Weekly export production going monthly

2 December 2005

Weekly export production going monthly

The New Zealand Meat Board has advised users of a service which provided weekly production statistics, that the weekly reports will cease in favour of monthly reporting from the end of next week.

The change results from new legislation this year, which means that under the New Zealand Meat Board Act 2004 the Board cannot compel meat companies to provide export slaughter weekly information.

Meat & Wool New Zealand Chairman Jeff Grant said the Board could only collect the information for the purposes of managing quota. “Beginning December, monthly production reports will be released on the 20th of each month, covering the activity of the previous month.”

The weekly reports will cease the week ending December 4, and the first monthly report – for November – will be released on December 20.

Mr Grant said industry good organisation Meat & Wool New Zealand had explored possible compromises to retain weekly publication of the data. “This has not been what Meat & Wool New Zealand would prefer because clearly there is a demand for this information to continue. In line with this we have gone to some effort to reach a compromise that would benefit both farmers and the processing industry.

“However under the legislation, parties can’t be forced to continue supplying this information if it is not essential to quota management.

“It is interesting to note that the same situation exists in Australia, where weekly slaughter data provision is voluntary and those who contribute the information agree the basis for any publication,” he said.

Mr Grant said subscribers and the industry had been advised this week before the change takes effect on December 4.

ENDS

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