Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:634;Page:5950] 
12.  
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
 to the  
Minister for Food Safety 
: Does she intend to sign up New Zealand to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand plan to add folic acid to bread at the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council this month; if so why? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister for Food Safety 
: The Minister is on record as being a strong supporter of folic fortification and will take into account the submissions and advice she has received to date and will continue to receive when she participates in the discussion on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand proposal at the upcoming ministerial council meeting. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Why would she commit New Zealand to a rushed-through new plan for mandatory fortification of most breads with folic acid when folic acid supplements will still need to be taken to prevent neural tube defects when evidence of effectiveness is in doubt with this new plan and when a public opinion poll shows that more than 80 percent of New Zealanders are against mandatory fortification? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: This is not a rushed process. When we came into Government in 1999 that member led the charge to have folic fortification. There has been much discussion about the level of fortification within bread and it is important that we do not have levels that are unsafe. That member supports that position and I am sure he will support—or he should support—the precautionary approach being proposed. 
Steve Chadwick 
: Has she seen any reports on this matter? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Yes I believe she has in the  
Sunday Star-Times  
of 23 July where Dr Hutchison called for more time for consultation which would delay the introduction of the one known means of reducing neural tube defects. The question I ask of Mr Hutchison is this: does he support this or does he not? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member is not entitled to ask that question. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Can we expect to see further Government action aimed at removing additives such as excess sugar from food once a precedent has been set for the Government to interfere with food by adding folic acid to bread on a population-wide basis? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Any proposal such as that is up for discussion between officials of Australia and New Zealand which is the agreed process. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Will the Minister listen to the appeals of the baking industry and the entire organics industry and seek to exempt organic breads from mandatory fortification thereby ensuring some consumer choice or will she undermine the entire organics standard which explicitly prohibits the adding of synthetic additives to organic products? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I know that the Minister is aware of the issues around organic production and will take on board those concerns when she has discussions with officials from Australia and her counterparts from Australia. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Why is she considering adopting mandatory fortification of most breads without due consultation when even the New Zealand Food Safety Authority as recently as 31 July this year stated: “All the government departments involved in this joint submission have strong concerns at the very short consultation period provided for the proposal.” and why is she going off once again half-baked? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: For that member to claim this has been a rushed consultation process is ridiculous. He himself was advocating for this in 1999 when we came into Government. There has been extensive consultation. The Minister is to have discussions with her colleagues in Australia and decisions will be made then. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Can the Minister confirm that in the excellent article by Dr Paul Hutchison in the  
New Zealand Herald  
in 2000 he states that there would initially be voluntary fortification of bread; and that in the United Kingdom 6 years later in the light of new evidence the UK scientific advisory committee on folate and disease has requested further time to consider potential risks and benefits of increased folic acid intake? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I believe that that member does support folate fortification. The approach in the proposal is a precautionary one. The proposed levels are quite low but will assist to reduce neural tube defects in the New Zealand population which currently run at about 50 a year. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would members just settle please. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Has the New Zealand Government undertaken any substantial ethical processes relating to the introduction of mandatory fortification of most breads; if yes what are they; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am not aware of the detail of that. If the member would like to put down a question I am sure we can get a substantive answer for him. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I call Dr Paul Hutchison. [ 
Interruption 
] We need to hear the question. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Does she agree with the joint food standards submission that a comprehensive monitoring programme should have been developed as part of the draft assessment report and can she offer proof that New Zealand is ready for a comprehensive monitoring programme; if not why not? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Members we need to hear the answer in the same manner—in silence. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am sure those assurances and those issues will be part of the discussion that the Minister will have next week in I believe Australia. 
Hon Paul Swain 
: I seek leave of the House for Paul Hutchison to table the excellent letter from Paul Hutchison on this subject. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member cannot seek leave on behalf of another member. 
Sue Kedgley 
: I seek leave to table a document that indicates that at the ministerial council next week we will have one vote out of 10. The Australians will have nine votes and we will have one. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I seek leave to table the excellent article in the  
New Zealand Herald 
. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.