Browning Steffan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Urgent Questions 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Browning Steffan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Urgent Questions 
[Sitting date: 28 March 2013. Volume:688;Page:9065. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9. 
STEFFAN BROWNING (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Food Safety 
: What action if any is she taking in response to the recent Canterbury University study that found food safety risks from GE are not being considered adequately by regulatory bodies? 
Hon NIKKI KAYE (Minister for Food Safety) 
: 
 I understand that Food Standards Australia New Zealand is reviewing Professor Jack Heinemann’s study and will be publishing a response in due course. I intend to seek advice on that response once it is available. 
Steffan Browning 
: Why is Food Standards Australia New Zealand not requiring specific testing for the health effects of foods that have new GE molecules to ensure that they are safe to eat? 
Hon NIKKI KAYE 
: We have some very established processes in terms of Food Standards Australia New Zealand. I do note that it is standard practice for the Ministry for Primary Industries to review Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s advice on GM applications so on the issue of testing I am very confident that we have got some very established processes. 
Steffan Browning 
: I seek leave to table this report that shows that new genetically engineered foods are not being adequately tested. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is this the report from the University of Canterbury? 
Steffan Browning 
: It is. It was published in the most recent— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is widely available to any member who wants it on the website. 
Steffan Browning 
: I am not sure that it is actually. It is in an academic journal. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am advised it is on the University of Canterbury website. 
Steffan Browning 
: Was Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s chief scientist Paul Brent wrong when he told Radio New Zealand this morning that Food Standards Australia New Zealand does not require companies to test foods with double-strand RNA molecules to ensure that they are safe to eat? 
Hon NIKKI KAYE 
: I just want to make a couple of comments about the study— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Just answer the question. 
Hon NIKKI KAYE 
: —and I will answer the question that Mr Browning has asked. But I think it is very important that the member is really careful when he quotes particular studies. We get hundreds of those studies. With regard to the testing— 
Steffan Browning 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I could get into dialogue on this too but that is not the actual answer to the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think the way forward because the Minister did say she would answer the question is that I would appreciate hearing the question again and then I will ask the Minister to address it directly. 
Steffan Browning 
: Was Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s chief scientist Paul Brent wrong when he told Radio New Zealand this morning that Food Standards Australia New Zealand does not require companies to test foods with double-strand RNA molecules to ensure they are safe to eat? 
Hon NIKKI KAYE 
: I very much doubt that he is wrong but the point that I was trying to make to the member is that we get hundreds of studies. We will be reviewing that study but there has been significant criticism of that study. I want to read out a couple of quotes about that study: “It is disappointing that these authors continue to ignore the bulk of the scientific literature but in this case they are even ignoring common sense.” 
Steffan Browning 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. As I said I can get into dialogue on the rights and wrongs of the different commentators on this as well. I do not think that is— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question has certainly been adequately addressed. If the member does not find the additional information of any use to him then that is his privilege. 
Steffan Browning 
: Will she commit now to halting any further approvals and withdrawing any existing approvals of GE foods with these molecules until testing regimes have actually been developed to prove that they are safe? 
Hon NIKKI KAYE 
: No I cannot guarantee that. There are several reasons. The first is we have a very established set of processes with Food Standards Australia New Zealand. The second is that with regard to the study that the member is actually referring to the advice that I have had is that it will not necessarily be applicable to another GE application. The third thing that I would say is that it is very standard practice for the Ministry for Primary Industries to review Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s advice on GM applications. I think we can have confidence in our systems.