US market says “No Entry” to meat

US market says “No Entry” to meat not approved by independent meat inspectors

The New Zealand Public Service Association (NZPSA) has learned that the United States (US) is not accepting New Zealand meat from trials where meat companies are carrying out inspection tasks normally done by independent government meat inspectors.

A six-month-long trial started today at the Affco Imlay meat plant with others set to begin shortly at the Alliance Mataura plant and Silver Fern Farms Pareora.

“Last week we met with the Minister for Food Safety Kate Wilkinson and representatives from the Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) to discuss the impending trials,” says NZPSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

“We were assured in that meeting that the United States had approved these trials and would accept meat from them. Today we’ve learned that meat from the Affco Imlay plant cannot be exported to the US because authorities there have not been informed about the trails.

“Our meat inspector members have huge misgivings about these trials and hearing this news on the day they begin only confirms their apprehensions.

“These trials have been rushed through with a lack of consultation with our members and now it seems there’s been a similar lack of consultation with vital trade partners.

“The United States market represents a huge proportion of our meat export industry. It’s absolutely astonishing that authorities there have not been consulted about these trials. The NZFSA should be doing everything it can to keep our export partners informed of changes that have the potential to affect the quality of the meat they are buying from New Zealand.

“It’s clearly time that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), to which the Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is attached, rethinks its vision of deregulation.

“New Zealand’s export industry depends on our meat and agricultural production. It’s not enough to put the security and regulation of these industries into the hands of producers themselves.

“If companies are put in charge of their own inspection there’s a risk that the drive for profits will result in cost cutting when it comes to food safety. New Zealand can’t afford to take that risk.

“In light of this disclosure, the PSA has requested another meeting with Minister Wilkinson to discuss our concerns,” says Richard Wagstaff.

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