Key acts on folic acid debate

Colin Espiner reports:

Prime Minister John Key has asked Crown lawyers to help the Government get out of the new folic acid food standard.

Yesterday, Key asked Crown Law to find ways to free the Government from its legal obligations to implement a requirement that folic acid be added to bread from September.

Pleased to see the PM get involved. It is highly desirable to get an out before September.

And Martin Kay has good news:

New Zealand has effectively been given the green light to axe rules forcing bakers to add folic acid to bread from September.

The office of Australian parliamentary secretary for health Mark Butler told The Dominion Post it was New Zealand’s call whether to proceed with the trans-Tasman standard, agreed in 2007.

“Whilst the Australian Government will maintain a keen interest in what New Zealand decides, decisions on New Zealand standards are the responsibility of the New Zealand Government. As permitted under the [food] treaty, New Zealand has opted out of the joint standard and so their standard is nothing to do with the Australian Government.”

That sounds encouraging. If the Ausies are not going to get upset, what is the issue?