Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean said she hoped farmers would get behind a new National Animal Identification and Tracing project because it had huge benefits for the agricultural sector.
“New Zealand’s economic performance relies on agricultural exports – 80 percent of our meat products are exported, bringing in $13 billion each year.
“The National Identification and Tracing project (NAIT) is designed to protect those assets and will mean that we can quickly and accurately confirm the health status of animal populations and provide assurances to our overseas markets.
“Growing international consumer preference for lifetime traceability means that New Zealand will be behind the eight-ball if we do not institute a more intensive tracing system.
“On top of that many of our competitors in those markets already have mandatory tracing systems in place, while those countries without such capabilities could face restrictions.
“There will be costs involved for farmers, but Cabinet has agreed to fund up to $7 million to build the core NAIT system and about a third of its annual operating costs.
“In my opinion the cost of not establishing an appropriate tracing system for the agricultural sector in this country would be far higher than the actual contribution the industry will have to make to get NAIT off the ground.” |