Japan lifts ban on N.Z. meat

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 2

Japan lifts ban on N.Z. meat

From

BRUCE ROSCOE

in Tokyo .' Japan has " lifted the ban it imposed on meat imports from New Zealand because of the foot-and-mouth scare. The Animal Health Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries announced on Saturday that, as of the same day, it would lift the 15-day ban. Animal Health Division officials working on the New Zealand case said that they received a telephone message from the New Zealand Embassy at Tokyo on Saturday morning, saying that the Pirbright inoculation test results were negative. The officials said that they were prepared to wait late into Saturday night for. a telex confirming those results from’ the Japanese Embassy in Wellington. The telex, relayed by the Japanese Foreign Ministry, reached the Animal Health Division shortly after noon. The quarantine station at Kobe port was told of the results, and Japanese importers were to be told early today. The two tonnes of New Zea-

land chilled lamb impounded at Osaka. Airport will be released to the importer today. Kobe port quarantine officers could not be reached for comment on Saturday, but hone of the meat or : bone meal in the 47 containers unloaded; from the Godwit last week is believed to have been disinfected. No difficulties were reported with the shipment of lamb and mutton aboard the South Korea-bound Silver Fem. The ship is five days behind schedule because of engine trouble, and has been berthed at the southern Japanese port of Kagoshima for repairs. Japanese agricultural officials early last week gave assurances that once New Zealand officially ascertained that the pig ailment was not foot-and-mouth disease, they would dismantle all restrictions imposed on New Zealand meat. An announcement to this effect was conveyed to the Japanese Agricultural* Ministry last Wednesday, but in a surprise move the Ministry decided to wait for the inoculation test results from Pirbright before lifting the ban.