GE Free New Zealand says Fonterra must ensure food safety with its infant formula exports into China.
The dairy co-operative has announced its intention to invest $615 million in a partnership with Chinese firm Beingmate. Part of the deal is an agreement to market Fonterra's Anmum brand formula, produced in New Zealand, through Beingmate's extensive distribution network in China.
GE Free New Zealand president Claire Bleakley said safety was paramount following last year's botulism scare.
"We do believe that Fonterra's supply chain was compromised highly by the botulism scare. It must ensure that its food chain is safe and that any consumer can be guaranteed of a high quality, GE-free, uncontaminated, pesticide-free product".
Ms Bleakley said there was a significant risk of GE contamination from dairy cows being fed genetically modified maize and soy imported into New Zealand for stock feed.
