Mussel extract ban no worry

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 2

Mussel extract ban no worry

NZPA Nelson An American ban on New Zealand green-lipped mussel extract would have no serious effect for the Marlborough Sounds industry, said the manager of Nelson Packhouse Co-operative, Ltd, Mr G. F. Thorburn/ yesterday. “We are going to sell the mussels if not in America, then elsewhere” he said. Mr Thorburn rejected a report from Blenheim yesterday as “blown , up.” It said the industry could be seriously affected by an American ban on mussel extract from the ‘Auckland company Macfarlane Laboratories. “We are the sole agent in Nelson and Marlborough for Macfarlane and only about 5

per cent of the product we send them goes to the American market” he said. “This will have a very small effect. The report makes it sound as though we are talking about 95 per cent. ■ “If the mussels do not go to America they will go elsewhere. It should be remebered that we have been marketing. mussels overseas for three years and have been supplying Macfarlane for only three months.” Mr Thorburn said he could not see how the American ban ‘ could threaten jobs at the Blenheim factory of Consolidated Fisheries. “We are sub-letting that work to them and with good markets other than in America I cannot see any problem for them at all,” he said.