Ministry mulling closer tabs on dairy

The Westland Milk Products alarm has added to the Ministry for Primary Industries' plan to monitor the dairy industry more closely. Photo / NZPA

The Ministry for Primary Industries says it is exploring interim measures to strengthen consumer assurances about dairy production after the recent food contamination scares.

The ministry's move follows an announcement on Monday from Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products that a small amount of lactoferrin powder had been quarantined in China after tests there showed it contained higher-than-permissible nitrate levels.

Among the measures proposed, the ministry said it was looking at raising the "regulatory presence" at dairy manufacturing sites.

"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," said the ministry's acting director-general, Scott Gallacher.

"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."

He said the ministry was considering simulations to test the capability of the industry to rapidly track and trace product through their supply chains and increased reviews of the risk management plans at manufacturing facilities.

The ministry was also increasing the level of analysis it routinely undertakes across the dairy sector.

Gallacher said the ministry's testing regimes were thorough and robust when compared with the world's leading dairy-producing nations.

The Westland incident follows news this month that China had temporarily suspended imports of whey powder from Fonterra after three batches were found to contain clostridium, a bacterium that can cause botulism.