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February 2019 Edition
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The needle and the damage done Toughening up: Harsher penalties are on the cards for those involved in food contamination like the recent ‘needles in the strawberries’ scare.
Tougher punishments for food contamination terrorism ❚ by Kent Caddick
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Farmers’ organisations are backing a move to change the law to allow for harsher penalties for those who intentionally contaminate food, or threaten to do so. The Crimes (Contamination Offences) Amendment Bill has been drafted by National MP Nathan Guy, formerly the Minister for Biosecurity. It comes in the wake of last year’s Australian strawberry needle scare which triggered copycat offences in New Zealand. Thousands of strawberries had to be destroyed as needles started showing up in the fruit across stores. Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says people need to understand the full and serious implications of such sabotage.
“People may think they are being funny but in fact, they could damage the international reputation of New Zealand as a source of safe food, affecting our trade and consequently, the country’s balance sheet. “They can also cause economic, physical, and psychological damage to food producers who may have to destroy crops, lay off staff, and deal with reputational damage. “There could be food shortages, and there are certainly impacts on consumers, particularly those who are on the receiving end of any deliberate contamination and the stress that might cause them. “These are serious impacts and we believe intentional acts to contaminate food, or threaten to do so, should be aligned in law with similar crimes and aligned with penalties in Australia.
“New Zealand food producers have many systems and processes in place to ensure they provide safe food, and spend a lot of time and money meeting all the requirements to do that. “If their food is sabotaged once it leaves their business, they can rightly expect that to be treated as a crime, and punished in proportion to the serious impacts.” Federated Farmers Food Safety spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said the needle scares crushed spirits and trust. “You do not deliberately contaminate food without wanting to cause terror. “These are deliberate acts designed to cause incredible anxiety and economic sabotage,” Chapman said.
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