E.E.C. inspection of works begins

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 22

E.E.C. inspection of works begins

PA Wellington A European Economic Community team has begun an inspection which could determine the future for nine New Zealand freezing works. If the works are not passed by the team, they will not be able to export meat to the E.E.C. after April 30.

Two Waitaki N.Z.R. plants will be visited by the team — part of the ?41 million complex at Blenheim, which was not fully in use at the time of the last inspection, and the Stoke plant at Nelson, will be reinspected. Two plants in Auckland, the Westfield works on

which W. and R. Fletcher has spent $5 million in the last seven months on upgrading, and a part of the Hellaby Shortland works, will be inspected. Two Borthwicks plants are up for inspection — the Waitara plant near New Plymouth, and part of the Waingawa plant near Masterton.

Other plants that will be inspected are McCallums Coldstore at Patea, Westmere Freezers at Wanganui, a part of Hellaby King Country at Taumarunui, the Gisborne Refrigerating Company plant at Kaiti, J2 Coldstores at Gisborne, Southland Coldstores at Bluff, and Riverlands, an export works at

Blenheim. A veterinarian attached to the E.E.C. office in Canberra, Mr John Wilson, and the E.E.C. “member state expert” from Britain, Mr John Arnold, will make the inspections.

This is the last inspection this year before the entire E.E.C. inspection team from Europe visits New Zealand, probably in November, to make random spot-checks.

Plants inspected last October were given seven months to the end of April this year, to continue exporting meat to the E.E.C. without having been approved by E.E.C. inspectors.