Consumer Affairs

October 2009 - Consumer Issues Update

The many concerns and topics requiring not only a consumer viewpoint but also response following stakeholder consultation on a wide range of subjects lead to participation in policy development. These included food safety issues, labelling of food products, food additives, product safety, therapeutic and liquor advertising, concerns regarding prices of dairy products, chemicals in swimming pools, alcohol content in cans and drinks, health warnings on packaged alcohol and many more.

Submissions prepared and submitted over the last year were less in number than recent years, probably due to the election and change of Government in November 2008.

• Voluntary Addition of Fluoride to Packaged Water (Food Standards Australia New Zealand December 2008
• Front of Pack Labelling Policy Guideline (New Zealand Food Safety-Authority March 2009)
• Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill Government Bill (August 2009)
• Child Restraint Systems for use in Motor Vehicles (Standards Australia New Zealand August 2009)
• Regulation of Infant Formula Products (New Zealand Food Safety Authority FSANZ August 2009)

Consumer Affairs has, over many years, made comment on and prepared many submissions on food safety issues addressed by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA). The implementation of the Domestic Food Review which will offer greater protection for the consumer by ensuring the safety, suitability and service of the food across all sectors of the food industry will continue to take place over the next 5 years.

Food Control Plans (FCP‘s) were introduced voluntarily and implementation commenced in August 2008 for the food service and catering sector. Benefits for both food operators and councils are starting to show according to those overseeing the introduction of the programme. They have highlighted a number of successful strategies and identified areas where changes would be beneficial; a positive start following implementation which will help to reduce the rate of food borne illnesses in New Zealand - one of the key objectives of the project.

A pharmaceutical issue the Consumer Affairs Standing Committee has continued to maintain interest in is the Therapeutic Advertising Pre-Vetting System (TAPS) and a member of the Committee has represented NCWNZ at the meetings held in Auckland at the Association of NZ Advertisers offices. The TAPS meeting is followed by the Liquor Advertising Pre-Vetting System (LAPS) Code Consultative meeting. The forum is made up of representatives from only a few consumer groups, pharmaceutical and medical companies, Ministry of Health and the Advertising Standards Authority and conveners annually.

The meetings are interesting and informative and give details of the amount of work, monitoring and pre-vetting of advertisements that is carried out during the year by adjudicators. This ensures consumer protection by adherence to the Standards required for liquor and therapeutic advertising before publication or release to the media. The meeting attendees were able to preview a selection of television and print advertisement for therapeutic and liquor products and make comment when reviewed and discussed at the meeting.

The Executive Director of the ASA commented on the success of the complaints system available for the public to complain about advertisements which they found offensive, sexually explicit or of concern particularly alcohol advertising covertly directed at young people. She outlined the total number of complaints received over the year and the action taken, either, upheld, not upheld, settled or withdrawn.

The Consumer Affairs Standing Committee has focused and will continue to focus on monitoring consumer rights and area of special concern e.g. country of origin labelling, alcohol content in cans and bottles of ready mixed drinks, alcohol advertising, addition of folic acid to flour, energy efficient light bulbs and other issues or concerns raised by the NCW members and Branches.