New Zealand divided over pork imports
New Zealand’s pork industry is fighting a proposal to allow fresh pork to be imported from countries where Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is present.
Currently all exports from countries that have the disease must be cooked prior to entering New Zealand. However, the High Court recently ruled in favour of a decision by the Ministry for Primary Industries to allow uncooked pork exports from countries with PPRS.
The Ministry has pointed out that imports of fresh and chilled pork are unlikely to lead to an outbreak of PPRS in a country which was previously free of the disease. However, pig farmers insist it would put their animals at risk and increase competition in an already difficult market.
Members of the industry have now taken their case to the Court of Appeals.
