May 26, 2005

New Zealand's grain-growers fear bird flu risk in Malaysian feed

Grain growers are concerned at the potential risk of bird flu posed by importing stock feed from Malaysia and the possible threat to the bio-security defences. New Zealand imports some 100,000 tonnes of the soap manufacturing waste product annually for use as a feed supplement.

Valetta grain grower and mid-Canterbury Federated Farmers grains section vice-chairman David Clark said yesterday he was among farmers calling for importers to provide proof of the product's safety.

Reports of palm kernel being contaminated with bird droppings have been received and the concern is that diseases, mainly avian bird flu, could be carried in the shipments.

Grains Council of New Zealand spokesman Colin MacKinnon also said that Malaysia was known to harbour not just avian bird flu but also exotic forms of salmonella and foot-and-mouth disease.