What difference will NAIT actually make Feds ask? 5 October 2008
Federated Farmers President, Don Nicolson today said “The federation is not going to be stopped from asking the hard
questions. We have worked behind the scenes but now farmers need to be informed. The first question farmers want an
answer to is what difference will a National Animal Identification and Tracing (“NAIT”) system actually make. It has
been suggested that there are a number of reasons why we need it so it’s the federation’s job to seek clarity for our
members”.
“The federation does want New Zealand to have robust biosecurity systems, managed and timely incursion response
process’s and mechanisms that assist trade access. It is right that as a food trading nation we produce nutritious,
wholesome and safe food that meets consumer expectation. Farmers will play their part, but it’s not clear that having a
brand new Wellington bureaucracy forcing farmers to have a numberplate on every sheep, cow or deer is going to be worth
it.
1. We know good biosecurity is about keeping organisms and disease out of our island nation. This means robust measures
at the border.
2. Being able to respond to incursions when organisms and disease do get onto our Islands is very important. But does
NAIT add much to existing systems?
3. On food safety, we have the world respected Food Safety Authority, and associated legislation and regulations. New
Zealand has an excellent reputation for producing safe food. What difference will an animal numberplate make?
4. On trade access there are requirements for all sorts of things, but we are informed by MFAT that having a national
animal identification system is not one of them.
5. Farmers are already innovative on their farms and our on farm productivity as a sector has far outstripped any other
sector in the economy. If farmers think individually identifying animals is a profitable idea, then they can do that
anyway. They don’t need a Government telling them that they must and have a new bureaucracy looking over their shoulder.
And there are commercial organisations, such as LIC who offer various associated services.
6. If the market place demands animal identification to individual animals for marketing purposes, then this can be done
on a commercial basis without government stepping in and intervening with the market signal. Right now companies, such
as Riverlands with their Never Ever Beef programme are doing this and offering premiums to farmers who go to the cost
and effort.
“I have written to the NAIT Chair and said we are happy to help facilitate further consultation with farmers. Whatever
the outcome of the consultation process on whether NAIT should proceed or not, farmers need answers about this
significant proposal,” Mr Nicolson concluded.
ENDS