13398 (2026). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister for Food Safety

13398 (2026). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister for Food Safety: Has the Ministry for Primary Industries given the Minister any assurances that it has fully considered the implications for food safety of its proposal to transfer meat inspection responsibilities from AsureQuality to meat processing companies, and if so, what information and evidence are these assurances based on?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: The Ministry for Primary Industries advises that the proposals provided for in the draft Animal Products Notices have been developed in line with international guidelines, including the Codex Alimentarius Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat, the intent of the Animal Products Act 1999, and to meet the expectations of overseas markets. Prior to releasing the draft Notices, MPI considered a range of risks, including food safety.