May 25, 2006

New Zealand achieves mad-cow-free status

The recent confirmation of New Zealand as a mad-cow-free country is fantastic news, said Deputy Chairman of Meat & Wool New Zealand Mike Petersen.

The announcement, made by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Paris two weeks ago, confirmed New Zealand's premier biosecurity status, Petersen said.

Other countries also achieving the status were Australia, Argentina and Uruguay.

The OIE, an organisation within the WTO, is the internationally recognised standard-setting organisation for animal health.

It is very important that New Zealand has achieved the highest status possible for BSE freedom, Petersen said. Overseas markets are very sensitive to food safety issues and it is vital for New Zealand to maintain its reputation for safety, he said.

New Zealand is the world's seventh largest beef exporter and exports 83 percent of the beef it produces.

Beef exports bring in US$2.3billion for the country annually.