Allow consumers the option to pick up raw milk from a collection point

The Minister for Food Safety (Jo Goodhew) has announced the new rules for raw milk sales and this will stop delivery of raw milk for consumers to pick up from a collection point.

In summary:


1. Raw milk can be sold by a farmer to a consumer in unlimited quantities.
2. The consumer cannot on-sell the milk.
3. Farm pick-up is allowed but NOT DROP OFF/COLLECTION POINTS.
4. Home deliveries by the farmer to the consumer is
allowed.

Point 3 above would exclude a lot of raw milk suppliers and this would hurt a number of small farmers/dairies. The Raw Milk Producers Association of NZ, has met with the Minister and it is clear that drop-off points are not an option.

Being a consumer we want to reverse this line of thinking.
The draft legislation goes to cabinet on 18 November 2015 and will come into effect on 1 March 2016.

https://mpi.govt.nz/document-vault/8280

We do not believe that collection points would result in increased illness. We do not want the option taken away that allows us to obtain a whole real food from a collection point where many consumers have been safely doing for years. Taking away this option will stop access to raw milk for many consumers.

If the government has concerns about collection points in retail businesses, then we suggest allowing collection points on private properties away from retail outlets.