Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:608;Page:5988] 
4.  
SUE KEDGLEY (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Food Safety 
: Can the Minister reassure New Zealand consumers that no beef fat products imported from Canada have entered the food chain in New Zealand; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Acting Minister for Food Safety) 
: 
 I am advised that New Zealand has imported approximately 100 tonnes of beef fat tallow oil and 250 tonnes of shortening over the last 18 months. I am further advised that a temporary hold on consignments of beef products from Canada will remain in place until further information is available from Canada. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Can the Minister confirm that beef tallow and shortening are both used in cooking foods such as fish and chips and hamburgers and that it is totally unsatisfactory for consumers not to know where exactly it is used in the food chain; and does the Minister agree that the situation demonstrates the urgent need for traceability of food ingredients and country-of-origin labelling so that consumers know where their food comes from and can make up their own mind about whether they want to eat products that contain Canadian beef extracts; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We are very concerned about the products that New Zealand consumers take in. We have very good traceability systems in the country. I can confirm that the shortening is used in cooking and that the beef fat tallow oil is used in cosmetics and soap. However I am confident that if the member has used any of the cosmetics she will not contract mad cow disease. 
Dave Hereora 
: What action did the Government undertake when it was informed of the situation in Canada? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The Government was notified first thing yesterday morning. Officials from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade the Ministry of Health customs and biosecurity met and a temporary ban on beef imports was put in place. Imported product from Canada was traced and I am confident that that was a timely and thorough response. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Given the latest news from Canada is the Minister reconsidering her opposition to the labelling of imported meats; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We do not consider that to be absolutely necessary at this stage. We have a number of other protocols and systems in place. Customs data can identify specific imports. We have an ability to contact those importers recall any products that we consider to be of high risk and of course publish any further information that is necessary. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Can the Minister confirm that the Food Safety Authority does not actually know where 100 tonnes of beef fat tallow oil and 250 tonnes of shortening which may contain beef fat have in fact ended up in New Zealand; and how can she therefore claim that we have very good traceability systems in New Zealand or that we are in any position to recall products when we do not know where they have ended up? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We do know where that went. We are assuming that it has been used. It is a very very low-risk product. The Food Safety Authority does have the ability to trace any high-risk products. No such products have come into this country. We consider there to be no risk to New Zealand consumers or to the New Zealand economy at this point.