Disguised Exotic Food Seized

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31588, 27 January 1968, Page 1

Disguised Exotic Food Seized

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 26. The reality of the danger of the introduction of exotic diseases to New Zealand in food parcels has been revealed in a report to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Talboys). The report came from a port agricultural officer of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Taiboys said today. Mr Taiboys said that the parents of an overseas student studying in New Zealand, in an effort to send their son

some of his traditional meat dishes, had removed labels from some New Zealand canned exports and had put those labels on cans in which they placed meat products common to their country. In fact, some of the dishes were partly cooked meat, he said. The port agriculture officer noticed the unusual soldering of the cans, seized the goods and opened the cans. The cans and their contents would now be destroyed, he said.

Mr Taiboys said that over the last few months there bad been a great deal of controversy about the adequacy of the inspection of shoes and the possibility of the introduction of disease on motor vehicles. •

it It was of extreme import- x s ance that all people in New i i- Zealand should appreciate t e that however stringent the \ y precautions taken were, there i i- was always the possibility that some parcels containing < is potentially dangerous mater- t e ial would escape detection. x e It was imperative that s il everyone appreciated that it t d

was their duty to destroy any animal products sent to them through the post unless they were admitted with a veterinary certificate. Mr Taiboys said this incident indicated how vigilant the port agriculture officers were. They deserved the full support of the community in the efforts they were making.