WELLINGTON: The Infant Formula Exporters Association says $1.5 million worth of New Zealand infant formula has been stopped from entering China at the border today.
An angry association chairman, Michael Barnett, told ONE News the formula was held at a port in Shanghai. Mr Barnett says the Chinese now want verification that all products going across the border have had a 1080 test and they’ll be conducting random tests as well.
The Ministry for Primary Industries, however, says no action has been taken that would prevent export trade.
ONE News political editor Corin Dann says there seems to be a bit of stand-off going on and he thinks we’ll hear more about this in coming days. Dann says our dairy industry should be worried by China’s move to start testing, and particularly the smaller players.
The development comes as the Government has rushed through new rules to tighten security around the handling of 1080 and as authorities and retailers continue to reassure consumers that milk powder is safe.
Around 12 research laboratories have access to concentrated 1080. They keep it under lock and key, but Environment Minister Nick Smith concedes a blackmailer might have got it from there.
Dr Smith says he’s putting extra requirements on research labs, which have previously had an exemption.
However, while the Government can rush through new regulations, it can’t control international fallout from this scare. A CNN presenter interviewing Corin Dann said: “This is so disturbing, I think, to anyone who hears this.”
