Groser Tim: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGroser Tim: General Debate[Sitting date: 07 August 2013. Volume:692;Page:12446. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon TIM GROSER (Minister of Trade):The events that have unfurled in respect of potentially contaminated infant formula over the last I do not know 72 hours now pose some very very significant challenges for New Zealand pose significant challenges for the Government both at the political level and the official level and pose very significant challenges for Fonterra. They also raise some very serious issues of course for the other smaller dairy companies and we must never overlook the fact that some of these so-called smaller companies are small only in relation to Fonterra; they are quite significant companies by normal New Zealand company standards. Also these events pose significant challenges for our scientists and for the members of our community.I think we realise that so many questions are being raised for which there are not adequate answers but we have tried to follow what I call a very segmented and I think logical approach to handling these issues. By doing so I do want to emphasise that this does not mean that we do not understand the public clamour and the legitimate public need for answers to these questions—I would not use the term “second-tier” questions because they are probably fundamentally important questions—but they are issues that we can come to later when we have the luxury of time after dealing with the immediate issue which we simply cannot put aside.We all know—I know that every member of this House would share this view—that the immediate issue is the safety not just of our infants but of infants in other countries. I think it is a very important thing to communicate beyond because people are listening to what we are saying very carefully. We are just as concerned about the infants of other countries who depend on the safety of the food we send them. I know that I am speaking on behalf of every single member of the House when I say that. That is a very important point because there will be misleading media reports that will play on this. I think it is very important that this House puts that firmly on the record. That has to be frankly the only real concern.Of course in terms of my own responsibilities I have got other major economic concerns in the back of my head but I do not think they are separate. I think that theway in which we handle what I call the immediate issue at hand the first-order issue—which is to find out where potentially contaminated powders may be remove them from the market place in all the countries concerned and deal with any health consequences that may arise; and thank God nothing has happened so far—will determine some longer-term responses. Our ability to deal with the first-order issue will be a matter of substance. I have been saying on several occasions over the last few hours that this is not something that is going to be handled by slick public relations photo opportunities and such matters; this is something that is going to be handled by real substance and professionalism. I think it is very important that we have that firmly in mind.In respect of the overseas responses I have not received any information today. I have heard one story which I am now told is incorrect about Sri Lanka imposing measures. I am told that is not correct and obviously I need to see this chapter and verse. There is still the potential for additional import restrictions new testing measures and so on and so forth because the other regulatory authorities have got the same moral legal and political responsibilities to protect their people in a situation of uncertainty. We have to accept that we are not yet fully in a position—I think we are moving into this position—to give those regulatory authorities the assurances that they absolutely need. It may well happen that the web of restrictions increases but so far it is only in China and I think we have to recognise the incredible professionalism of the Chinese regulatory authorities in taking such a measured approach which is focused just on the actual problem at hand.I hope that the dairy farmers of New Zealand their families and the communities that depend so much on their livelihoods do appreciate what the Chinese regulatory authorities have done. I think we have a lot to be grateful for frankly in the way that regulatory authorities have responded. That may change we accept that that may change and we should accept that as reasonable if it does change and then work away at resolving those issues with solid professionally delivered information and data. Obviously this will leave a series of other steps that we need to reflect on and then develop policy responses. We clearly will need—Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Your time has expired.