Vets sought for exports

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 4

Vets sought for exports

PA Wellington Some freezing works may be unable to export meat to the European Economic

Community next year because of a shortage of veterinary inspectors. The .Ministry of' Agriculture estimates that 173 veterinarians will be needed to meet E.E.C. hygiene requirements, which are likely to come into force early next year.

But the Ministry has only 107 vets, and is having trouble recruiting more.

The director of its Meat Division, Mr John McNab, said that he was unsure if enough vets could be found. If there were not enough to meet the requirements, the Meat Division would not

be able to certify that all meat destined for that market would comply with the regulations.

That would mean some plants would be unable to export to the E.E.C. and New Zealand could be in an “awkward situation” if thd E.E.C. became difficult. Such a situation was possible in spite of the Ministry’s generally good relationship with the Community, he said.

The immediate target was to reach about 130 veterinarians. About 20 appointments were being processed, to bring the total to about 127.

But about 173 would ultimately be needed, Mr McNab said. That was the Ministry’s best estimate of

the effect of the E.E.C.’s Third Country Veterinary Directive, to come into effect next year.

Mr McNab said that the Ministry had always had trouble finding enough vets, from overseas or within New Zealand.

The Ministry has already warned that some plants will not be approved for meat export to- the E.E.C. because their hygiene standards do not meet European requirements.

A team of E.E.C. veterinary inspectors will visit New Zealand plants early next year for a final inspection before the list of “approved” plants is decided.