IMPORTED STOCK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 3

IMPORTED STOCK

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

RELAXING THE EMBARGO

Proposed regulations governing the importation of cattle, sheep, and pigs from the United Kingdom were the subject of full explanation by the Minister of Agritulture (Hon. O. J. Hawken) in an interview yesterday). The Minister said that for some considerable time past as a consequence of the persistence of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in England the importation of cattle, sheep, and pigs, all of which were susceptible to this disease, had been ababsolutely prohibited. Horses could be imported, as they were not affected by it, although all fodder sent with them, and remaining unused, had to be burned or tlirown overboard before the ship carrying them entered a N.Z. port. As a result of that prolonged prohibition, breeders of live stock in the Dominion, particularly those of certain breeds of sheep, now found themselves urgently in need Of new blood, and that as regarded sheep, at any rate, could only be obtained from England. Outbreaks of the disease still occurred in England, though they were less numerous and less extensive than was the case a few months back. Special Quarantine Station. A marked change in the position regarding importations overseas had, however, been brought about as a result of the establishment by the British Government , through the Empire Marketing Board and the Royal Agricultural Society, df a special quarantine station in the London dock area, at which animals purchased for export overseas could be quarantined for 14 days prior to shipment. The incubation period of foot-and-mouth disease was less than 14 days, hence that provision for quarantine provided a valuable safeguard. Information just received indicated that Canadian hay was in use for feeding purposes at that quarantine station, where some eattle intended for one oversea country were already in quarantine. This was a further safeguard, said the Minister. Conditions Proposed. “The question of relaxing the present complete embargo,” continued Mr. Hawken, “had lately been the subject of discussion by the Board of Agriculture, which considered it in conjunction with suggested conditions aimed at reducing to a minimum the risk incurred by im.portation. These conditions may be summarised as follow. “ (1) Animals to be derived from farms which have been free of foot-and-mouth disease for twelve months, and within fifteen miles of which there has been no outbreak during the past six months. (2) Animals to be examined on the farm and passed as free from contagious diseases by a qualified veterinarian appointed by the Government, Who must also satisfy himself concerning the freedom of all other animals on the farm from foot-and-mouth disease. (3) All vehicles usefl in the transport of the animals to the quarantine station, arid ffoifi the quarantine station to the vessel by which they are to be shipped to New Zealand, are to be thoroughly dlrihfected before use under the personal supervision of an approved officer appointed by the Government. (4) The handling, feeding, and general care of the animals, in quarantine, is to be conducted on lines approved by the Government. All foodstuffs and straw used in quarantine, or during voyage out, are to be derived from New Zealand or Canada, but peat moss may be used as bedding as a Substitute for straw. (5) The animals to be further examined before shipment, and to be accompanied on the voyage by a competent veterinarian selected by the New Zealand Government. (6) If dipping facilities exist, the sheep are to be dipped before leaving the quarantine station; if not, to be sprayed with an approved antiseptic solution, the cattle to be also sprayed. The feet of all animals which are not dipped are to 1)0 thoroughly washed With an approved antiseptic solution immediately before leaving the quarantine station. (7) AU gear and utensils used on the ship are to be new. (8) The foregoing provisions are subject to the Ministry of Agriculture, England, agreeing that shipment can be made without special risk, having regard to the general position existing at the time. (9) The animals to be quarantined at Wellington for two months, which period may be reduced if all seems satisfactory.

“ControUed” Shipments. “An important feature of these provisions,” concluded the Minister, “lies in the fact that they apply only to what js termed a ‘controlled’ shipment or shipments. There is no suggestion that a way .shall now be opened for anyone wishing to import stock to do so when and how he thinks fit. The matter was only gone into from the point of view Of strictly linliting importations to those animals really urgently needed for the purpose of preventing deterioration iu certain classes of purebred stock, and to concentrate these importations in, if possible, one shipment, thus ensuring the observance of every practicable preeaution throughout from the farm of Origin to the final destination in New Zealand. “The matter is one of importance, ..requiring the mbSt careful consideration, and it is receiving this from the Government, whose decision regarding it will be made known with as little delay as circumstances permit.”