Jonathan Chew: Infant Nutrition Council CEO on New Zealand opposing proposed new regulations for infant formula

New Zealand and Australia will go their own way when it comes to infant formula regulation.

Ministers of both nations met today to discuss a controversial food-safety proposal which would impact product labels and sales.

It's understood Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard sought a review over the proposal - but failed.

Infant Nutrition Council CEO Jonathan Chew says Australia has accepted the proposal as-is.

"New Zealand will exercise its right to seek its own modifications for the standards relating to the labelling issue - and possibly the restriction of sales."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, Unfortunately it's not sounding very good for New Zealand.
On the issue of the infant formula. New Zealand and
Australian ministers met today to try to figure out whether
they wanted to accept new regulations for infant formula. We
are yet to hear officially what happened, but it's understood
Australian ministers voted to adopt the rule changes with me
now as Jonathan Chew from the Infant Nutrition Council. Hey, Jonathan,

(00:20):
how are you going? I'm very well, thank you. What
have you heard?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
I've heard the same thing. We're waiting for the official
communicator come out. But my understanding is the New Zealand minister,
Minister Hogar did what he said he was going to do.
He asked for a review that was rejected by the
Australian ministers. So my understanding he has announced that New
Zealand will seek its own modification for the relevant standards right.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
And does that mean that we will we will be
able to do our own thing or not.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yes, that's my understanding that New Zealand will exercise its
right to seek its own modification for the standards relating
to the labeling issue. That we've been talking about, and
possibly the restriction on sales for the low risk medical
purpose products as well.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
Okay, so from your understanding, absolutely can opt out of
the white labeling, which is where ever can has to
look the same. But you're not sounding quite as confident
about the sale and the supermarkets.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Why not, only because we haven't had the official word yet.
It's certainly open to the New Zealand government to opt
out of both, and are really just waiting to see
what the Communicat says and waiting for the Minister to
let us know what the direction the New Zealand government's
going to take. But they certainly have the option to
do both.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, so problem solve, right, we're unaffected.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well, I'm hoping that's the outcome again. You know, New
Zealand's sovereign country has the ability to do its own
standards if it notifies the Zans it's not happy with
the proposal as is. And the government stood up and
said that's what we were going to do. And we
welcome the fact that they listened to industry and took
our ferns seriously and tried to get the reviews. And

(02:04):
because they were unsuccessful in convincing. The Australians are now
looking to go their own way.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
Okay, now, Jonathan, does this have any impact on us
in terms of our product on Australians Australians supermarket shelves.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Again, there's a little bit of devil in the detail.
But my understanding news under the TTMRA agreement, if the
New Zealand product is manufactured in New Zealand for sale
in New Zealand, then it can be exported to Australia
as is. It doesn't need to have further modifications.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Why are the Australians going along with something as patently
stupid as this.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Unfortunately, I think that there's an understanding or a belief
with some Australian ministers and officials that in order to
protect breastfeeding you have to make formula feeding as complicated
or as unappealing as possible. We say that you can
protect and promote breastfeeding by helping women who want and

(03:00):
can breast speed have to have, you know, whatever barriers
that are stopping and removed without creating complications and confusion
for parents who have to rely on formula.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Jonathan, thank you very much for talking us through. It's
Jonathan chew the Infant Nutritional Council. Well, if the Australians
want to go down this wacky path, good, all power
to them and hopefully we hold out forever on it.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
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