“However, conscious of the need to resolve matters promptly and in anticipation of full co-operation from all participants, the inquiry’s present estimate is that it will require until Friday, November 28 (six months) to present its final report.
“Participants with whom the inquiry has consulted have accepted this as a realistic estimate,” she said.
The first stage of the inquiry has explored regulations and policies relating to food safety events and how they could be strengthened, Guy said.
The second stage would examine how the potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate entered the New Zealand and international markets and the subsequent response.
That could not begin until the MPI compliance investigation was complete, sentencing had occurred, and the appeal period had expired.
“Following the first stage of the inquiry, which found that NZ’s food safety system is world leading, ministers want the inquiry to report back on the final stage of its work as quickly as possible,” Kaye said.
