"SHUT OUT EVERYWHERE”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18180, 30 August 1933, Page 11

"SHUT OUT EVERYWHERE”

DOMINION MEAT EXPORTS CONTINENTAL HANDICAPS BOARD SURVEYS MARKETS New Zealand frozen meat is shut out of practically every Continental country by tariffs, quotas and stringent veterinary restrictions. This is pointed out by the Meat Board, which, in a summary of facts that has just reached Gisborne, discloses that tliere is very little prospect of extending the export of New Zealand meat into Continental countries. There might be some possibility of development in Belgium, but the first outstanding fact in the board’s survey relating to that country is that Belgium does not import lamb. It takes outside supplies of beef and mutton, but South American competition has so far excluded New Zealand on a price basis. In any case, imports into Belgium uro on a quota, amounting to nine-tenths of the imports for the year 1931, while there nro customs duties, and a sales tax of 5 per cent, of the duty-paid value. Germany has abandoned the quota principle in favor of much more drastic restrictions of a veterinary natiire. Whole carcases only may be imported, and the various organs must remain attached, in their natural positions. These measures were designed to protect the German agricultural industry. Norway simply prohibits the importation of all classes of frozen meat, while its neighbor, Sweden, requires such an elaborate system of veterinary inspection at time of slaughtering, and of marks and certificates, that business could not be profitably conducted with that country. The board’s London officers who looked into the possibilities of trade with Sweden were informed by the commercial councillor of the British Legation at Stockholm that the Swedish Medical Board does not regard frozen meat exported from New Zealand as complying with their requirements. Its import into Sweden, acids the British authority, is therefore not permitted. In the Netherlands, the quota prevails, so that apart from some other difficulties which present themselves, this principle bars New Zealand meat, the reason being that imports of pork, beef and veal are subject to a quota based on the previous year’s imports. As New Zealand has had no business with the Netherlands, it cannot obtain a quota. Franco allows meat imports on a quota basis, fixed quarterly in advance, and it unposes the following duties: Lamb, 180 francs per kilo; mutton, 260 francs; pork, 180 francs; and beef, 180 francs per kilo. In addition, there is an import tax ranging from 25 to 50 cents per kilo.

Italy lias extensive veterinary regulations in respect to meat importations, and imposes a. duty of 140 lira per 100 kilo on New Zealand imports, a ba3is which extends to> nearly all countries, anil gives no' special preference, though in any case the “most favored nation” clause under which New Zealand may export to Italy is entirely at the discretion of the Ministry of Finance, which may change the duty to 200 lira per 100 kilos without notice. Spain is not an importer of frozen meat.

Denmark, by a decree of 1924, prohibited the importation of Ne\v Zealand frozen lamb, mutton, beef find pork. This decree, it is understood, is still effective, though at the time, of reporting, the board was making further inquiries to ascertain if there has been any recent variation. Under the difficult conditions which have been enumerated, it is extremely unlikely I that exporters, in the ordinary course of business, would venture to consign meat to most of the Continental conntries.

With regard to new jparkets generally, the Meat Board has always bqen keenly alive to the desirability of establishing new markets for our meat wherever possible, and has from time to time Shased and sent forward on consignt shipments of meat to test markets. The resultant- information, including details of realisation, is circulated to all those in New Zealand who might be in a position to take advantage of the opportunity thus created.