Bird Flu: Keep Distance, Wash Hands, Report It
OPINION: It's a tough pill to swallow that bird flu (avian influenza) has finally arrived in New Zealand. This is a moment many of us have hoped would never come.
Now is a key time on the world stage for food safety with regulations and requirements changing worldwide and impacting the entire food chain of suppliers and producers.
New Zealand's supply chain with China is at the forefront of the inaugural Food Integrity Conference 2016.
Initiated by local company, Asia Pacific Centre for Food Integrity, the Conference aims to provide a forum for discussion on current issues facing food producers both in New Zealand and in China.
Developing markets, especially China, are driving New Zealand's food and beverage export growth with Asia now the largest destination region.
Asia Pacific Centre for Food Integrity, executive director and conference organiser, Dr Helen Darling, sees great potential for New Zealand to play globally as a leader in food safety and security.
"We see this conference as an exciting opportunity for like-minded people to have conversations about the international regulatory environment," says Darling.
"We need to avoid everyone reinventing the wheel – New Zealand is a small country and to be competitive in the international marketplace we need to share knowledge and leadership. This Conference is an exciting and relevant forum to do this."
High powered international and local speakers have literally been lining up to speak, says Darling.
"It's really exciting to see the enthusiasm of both international and New Zealand experts in the food industry lining up to be involved in the Conference.
"I believe it's an indication of the need for a forum of this kind for food producers, manufacturers and exporters."
International keynote speakers include Col. John Hoffman from the USA, retired from a 31 year military career, Hoffman is now with the Food Protection and Defence Institute – a US Department of Homeland Security Centre of Excellence based at Minnesota University.
Sonia Bradley from the World Bank, Global Food Safety Programme, will start day two of the Conference with a key note address on Global Food Safety.
Speakers from China include Professor Wu, Chief Scientist, China National Centre of Food Risk Assessment in Beijing; and Kevin Wang, Editor-in-Chief, China Food Safety Magazine.
Local business woman Rachael Speedy is a vibrant and passionate speaker with a formidable reputation gained from running her successful company, NZ Premium Foods. Well renowned for exporting premium New Zealand food and beverages to South East Asia, as well as throughout New Zealand, Rachael is also involved in organising the Conference.
Australasian based Karl Ye, managing director, GMP Pharmaceuticals, joins executive director Export NZ, Catherine Beard and Hamish Findlay, general manager, ESR Ltd to discuss export opportunities.
