Anti-Greens Knee-Jerk From Meat Board

The New Zealand Meat Board is trying to silence the Green Party after release of the party's "safe food" policy.

Board group executive, special projects, Allan Frazer has written to Health Minister Bill English and Food and Fibre Minister John Luxton asking them to "take action now" against the Greens' policy, released last month.

Greens Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says the board has accused her of "grossly inaccurate claims" but has totally failed to give a single example.

"However I suspect the board is annoyed by European concern about antibiotics in our animal feeds and possible pesticide residues in our livestock," she says.

"New Zealand's lack of labelling of genetically-modified foods is not compatible with the European market either.

"Rather than address those concerns the board is trying to make the Green Party a scapegoat.

"The Meat Board will fail hopelessly to sell its products to discerning health-conscious Europeans if it makes a habit of attacking organic farmers and food safety advocates in this way."