Meat Bd aims to meet export level

Press, 7 September 1984, Page 3

Meat Bd aims to meet export level

PA Wellington A marketing drive and the need to restock is expected to push New Zealand’s meat exports to the European Economic Community to the maximum level next year.

New Zealand has not yet reached its top permissible level of 245,000 tonnes a year since agreement was reached between the Government and the E.E.C. in 1980. Next year looked brighter, said a spokesman from the Meat Board. Exports would increase because of three main factors: © By January 1, 1985, New Zealand’s stock levels in Britain would be substantially down on what they were last January, which meant New Zealand could increase shipments to Britain in line with sales. © Meat sold on the Continent and in England on the buy-back scheme was ex-

pected to increase quite substantially. This included consumer cuts on the supermarket shelves.

© The development of boneless lamb roasts, marketed by a British company, Bernard Matthews PLC, was expected to have a dramatic effect on New Zealand sales next year. New Zealand had come close to reaching its maximum export level in 1982, the spokesman said. It exported 244,500 tonnes then, but only 212,000 in 1981, and 201,000 in 1983. “The 1982 year was high because a lot of product went into cool storage,” the spokesman said. A report from Brussels on Wednesday said that shipments totalled 121,794 from January to June this year. The European Commission has reportedly urged that the level be lowered but the recommendation has not been followed by the community.