August 24, 2011

New Zealand's pork sector tries halting raw pork imports

New Zealand's pork industry returns to the High Court today (Aug 24) for its ongoing effort to stop raw pork imports.

The industry body, New Zealand Pork, is challenging revised import health standards that the Ministry of Agriculture released in April.

They allow limited imports of fresh pig meat from countries that have the disease Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, which can cause abortions and respiratory complaints in pigs and kill piglets.

The revised standards impose conditions which the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) said would make the risk of the PRRS virus getting into the country highly unlikely.

But New Zealand Pork said its experts disagree, and it is seeking a judicial review of MAF's decision.