MEDIA RELEASE
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
No Supermarkets Or Major Butchery Chains Implicated in Preservative Prosecutions
Beef + Lamb New Zealand support the actions taken by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in the prosecution of 15
meat wholesalers/retailers and three company Directors for the non-compliant use of sulphites/sulphur dioxide in raw
meat.
Charges were laid after an MPI operation in the greater Auckland area in 2013 after meat samples were tested and these
cases were heard in the Manukau and Auckland District Courts in late 2014 and early 2015.
None of those prosecuted are part of any major supermarket or high profile butchery chains.
In addition to fines, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, Rod Slater says there are serious implications
for those found to be non-compliant.
“Make no mistake; there is no room for this type of operator in New Zealand. We take these offences extremely seriously
and support MPI’s actions.
“In the main, we find New Zealand retailers and wholesalers are extremely proud of the standards which they are
upholding. This behaviour is definitely not the norm and I think you’ll find the rest of the industry will be left
extremely disappointed,” says Slater.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand will continue to work with MPI to undertake similar operations and maintain the positive
reputation of our butchers and meat retailers.
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