9 October 2024
Ref: REQ-0003248
John Wilson
Email: [FYI request #28451 email]
Tēnā koe John Wilson
Thank you for your email of 20 September 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
The recent terror attacks by Israel in Lebanon involving consumer electronic goods raise significant
concerns about the safety of items coming from, transiting through, or associated with the Israeli
state. Given these circumstances, I would like to inquire about the following:
1.
What risk assessments has MBIE conducted regarding the safety of imported goods from
Israel and those potentially affected by Israeli interference in supply chains?
2.
How does MBIE monitor and evaluate the safety of products entering New Zealand that
Israeli actions may have impacted?
3.
Is MBIE considering notifying consumers about potential safety risks associated with products
that Israel may have influenced or interfered with?
4.
Is MBIE collaborating with international agencies to assess the safety of imported goods and
supply chains that may have been affected by Israeli actions?
In response to parts 1, 3 and 4 of your request, MBIE currently does not have any risk assessment
processes in place for imported goods arriving from Israel, and are not collaborating with any
international agencies in regard to the safety assessments of import goods and supply chains potentially
affected by Israel.
As for your query for part 2 of the request, there are no specific processes to monitor products that may
have been affected by Israel. You can find more information on how MBIE monitors and evaluates
product safety risks in general here: https://www.productsafety.govt.nz/about-us.
As MBIE does not hold any of the information requested, I am refusing your request under section 18(g)(i)
of the Act -
that the information requested is not held by the department or venture or Minister of the
Crown or organisation and the person dealing with the request has no grounds for believing that the
information is either held by another department (for itself and for a departmental agency hosted by it or
an interdepartmental executive board serviced by it) or interdepartmental venture or Minister of the
Crown or organisation, or by a local authority.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact [email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Glen Hildreth
Manager, Consumer Policy
Commerce, Consumer and Business
