U.S. satisfied with meat inspection system

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33060, 30 October 1972, Page 5

U.S. satisfied with meat inspection system

The United States authorities have told the New Zealand Government that they do not require any further construction changes in any New Zealand freezing works to comply with their regulations, and that they are also satisfied with the country’s meat-inspection system.

Mr R. E. Anderson, the agricultural atache to the United States Embassy in Wellington, told the Westerfield, Mayfield, and Flemington branches of Federated Farmers this at Westerfield last week.

But in Canterbury last week it was reported that, because of United States requirements, the speed of the lamb kill at some works had had to be reduced.

A United States Department of Agriculture veterinarian, who is responsible for inspections of freezing works and as a result of whose visits the reductions in killing rates occurred, was not prepared to comment before he returned to Wellington on Friday. He said that a protocol had been established for such matters to be discussed between his department and the New Zealand Department of Agriculture. MINOR PROBLEMS “There will always be small problems that pop up in day-to-day slaughtering, but these should be very minor in nature,” Mr Anderson said in his address. “We have had complete cooperation from the Meat Division of the Department of Agriculture, as well as from the industry and the Meat Board and we do not anticipate any problems or further major changes.” As customers, Mr Anderson said that the Americans were basically only concerned with receiving clean

meat from healthy animals produced in a clean environment. The consumers were willing to pay for it, and this was reflected in the price that New Zealand farmers were getting for their cattle. It was totally wrong and unfounded to say that the United States meat inspection regulations were being used as a barrier to trade. Countries such as New Zealand and Australia were at present being encouraged to send as much beef as possible to the United States, and New Zealand shipments this year would probably reach about 120,000 tons.

“NO DOUBLE STANDARD” “We do not have two standards,” he said. “We apply the same standards to foreign meat plants that we ask of our own domestic producers,” When the United States meat inspection law had been passed in 1967, it had been primarily intended to provide United States consumers with clean meat, and to bring the United States domestic inspection system under complete Federal control. It was not directed at imported meat, as most foreign suppliers thought. One uniform Federal meatinspection system now existed under the control of the United States Department of Agriculture, but this had not been accomplished without trouble. In quite a few instances whole state inspection systems had been “delisted,” and at the last count more than 3000 meat plants had been closed in the United States during the last four years. IMPORTED MEAT ALSO

But at the same time, the view was taken that if they were to clean up their own house, any meat that was imported should also be required to meet the same standard. Mr Anderson said that there had been a period of adjustment of about three to four years as standards were brought up to United States requirements, but this was now passed, and “with the implementation of sheep and lamb kidney inspection, which began this killing season, we have indicated to the New Zealand Government that we do not require any physical construction changes in any New Zealand freezing works to comply with United States regulations.” In fact, he said, the Americans would dispute whether a lengthening of slaughtering chains was actually necessary for sheep and lamb kidney inspection. In their judgment, the lengthening of

[chains and tables had been primarily to enable procedues which were to meet hygiene requirements of the European Economic Community, and which were not required by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Mr Anderson said that Canada also required sheep and lamb kidneys to be inspected and the draft E.E.C. regulations also included this inspection requirement. “HEADS IN SAND”

“I think it is time that the New Zealand freezing works and the unions pulled their heads out of the sand on meat inspection issues and faced up to the task of providing what the customer wants. They should also level with farmers as to who is actually requiring what. “Many of the present changes you hear so much about — such as overhead cover for holding pens at export works, separate slaughter facilities for suspect animals, paved cattle yards, zero degree freezing requirements and replacing wooden floors in freezers — are not United States requirements but requirements of the E.E.C., Canada, and other countries.

“The E.E.C. inspection and hygiene requirements are still to be defined. However, I think it is safe to say that from a disease standpoint they will be tougher than United States requirement.”