Australian Quarantine Of N.Z. Lamb

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31583, 22 January 1968, Page 10

Australian Quarantine Of N.Z. Lamb

Had New Zealanders any less interest than Australians in excluding foot-and-mouth disease from our shores they might be forgiven for suspecting that Australia’s quarantine laws are being applied to obstruct the sale of New Zealand lamb in Australia. If this were the hidden objective of the tighter regulations on lamb shipments by air it would be a curious but ingenious way of stalling a very small trade. The cost of air freight alone affords Australian farmers considerable protection. In terms of both price and volume New Zealand’s lamb sales to Australia hardly pose a serious threat to the Australian grazier. Furthermore, Australia has only recently removed quotas from New Zealand lamb imports. The exclusion of New Zealand lamb from Australia at this time would be short-sighted. Rain having fallen in some drought areas, Australian farmers are expected to enlarge their flocks. High prices for meat may tempt farmers to sell their lambs now—but only at the expense of future production. The argument of the Australian Department of Health appears to be that the holds of aircraft may impart the foot-and-mouth virus to meat Why should they fear that only meat or its wrapping, might pick up the disease? Fortunately for the meat trade the answer to the Department’s objection probably lies in the way meat is packed. If the packing of meat can be made no more prone to infection than the packing of other commodities Australia accepts from aircraft then the problem should be solved quickly. In the meantime, New Zealand can hardly object to the caution shown in Australia.