May 2, 2007

New Zealand hopes to resume meat exports to Malaysia

The New Zealand meat industry is awaiting the result of an inspection of halal slaughter practices at meat processing plants so exports can resume to Malaysia.

Malaysia suspended meat from New Zealand since 2005, after inspectors found that most New Zealand abattoirs do not fully comply with halal slaughter practices required by Muslim consumers.

Inspectors from the Malaysian Islamic authority finished a new audit of New Zealand meat plants last week.

It would be known in a month whether Malaysia would let New Zealand gain an entry into the market.

During a recent visit to New Zealand, the Malaysian Agriculture Minister said he would expect the trade to resume almost immediately if no problems arises during the audits.

The ban has cost New Zealand about $NZ 40 million (US$29.5 million) in lost sales over the past two years.