NEW Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries’ proposal to ban live exporters, more than a decade after the country ceased exporting livestock for slaughter, won’t impact the Australian market.
The move was proposed in NZ’s animal welfare act which also suggests changes to live animal export regulations, requiring welfare reports on livestock for breeding, during and after export.
NZ banned the export of livestock in 2003, after 4000 sheep died stranded on a ship headed for Saudi Arabia. In 2007 the government prohibited live export for slaughter.
AAA Livestock Services managing director and LiveCorp director Angus Adnam said the move would not impact the Australian market because of the long-standing ban.
“They haven’t had the appetite (for live exports) – it is so unimportant there and so important here.”
Agribusiness strategist David McKinna said the decision would increase the political spotlight on the Australian trade and increase pressure on Australia to lift protocols.