Trans-Tasman ag ministers zoom in on biosecurity
When New Zealand’s Agriculture, Biosecurity and Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor met with his new Australian counterpart yesterday, the subject of biosecurity was top of their agenda.
Travellers are no longer allowed to bring personal consignments of any meat products from Indonesia into New Zealand.
This is the latest step to protect against Food-and-Mouth Disease, says Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director general Stuart Anderson.
"Previously travellers from Indonesia could bring in declared cooked or treated meat, with the highest risk uncooked meat products already prohibited," he explains.
"Now any personal consignments of meat from Indonesia, including cooked, will not be allowed in and we will reassess the suspension at the appropriate time."
Anderson says any meat products brought in by travellers from Indonesia will be destroyed.
The rule change does not affect commercial products, which already face strict import standards.
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