STOCK IMPORTATION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3928, 19 July 1937, Page 4

STOCK IMPORTATION

PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS SET OUT. “PROVIDE GREATER SAFETY.” Proposals for new regulations concerning the importation into New Zealand of live stock from countries infected with foot-and-mouth disease were explained to the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, at its annual conference last Friday, by Mr L. Hammond (Marton).

Mr Hammond contended that the proposals would bring about an improvement on the present haphazard system of importation, in that they would provide greater safety from the danger of infection and would make it easier for breeders to obtain new blood. They would also help to remove any ill-feeling on the part of the National Farmers’ Union of Great Britain, and the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Two veterinary surgeons who had been opposed to the lifting of the embargo had subscribed entirely to the proposals, he said.

The proposals are as follows: — (a) An embargo on all live stock from Great Britain, or any othei country infected with foot-and-mouth disease, for direct or indirect importation, subject to <b) selected shipments through breed societies, where necessary, such breed importations to be governed by the following regulations:— (1) Purchase of stock: (a) All consignments of stock to New Zealand to be through breed societies by arrangement with the Minister of Agriculture; (b) the stock to be sent out in collective consignments; (c) breed societies to nominate an expert or experts to select suitable animals in the country of purchase; (d) prohibition of export of stock to New Zealand from any farm which has been within a foot-and-mouth declared area or suspected place during the 12 months prior to selection date. (2) New Zealand Government control measures in Great Britain: (a) All animals to be examined by qualified veterinary surgeon (approved byNew Zealand Government) before leaving home farm and certified by him as free from disease; the veterinarian to certify that 1 (d) is complied with; similar declarations to be required from owner or vendor, (b) All New Zealand consignments lor other countries not purchased under silimar conditions; a veterinary officer of the New Zealand Government to be associated in the above work and to arrange and supervise the dispatch of accepted stock to the British quarantine station. . (3) British quarantine station: Inis to apply to all accepted stock for export to entry, dispatch and release for export. , „ . (4) New Zealand Government supervision for the voyage: (a) New Zealand Government veterinary officer to supervise removal from quarantine station, dipping or spraying with disinfectant before removal from station, and to accompany them on the voyage, and to certify freedom from obvious disease, (b) All gear and utensils used for animals on the voyage to be new. (c) All fodder and bedding to be sent Home freight free under the control of the New Zealand Government; no fodder, bedding or material liable to infection to be taken aboard during the voyage, (d) New Zealand authorities to be notified immedi - ately of any outbreak of d> BeaBe illness among animals, (e) No stock to be temporarily landed during the voyage, and no other stock to be allowed on the ship on which selected consignments are travelling. (5) New Zealand Government control measures in New Zealand: (a) No less than 40 days’ quarantine; all stock to be again examined onarrm before entry by a senior veterinary officer of the Agricultural Department or by a board of veterinary officers to certify freedom from disease. • (6) Other control measures: (a) AH regulations regarding packing materials for boxed consignments of materials for packing plants and shrubs, to be carefully ov . e , r . ha “^"' l more strictly enforced, (b) Bringing ashore of vegetables and meat_from vessels trading with foot-and-mou h disease-infected countries to be pro hibited, and regulation regarding the. destruction of all ship’s garbage ports of call in New Zealand to be carefully examined, overhauled, and to include, if necessary, the prohibv tion of disposal of ship s garbage in such a way that it may reach the beaches.