23 February 2001
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is restricting the importation of what little meat and meat products there are
coming into the country from Britain after the foot and mouth outbreak there.
Potential risk goods such as meat and meat products, dairy, milk and milk products, wool and semen have been restricted
fromentering New Zealand.
New Zealand has not imported commercial consignments of meat and meat products from Britain for more than 10 years.
However, a number of meat and meat products in small quantities for personal use are allowed into New Zealand from
countries free of foot and mouth.
MAF has notified its staff at the border, the MAF Quarantine Service, that all meat and meat products from Britain must
be seized from passengers at the border.
Normally some bovine semen is imported but the main trade does not start until May/June. The restrictions imposed now
will be reassessed then.
MAF will continue to consult with the UK and the European Union to ensure that the measures imposed here are appropriate
to the risk.
For further information contact:
Gita Parsot, MAF Communications on 04-498-9806