High meat talk stakes

Press, 3 October 1979, Page 7

High meat talk stakes

PA Wellington High stakes will be i nvolved for the New Zealand meat industry after two senior veterinary officials from the European Economic Community arrive at the week-end.' The officials, who will | be in New Zealand from ■ Saturday for eight days, | will assess New Zealand’s I case for opting out of the j strict hygiene regulations imposed by the E.E.C. • “If New Zealand has to I meet the E.E.C. standards I in full, many millions of | dollars will have to be | spent by the New Zealand i meat industry to meet hygiene standards not required by other meat-im-porting countries,” the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Maclntyre) said in a statement announcing the visit. The visit comes after talks in New Zealand with the E.E.C. Commissioner for Agriculture (Mr Gundelach) earlier this year, during which, the Government emphasised New Zealand’s long history of exporting high-quality meat ail over the world. The veterinary mission will comprise Dr Bendixen, head of the veterinary division of the Commission of European Communities and Mr B. Hoghen, a senior official of the division. They will inspect a number of freezing works to examine New Zealand’s argument that hygiene - techniques practised in New Zealand are equivalent or better than those found in Western Europe.

“If the principle of equivalence could be established by the E.E.C., the New Zealand meat industry would be saved from having to spend millions of dollars on up-

grading programmes," Mr Maclntyre said. The officials will talk with Mr Maclntyre, departmental officials, and people in the meat industry during their visit.