The Labour Party is considering withdrawing its support for legislation reforming food safety standards, which would end cross-party support for the bill and weaken its chances of becoming law.
But the Food Bill is still likely to be passed because National needs only two more votes from its support partners to get the measure through its second and third readings.
The bill would set up a risk-based food safety framework that would replace 30-year-old legislation, but it has been criticised for its potential effect on community growers and small-scale food traders.
It was reported back from a select committee more than a year ago with broad support, but Green MP Steffan Browning has since said he will push for further amendments to exempt small traders from having to comply with unnecessary red tape. He also said the proposed powers for food safety officers were excessive, including giving them immunity from civil and criminal liability.
Mr Browning could not say if the Green Party's ongoing support for the bill was conditional on further changes because he had not had a chance to discuss it with the caucus.