Scott Lynda: Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Scott Lynda: Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:624;Page:19137] 
Dr LYNDA SCOTT (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 The National Party will be supporting the Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill. The dairy industry is worth nearly $6 billion in export earnings per year to New Zealand. It is essential that there is confidence worldwide and in New Zealand in New Zealand dairy food products. The safety of those products is a matter of concern for all of us. This bill sets in place standards and risk-based management practices that ensure that is the case. The bill was developed after the release of two discussion documents one from the previous National Government in 1999 and one from the Labour Government in 2001. The bill has had the support of all parties up to this point and I believe that tonight it continues to have the support of all members. 
The title of the bill basically covers what the bill intends. The risks that milk products can contain are pathogens and residues. Back in the very early days of New Zealand’s history unpasteurised milk was very common. But the risk of TB and other pathogens was recognised and pasteurisation became standard from the 1900s. The sort of pathogens that milk can contain are retroviruses which are killed by pasteurisation and processing zoonotic diseases and residues of veterinary medicines and antibiotics. We see that antibiotic resistance is increasing throughout the world and is a considerable problem. We must have a risk management programme as stated in Part 1. 
 Luckily the dairy industry has actually taken a responsible approach to the use of antibiotics and they are not used routinely. In some other countries they are which causes problems with animals and with the increasing resistance to antibiotics. The routine use of antibiotics in animals can lead to increased antibiotic resistance amongst humans and that is of major concern in terms of serious diseases. Tuberculosis is a good example of that because worldwide TB resistance to antibiotics is proving to be an increasing problem. I remember many years ago working at the old chest hospital here in Wellington because before I was a doctor I trained as a nurse. I remember the antibiotics we had to give to people for months on end to try to cure TB. TB continues to be a problem and antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem. 
Safety and quality assurance programmes for milk and dairy products from the farm to the table are being developed under this legislation and that is welcomed. Milk products are a great growth medium and it is vital that milk is collected in ideal conditions and transported to the milk company for processing within 24 hours before there can be any deterioration. The Act that is to be repealed the Dairy Industry Act is over 50 years old. That Act is specifically for milk products. Now we will have the dairy industry brought under the Animal Products Act. Rather than end-product testing we will have a process of certification for the whole collection treatment and manufacture of milk products. That approach is needed to facilitate the entry of New Zealand dairy products into more overseas markets. 
New Zealand cheeses ice cream and chocolate have to be amongst the best in the world. [ 
Interruption 
] Absolutely and undoubtedly. When I travel overseas New Zealand chocolate is one thing that everybody asks me to bring.