Newest Green MP, Mojo Mathers has written her first Frogblog post, on the Food Bill and brings us up to date on what seems to be a very ill-defined position from the Government. She writes:
"In the last Parliament Sue Kedgley met with the Minister of Food Safety Kate Wilkinson and sought to exempt small growers, people who sell food directly to consumers, and those who barter or swap food, from some of the more onerous food regulations contained in the new Food Bill.
This bill, which is currently before Parliament, will replace the 1981 Food Act.
Sue called publicly for these groups to be exempted. Unfortunately so far as we know the Minister has failed to move on our concerns. One small win however was an assurance from Ms Wilkinson that she would be revisiting the issues surrounding seed exchanges with officials.
However given the Food Bill is not yet law, there is still plenty of time for amendments to be made. It is due to be debated again in the next Parliament and is yet to go through its second reading, committee stages and third reading stages.
This is why I am looking to get feedback from those who grow and sell food regarding their thoughts on the Food Bill."
Mojo ends with: " If the freedom to grow and share food is threatened by the Food Bill, the Green Party will be opposing it."
Good stuff.
Further more...
Oooby have this information for anyone concerned:
A message to all members of Ooooby (http://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action?xg_source=activity) Many of you will be aware of the Food Bill that is due to be passed through Parliament over the summer holidays. This Bill directly effects Ooooby and its members. In a nutshell, if the new Food Bill is passed then 'unexempted' sharing and trading of homegrown food would be a criminal offence. This sounds ridiculous I know, but it is true. We're not into scare mongering here at Ooooby and it would be remiss of us to not respond to this considering the relevance. One thing you can do is to sign this online petition. http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-gov... (http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-government-food-bill-160-2/1301) There are over 14,000 signatures already and we need 50,000 to make ourselves heard. Another thing you can do is forward this to as many people as you know. At this link are three independent interpretations of the Food Bill. http://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action They are a longish read (nowhere near as long as the actual Food Bill itself) and they highlight the main points of concern. If you have any ideas on how else we can prevent this Bill from going through, please let us all know in the comments at this link (http://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action?xg_source=activity). Visit Ooooby at: http://ooooby.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
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8 comments:
What's your take on the Food Bill. Robert? How will it affect you and what you do? The links are useful, but a little impersonal for an issue I thought you might feel strongly about.
My opinion of this law is if it is too intrusive I will actively subvert it, otherwise I will ignore it.
If the worst case scenario comes into being, there will be a mass descending upon of local police stations with gardeners turning themselves in for saving seeds, swapping vegetables and associated activities. Talk about a harvest glut. I need to do more reading and talking then I will post on my findings and position. I appreciate any input.
Any information gratefully received.
If it's any worse than the minor amount of research I've done has shown, it will be first on my list next time Shunda asks "how have we gone backwards under National?"
The Greens had the chance to be part of the government but their blinders preventing them from looking sideways a little.
What fun it will be for them sitting on the sidelines watching as the world changes around them and the only part they will now play is to complain....
Animal, being part of Government is about confidence and supply. The Greens would be morally bankrupt if they supported or abstained on giving confidence and supply to a Government that has already signed confidence and supply agreements with other parties to sell off state assets, gut the welfare state, reintroduce youth rates, mine lignite etc.
And I suspect doing so would put the Greens out of Parliament at the next election.
But the Food Bill is not a confidence and supply issue. It is something the Greens can negotiate and pressure the Government on,regardless of confidence and supply, and there is still a chance of getting an outcome that is acceptable. I'm confident Mojo will be doing her best to make them see reason on this.
Go Mojo.
I voted for a party that is not morally bankrupt, Animal.
Did you?
Robert, your efforts in publicising this issue is appreciated. Corporates and Bureaucrats must be kept out of local food issues.
{And hopefully we can keep GE/GMOs out as well!}
Thanks FBB. I know too little, presently, to comment authoritively, though behind the scenes, I've been receiving some disturbing emails on the topic, such as this one (not my opinion, but an example of the depth of feeling and concern 'out there'):
"Main problems with Food Bill 160-2 :
1. Home & small growers who grow small amounts of food and sell
locally NEED to be exempt - they are not.
2. Seeds for cultivation and food seedlings NEED TO NOT BE within the definition 'food' under the Bill. (This is huge - imagine you not being able to produce seed and give away!!). This sounds crazy but seeds will be 'explicitly controlled substances' (like drugs) - seriously. Why? Not sci-fi - in time whoever controls the food chain
protects their own interests. (This is so unbelievable that I believe this is why we are not acting.)
3. Under the Food Bill, Police acting as Food Safety Officers can raid premises without a warrant, using all equipment they deem necessary -
including guns (Clause 265 -1) (What is the precedent for this? Why is this necessary?)
4. Members of the private sector can also be Food Safety
Officers, as at Clause 243. Eg. Monsanto employees can raid premises -
including marae - backed up by armed police. (This has never happened before
or needed to happen).
5. AND Food Safety Officers have immunity from criminal and civil prosecution. What is the precedent for this?
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