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Labour seeking clarity on food bill

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Wed, 11 Jan 2012 3:58p.m.

Labour are voicing concerns through a statement on their website (AAP)

Labour are voicing concerns through a statement on their website (AAP)

By James Murray

The Labour Party are seeking clarification on the controversial Food Bill, currently going through Parliament.

The bill has caused concern, with many worried about the implications it will have for small operators who may face unwieldy restrictions on sharing food or trading food at Farmers Markets.

Petitions have been signed and marches have been organised in protest as people worried about their ability to hold sausage sizzles, hangis, give away surplus fruit or grow their own food.

Those who trade in Farmer’s Markets have had most to worry about with Taranaki Farmers' Market chairman Richard Sheldrake telling Fairfax Media that further legislation was unnecessary.

"They're already doing it, so why make it even more complicated," he said.

Now Labour are also voicing concerns through a statement on their website today. 

“We will not be giving our support to this bill unless a number of areas are clarified including areas affecting small growers,” says Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor, “I have asked the select committee for a full update on the Bill including any changes the Government is planning for the Bill.” 

“We do not want to see New Zealand end up with some unwieldy piece of legislation that confuses the retailers and those working in this area particularly those working in volunteer or community settings. 

“Labour wants to take a pragmatic approach to this legislation. While we support updating an outdated 30 year old piece of legislation we want to make sure it is replaced with something that is workable for everyone involved,” O’Connor says.

Yesterday, National MP Jonathan Young assured New Zealanders they have nothing to fear from the bill.

"If people are, on a regular basis, dispensing food to the public for consumption then I think it's a reasonable expectation that they are aware of how to present, handle and store food," he said.

He said people should not worry about internet stories about overseas experiences with similar legislation, and the Government has previously stated the bill will not affect those who grow food and swap it with neighbours or friends.

"Compliance officers over in the US operated too harshly and without impunity and there is a concern in New Zealand that these people would have unfettered authority and I think that is a concern that has to be answered," he said.

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Comments

13 Jan 2012 03:35p.m.

ian wrote:

Here is a chance for the Labour Party to show that for once in a hell of a long time, that they are not totally useless and, STOP THE BILL.The true reason for the introduction of this Food Bill is hidden.Follow the money trail to find the corrupt motivation.

12 Jan 2012 02:27p.m.

jan wrote:

nothing to fear, thats like "this won't hurt a bit" and it does. true it is further contol of us. there is enough legistlation to prosecute someone without a new law. the greens are just like the pigs in animal farm. The greens are standing on 2 feet just like the humans (national) do. political survival no doubt, but we new zealanders are having our culture chipped away under the guise of health and safety.

12 Jan 2012 11:03a.m.

John wrote:

@wiseacre: Bang on. But what can we DO about it? Thousands of NZ citizens have been bitching, moaning and complaining about this behaviour by our government for ages... nothing is changing. How can we get REAL change? @pondering: I've never dared sell goods I've made myself, for fear of what the government would do. Imagine making something - say, kids dolls - and selling them to local new mums all year long. Then getting a bill from Mr IRD for $15,000 and being threatened with jail for tax evasion? Happened to a friend's mum. You can't just MAKE something and SELL it nowadays. It's illegal.

12 Jan 2012 10:40a.m.

Ricardo wrote:

The Greens support this bill. Is there something they know that we don't? Or are they also lapdogs?

12 Jan 2012 10:09a.m.

pondering wrote:

@ Wiseacre: Well put. It also defies the government proclamations that in this time of high unemployment and harsh economy; the little people of NZ should be more industrious, motivated and innovative in their means of making a supplementary or primary income by doing what they can with what they have as a home industry. As in selling home made crafts and goods. NZ still a relatively new nation , has been built on DIY and helping each other out . This legislation goes against our Kiwi grain.

12 Jan 2012 08:28a.m.

Wiseacre wrote:

As was so clearly - and painfully - apparent during the *debate* over the so-called 'Skynet' file-sharing law, our politicians are woefully ignorant about the legislation they push through. A cursory glance over the Food Bill makes it clear that Kate Wilkinson hasn't read the bill, is ignorant of what is in the bill, and has not considered the implications of this bill for New Zealanders - or she is being deliberately misleading. Kate Wilkinson has clearly demonstrated - over the public notification of applications to mine on conservation land issue - that she has no integrity, and her word is not to be trusted. Her job is merely to obfuscate the issues, sneer at and disparage the critics, and get the legislation pushed through by any means necessary - democracy be damned. Our politicians don't write these pieces of legislation - they are written by and for multinational business interests. The political elite no longer serve the will and the good of the people - they are no more than corporate stooges, implementing the multinational corporate agenda of the 1%, for the 1%. This is not about safety - this is about control. If you control the food, you control the people.

12 Jan 2012 12:29a.m.

John wrote:

"He said people should not worry about internet stories about overseas experiences with similar legislation" - perhaps we shouldn't worry about stories of corrupt politicians as well?

11 Jan 2012 06:50p.m.

Vicki wrote:

The response from National MP doesn't address the issue of the small operators who are attending farmers markets who are selling to the public but making a small profit, obviously we will no longer be able to viably do this once this legislation is passed as that is who the National party want to stop so that the rich companies like Monsanto profit. This is especially relevant given the rise in popularity of the farmers markets over the past few years.