26th September 2006
Our reputation is worth protecting
Minister of Agriculture, Jim Anderton opened the Plants Market Access Council AGM today saying that horticultural
exports at $2 billion per annum were an important part of our primary industry exports and were critical to New
Zealand's future wellbeing. He said that New Zealand more than any other country was dependent on primary industries for
65 per cent of our export earnings and that our high reputation for the quality of our export certification is
fundamental to our plant exports.
"Safe trade in plants is more important to us than it is to most developed countries. Many importing countries recognise
our certificate means what it says. As a result we have favourable access conditions for our exports. They are not
always as favourable as we would like them to be as countries can be protectionist by nature, looking for a reason not
to allow trade in competition with local producers.
"All countries are now requiring new market access requests to go through a pest risk analysis process. They look at
large piles of data and it takes a long time. New Zealand is known to have safe trade in plants but we have to be
rigorous with our standards as our credibility is based on it and access to markets depends on it.
Biosecurity is a critical ingredient in our production. The clean environment behind the 'Pure New Zealand' brand is a
major strategic advantage. It depends on us remaining free from pests and diseases. This shows the value of having a
fair, evidence based biosecurity system. Evidence has to rule the day. We can't allow our standards to be lax.
"Every biosecurity incursion threatens not just one industry in New Zealand but our entire economy. We need high
standards and they need to be the same for everyone. We must be scrupulous in protecting our export reputation as well.
When our reputation is worth over $2 billion a year for horticulture, it's worth protecting.
"The Government will play its role to help unleash the initiative and creativity of the horticultural industry. New
markets in China, India, Brazil and Russia offer big opportunities for us and we need to be seeing them as potential
markets, not just competitors. Horticulture is a crucial primary industry sector for New Zealand," Jim Anderton said in
Wellington today at the PMAC AGM.
ENDS