Milk formula trip no Chinese junket for Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith

An all-expenses-paid trip to China was an opportunity to understand the Chinese milk formula market, and nothing else, Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith says.
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Smith copped criticism from political rivals who claimed he was on a 10-day visit to Shanghai and Guangzhou in late January to push infant milk formula in China on behalf of New Zealand-based manufacturer GMP Dairy.
GMP Dairy is a NZ-registered company with a business address in East Tamaki, Auckland.
Labour primary industries spokesman Damien O’Connor​ said Smith, and fellow National backbencher Jamie-Lee Ross, toured as guests of GMP Dairy which covered the costs.
O’Connor said the two MPs were acting as «salespeople» helping sell GMP Dairy’s product, which had gained exclusive access to the lucrative Chinese market while other NZ exporters were being shut out.
GMP Dairy had earlier made a $25,000 donation to the National Party, O’Connor told RNZ.
O’Connor called the situation «unfortunate».
Smith said he did not know what O’Connor based his allegations on, and that O’Connor was trying to score political points.
«He’s in the opposition so I guess he would say these things,» Smith said.
Labour MPs had travelled to Taiwan on a similar trip, he said.
Smith said he did not go to China as a salesman for GMP Dairy.says
«The visit was an opportunity for me, and Jamie-Lee Ross, to get a better understanding of the Chinese infant formula market.»
He gave speeches on food safety to Chinese government officials at conferences in Shanghai and Guangzhou, he said.
«My speech focused on the process of dairy product from farm to distributor, and the checks made to ensure high standard of food safety during the process,» he said.
Food safety was an important topic for the Chinese consumers of infant milk formula and they were concerned that processes were being strictly followed, he said.
Bar codes on every can of formula were used to track where a product originated from, he said.
Smith said the trip revealed lots of opportunities in China for New Zealand infant and adult milk formulas including organic adult formulas.
GMP Dairy paid for the trip, including airfares and accommodation, but he was unaware if there was any connection to the $25,000 donation by the company to the National Party, he said.
«All MPs have the ability to take paid trips which are not funded by the taxpayer.
«I think many taxpayers may prefer it that way.»
Two GMP Dairy company directors Yufeng Wang and Wen Xu live in China, while a third, Qing Ye, lived in Auckland.
The company’s major shareholder was Challenger Global Investments Limited, based in the British Virgin Islands.
GMP Pharmaceuticals Ltd, based in East Tamaki, had a 49 per cent shareholding.
 
Source: Stuff
 

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