Headline: Hopeful reprieve for pork industry
“News that the Supreme Court has ordered an interim ban on the import of raw pork products is a welcome development in this long-running battle, says Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson, Damien O’Connor.
“I support New Zealand Pork’s bid to stop the changes to Import Health Standards that will increase the risk of Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) incursions. Any meat that risks undermining New Zealand’s disease-free status should not be brought into the country.
“This Government seems determined to expose New Zealand to all sorts of biosecurity risks regardless of industry and scientific advice.
“That position has meant the industry has had to spend an enormous amount fighting all the way to the Supreme Court.
“I repeat my earlier call for Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy to step in now and call a halt to these changes. Yes, we need to trade, but we need to protect our PRRS-free status even more,” said Damien O’Connor.
The interim ban will be in place until the case against the Ministry of Primary Industries has been heard.
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