Dairy Industry Restructuring Act Passes First Reading at Parliament
NEW ZEALAND - The Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, or DIRA Bill, has narrowly passed its first reading at Parliament, 63 votes to 57.
28 August 2019
1 minute read
The changes proposed by the government follow a lengthy review of 18 year-old-rules governing Fonterra and the farmers that supply it.
Fonterra was given near monopoly status after dairy industry restructuring in 2001. The DIRA was put in place to regulate Fonterra, with the aim of protecting the long-term interests of farmers, consumers and the wider economy.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor told Parliament the industry had changed considerably since 2001.
Fonterra's market share had fallen from 96 percent to about 80 percent, and legislation needed to be updated to reflect that, he said.
"Moving into that different situation it is important that Fonterra are not exposed to all the risks and that its competitors pick up all the opportunities," Mr O'Connor said.
He said the changes would give Fonterra increased rights to refuse milk from farmers who do not meet required standards on the environment, employment conditions or animal welfare.
There would also be a relaxed, but not removed, obligation by Fonterra to supply milk to its rivals.
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Source: Radio NZ
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