Egg industry supports $45,000 fine for illegal importing
Egg industry supports $45,000 fine for illegal importing
The Egg Producers Federation supports the $45,000 fine given to a chicken enthusiast for attempting to illegally import live eggs for her hobby.
“New Zealand is uniquely free of major avian diseases
and any illegal imports of live eggs pose a serious threat
to New Zealand’s commercial poultry industry,” says
Michael Brooks, Executive Director of the Egg Producers
Federation.
“Illegal imports pose a grave risk of
introducing diseases such as avian influenza which has
devastated poultry farms in parts of Asia, Africa, Europe
and North America since 2003.
“The New Zealand egg and poultry meat industries provide over 4,000 jobs and earn over $2 billion a year. Avian diseases also pose a potential risk to the native bird population of New Zealand.”
In a successful prosecution brought by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Karen Joanne Legget, 52, of New Plymouth, was found guilty in the Auckland District Court on 29 May of three charges under the Biosecurity Act of knowingly possessing unauthorised goods. Judge Blackie fined Ms Leggett $15,000 on each charge and $630 costs - $45,630 in total, reflecting the serious nature of her actions.
ENDS