Horticulture New Zealand is demanding mandatory country of origin labeling as the country’s food authorities are caught up in a chemical-obsession, it claims.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has announced a list of 179 melamine-affected products which warns New Zealand’s food importers to be careful what they import, and from where.

The NZFSA’s list of “Suspect Products Identified in Other Markets as Containing Melamine" has been steadily growing since last September.

Horticulture New Zealand ceo Peter Silcock said: “What the NZFSA seems to be missing is that the whole melamine saga calls into question the level of confidence and trust consumers can have in the safety and assurance systems operating in China. This is not just about melamine.”

New Zealand does not have mandatory country of origin labeling laws, so the Kiwi consumer must relies on food manufacturers and retailers to guarantee the safety of the products they import.

“Once again we see policy giving all the choice to food manufacturers and retailers and none to consumers.

“Issuing this list misses the point completely. The FSA is shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted.

“If Kiwi consumers had the information on the pack in the first place, they could make their own purchasing decisions, based on the credibility of the food production regulation in another country, or any other criteria,” said Silcock

Most of the products listed by NZFSA are connected with dairy, but the list includes soyabeans, drinks and cooking ingredients like ammonium bicarbonate.