August 6, 2007

New Zealand pig farmers urge government to maintain strict border control

Swine producers in New Zealand pig farmers are urging the government to maintain existing strict border controls to keep untreated pork from entering the country.

Since 2001, uncooked pork has been restricted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), due to

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus.

According to Chris Trengrove, chairman of the pork industry board, some countries with endemic PRRS have complained about New Zealand's rule on meat exports to be quarantined and cooked before entering the territory, dubbing it as "unfair trade".

MAF has been looking into lessening the regulations though Trengrove said that relaxing the regulations could be "potentially dangerous". He added that average pork consumption has increased, as well as imports, which raised concern over the government's intentions to relax requirements.

The Pork Industry Board spent "a small fortune" gathering strong technical and scientific evidence which showed the risks of untreated pork entering the country from countries where the PRRS virus was endemic.

Trengrove also noted, "Biosecurity New Zealand reviewed the submissions and we were dismayed to learn that they intend to proceed and alter the import health standard to allow imported pork into this country that puts the viability of our industry at risk."