Works Meeting U.S. Meat Requirements

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30454, 30 May 1964, Page 3

Works Meeting U.S. Meat Requirements

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 29.

Between £3 million and £4 million has been spent by New Zealand freezing companies in providing facilities to bring their product up to meat inspection standards as required in the United States.

The director of the meat division of the Department of Agriculture (Mr E. G. Watt) said the majority of the 35 works killing for export will be able to meet the new standards on Monday, the deadline date.

Mr Watt said that alterations made by the freezing companies were of such a nature that they would be able to meet not only the inspection requirements of the United States, but also those of the strictest European countries.

The department expected that those works which had not yet complied with the requirements would do so “in the very near future.”

The new American regulations stipulate that inspectors must be able to view the carcase and head of the beast after killing and trimming. In addition, the maximum temperature for packing and boning rooms is to be 50 degrees. Big Changes

To meet these requirements, major changes had to be made to local works. Mr Watt said that the freezing companies had gone to considerable effort to have them completed by Monday. The names of works certified as meeting the re-

quirements had been sent to the meat inspection service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Considerable effort has been expended to provide sufficient veterinarians by Monday to do the necessary inspecting. A total of 38 are required. The department has advertised in Britain. Germany, Denmark and Africa in an endeavour to find suitable staff. Many had responded and the need will be met by these, plus departmental officers and private veterinarians on a part-time basis.