MEAT TRADE WITH U.S.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 7

MEAT TRADE WITH U.S.

Official States Conditions

The man who has complete jurisdiction over all American imports and exports of livestock and livestock products, and the production and distribution of all veterinary vaccines as far as these affect or are likely to affect animal health in the Uhited States, has been visiting New Zealand. He is Dr. L. C. Heemstra. Director of Animal Inspection and Quarantine in the United States Department of Agriculture. “The health of livestock is extremely important in the national economy of both the United States and New Zealand,” said Dr. Heemstra during discussions with officers of the Department of Agriculture in Wellington. “Only by maintaining our livestock population free from diseases of foreign origin, which both countries are doing, can movement of animals and products between our two countries be maintained.” Although his visit was in no way connected with the incidence of mucosal disease in New Zealand, Dr. Heemstra said he had had discussions in the United States with the two New Zealand scientists, Mr R. M. Salisbury and Dr L. B. Fastier, who had been investigating the diagnosis and control of the disease there, and with Mr I. G. Watt, superintendent of meat inspection for the Department of Agriculture, who also recently visited the United States.

"Only Sporadic” "Mucosal disease occurs only sporadically in the United States,” he said, "and the policy is to assist herd owners with diagnosis and, in most cases, to .recommend disposal of affected feherds and restocking of. the property after some months.”

The conditions under which living animals may be .accepted into the United States were discussed with Dr. Heemstra, who said the only limitations to these importations were the health of the stock coming in and requisite disea se-fr6e conditions in the country of origin. Apart from this, market prospects would be the only other limiting factor. Dr. Heemstra has been in New Zealand after attending the Australian veterinary conference at Brisbane. He has visited animal research institutions here and discused with veterinarians and other officials research and animal health regulatory activities and other matters of common interest.

A graduate of lowa State College, Dr. Heemstra has been with the United States Department of Agriculture for 25 years. His main research activities have been in the field of poultry diseases.

Britain’s House of Lords now stands amended as the House of Lords and Ladies. With the recent admission of four life peeresses to the Parliament, women have gained "voice, vote, and place” that had been denied them for centuries.