speaker I wish that the member would actually confirm that there are two tests now because he—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Has the member got a question?Hon David Bennett: This is a point of order.SPEAKER: Well it's not starting off like one.Hon David Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister has said he has got two tests: the test in December and the test released yesterday. The two tests are different. How can he have confidence in both tests for one of New Zealand's export industries?SPEAKER: It's not my responsibility to explain the difference between one flower and several flowers but I think that's what the member was saying in Latin.Hon David Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It's not actually a difference in that he had a test in December for one product and a different test now so could we have a supplementary question on that?SPEAKER: Look—no; the Minister will sit down for a second. If the member wants if the member can get a tight supplementary that goes to that issue which is then further explanation the member can have one more. Away you go. Hon David Bennett: How can there be two tests for the same product: one released in December that is more stringent and another test released yesterday in which the Minister relaxed the requirements for identifying the ingredient in that test?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: There's one test; there are two different standards: one for multifloral mānuka honey the other for monofloral mānuka honey. The people who buy that offshore will now know the difference and it will be backed by scientifically backed research and testing.Hon David Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: The member is testing me but have a go.Hon David Bennett: The minister obviously doesn't understand that he set a percentage threshold in December of—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. I think the member's had quite a lot of tolerance today."