November 15, 2007

New Zealand plans to lift import bans on pork

New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced the plans to ease up import rules on uncooked pork from countries hit with pig diseases outbreaks.

Four import health standards were drafted and prepared for consultation regarding pork obtained from the European Union, Canada, US and Mexico. Approximately 42 percent of pork consumed by the New Zealand market is imported.

The new standards have been requested by the exporting countries and were based on a five-year risk analysis for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus.

Farmers expressed opposition on the standards due to concerns of possible feeding of infected and uncooked pork to non-commercial pigs in the countries mentioned.

However, according to Tim Knox, director of border standards, Biosecurity New Zealand, the virus is least likely to be in imported ready-to-cook preparations since around 99 percent of PRRS virus is destroyed in the normal commercial packaging prior to shipment.

Public submissions on the issue are allowed until February 18, 2008.