The independent New Zealand ‘Ministry for Food’ proposed by a cross-party committee of MPs would have cost NZ$6.6m (US$2.9m), reveal papers issued under the Official Information Act.
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Instead, the Treasury preferred the agency to find a home within the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry (MAF), with the Health Ministry sharing some of the workload. This option costs just NZ$380-700,000, reported the Stuff newspaper.
MPs had favoured the alternative option, as they were concerned that producer interests would prevail over those of consumers. However, it is thought that the high-profile of the work of the new agency will prevent an undue focus on producer interests.
The authority, which will employ more than 125 staff, is expected to be up and running by 1 July. Its remit will include food monitoring and surveillance, imported food controls, education and promotion, food standards, nutrition policy, government coordination, emergency response, food borne illness control and international coordination.
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