Another New Zealand safety scare, this time from Westland Milk Products, has prompted the country's Ministry for Primary Industry (MPI) to explore new safety measures for the dairy sector.
MPI acting director-general Scott Gallacher said NZ ministers had established an inquiry process to create long term recommendations on how to improve New Zealand's food safety system in relation to dairy, and in the meantime, the MPI was also considering a number of interim measures.
"The reality is the convergence of events over the last six months has sparked debate about some elements of our food system. We need to respond to that.”
Earlier this week, export certificates were revoked for four China-bound consignments of lactoferrin manufactured by Westland Milk Products after tests in China found they contained high nitrate levels.
The company's CEO Rod Quin said in a statement that it looked as if cleaning products containing nitrates were not properly flushed from its factory. All the contaminated product was located and quarantined.
According to the MPI, the food safety risk to Chinese consumers was negligible because of the small quantities of lactoferrin used in consumer products.
However, this safety scare followed hot on the heels of Fonterra's recent whey protein concentrate contamination in which tests found a bacteria that can cause botulism.
"Our dairy sector trades on New Zealand's reputation, and that reputation is built on the strong assurances our regulatory system provides, and the quality of New Zealand's products," Gallacher said.
The interim measures being considered by the MPI include lifting the regulatory presence in manufacturing premises and lifting the level and nature of testing across dairy production to improve the identification of non-compliance issues.
The MPI said it was also considering running tracing simulations to test the capability of the industry to rapidly track and trace product through their supply chains, and increasing reviews of the risk management plans dairy producers have for manufacturing facilities.
"At the same time, MPI is also increasing the level of analysis it routinely undertakes of regulatory non-compliance across the dairy sector. We will be looking for trends that will help us identify whether there are any further interim measures that may be required," Gallacher said.
New Zealand's MPI is considering a number of interim measures to improve New Zealand's food safety system in relation to dairy.
