Beef producers worried

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 4

Beef producers worried

PA Wellington The Four Nations Beef Conference has ended in Wellington with delegation leaders agreeing to work together to combat political interference through tariffs, quotas, and excessive veterinary requirements. Delegation leaders from Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand issued a joint statement at the end of the two-day conference. “Delegates, who represent a substantial proportion of the international beef trade, were most concerned about the trade barriers imposed by Japan and the European Economic Community and in particular about the likely effects on world beef trade of heavily subsidised beef stocks from E.E.C.

countries being landed on traditional and new beefimporting countries,” the statement said. The leaders said beef producers were also deeply concerned about veterinary demands made on beef producers, especially through E.E.C. regulations. “Scientifically unsubstantiated regulations imposed upon beef producers are not only costly but unnecessary,” they said. The four nations also agreed to co-operate over animal welfare, diseaseeradication programmes, and ways of improving consumer attitudes to'and consumption of beef. The meetings were chaired by the New Zealand delegation leader and chairman of the Meat Board, Mr Adam|Begg. |