Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3985] 
8.  
STEVE CHADWICK (NZ Labour—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Minister for Food Safety 
: Why did New Zealand fund an international meeting on meat hygiene in Wellington from 17 to 21 February 2003? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister for Food Safety) 
: 
 New Zealand’s leadership of the Codex Committee on Meat and Poultry Hygiene gives us an opportunity to influence the international standards that apply to trade in meat. That committee has made amazing progress in reducing the current five codes on meat standards to one and work should be completed after one more meeting only. That is not unknown; some committees in fact work on a single code for over 10 years. Some excellent work has been done under New Zealand’s leadership and it is very much appreciated. 
Steve Chadwick 
: What benefit does such a meeting have for New Zealand? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: New Zealand’s purpose in the Codex committee is to ensure that all Codex activities add value to protecting and promoting the health of New Zealand consumers and to fair practices in food trade. The export of meat and meat products plays a significant part in New Zealand’s economy and contributes to around 20 percent of export receipts per annum. While the value of those exports has grown over recent years New Zealand exporters face a raft of requirements. Therefore we need to ensure that we are participating in making those rules and having our voice heard. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Why have New Zealanders’ campylobacter rates increased so significantly—40 percent in Auckland and 53 percent in Wellington last year—costing an estimated $40 million per year and what is being done to stop so many New Zealanders from getting food poisoning? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: First of all that issue does not relate to the work of the Codex committee which is to do with international food standards. Campylobacter is to do with domestic food safety. It is mainly related to the handling of food particularly in food outlets in New Zealand. This Government set up the Food Safety Authority to bring together domestic food issues along with those international issues. The Food Safety Authority has made domestic food safety a priority—something that should have been done many years ago. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: What was the cost of the international meeting that was held in New Zealand? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I am sorry but I am unable to provide the cost. However I can tell the member that it has been very beneficial for the industry. In fact the industry believes that it is absolutely crucial to it. The result will be a reduction in compliance costs to the industry itself. I am happy to provide the member with the cost of hosting the meeting as soon as possible. 
Sue Kedgley 
: If the Government is so concerned about meeting international standards in meat and poultry and protecting the health of New Zealand consumers why does it continue to allow cancer-causing drugs such as furazolidone to be fed to New Zealand pigs and poultry when most countries ban their use in food-producing animals because there is no safe level for their residues? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: A considerable amount of work is carried out by authorities in New Zealand to ensure that our food is produced safely. I have no doubt that the food that New Zealanders eat and export is safe to eat.