SECOND-HAND SACKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 20

SECOND-HAND SACKS

RESTRICTION OF IMPORTS

By an Order in Council the importation into New Zealand of used or sec-ond-hand empty sacks is prohibited, save with the consent of the Minister of Customs and subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to impose. The announcement was made yesterday by the Acting Minister of Customs (the Hon. M. Fagan). This action was taken on account of the possibility of the introduction of anthrax and other animal diseases through the use of sacks which had been contaminated by use in areas where these diseases had occurred. Application for permission to import used or second-hand empty sacks should be made to the Minister, and each application will be considered on its merits.

The" Minister of Customs has, however, granted general permission for the importation of used or secondhand empty sacks from Australia provided . that the importers produce to the Collector of Customs at the port of importation a. statutory declaration made by the exporter that the sacks have not at any time been used as containers for animal manure. There are no regulations prohibiting the use in New Zealand of used or second-hand sacks for use as containers, and there is no prohibition on the importation of goods packed in such sacks, provided that the goods contained are not in themselves liable to restriction.