Almost a month after John Key’s trip to China to ease fears over Fonterra’s botulism scare, their products are still being blocked by Chinese authorities.
Fonterra’s whey powder and base powder for infant formula are still blocking blocked, ONE News can reveal.
John Key doesn’t think the trip was a waste of time.
«My understanding is that a lot of product is moving across the border, there were one or two small areas they were working on but the vast bulk of their products is going across the border as I understand it,» says Mr Key.
But Labour MP Damien O’Connor says it shows the Prime Minister failed to do his job.
«I thought John Key’s trip to China was to open up and reassure the Chinese market that Fonterra was producing safe product, clearly the Chinese are not convinced – John Key hasn’t done his job,» says Mr O’Conner.
Whey and base infant formula reportedly make up about 10% of Fonterra’s $2 billion exports to China.
Fonterra said in a statement that it supports the Government’s continued efforts to resolve this specific restriction but the Food and Safety Minister says it’s unlikely to be eased until the Government inquiry has been completed.
«This has provided a huge opportunity for Fonterra’s competitors and I’m sure they’re laughing all the way to the bank,» says Mr O’Connor.
However Mr Key says it’s just a matter of working through the appropriate processes.
«They need to work their way through the process – in the end the Chinese are in control of that.»
Source: TVNZ
