Considerations are being made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) whether to stop importation of uncooked pork or not.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome have been reported diseases found in pork products from North America and European countries. Therefore, the MAF is considering stopping importation from those countries.

The Pork industry has increased the rules of pork currently entering New Zealand. The MAF is requiring pork products to have lymph nodes removed and cannot have cuts, no more than 3kg each, in order to be permitted. These restrictions are necessary in order to avoid the virus from entering the country.

MAF Deputy Director-General Standards, Carol Barnao, states: “Our primary concern in considering the request for pork meat to be granted access into New Zealand has been to ensure the risk of unwanted pests or diseases-such as PRRS”.

New health standards may have the ban overturned; however, the MAF states that they will be vigorously defending the standards when it comes to pork importation. These regulations are necessary to avoid the diseases coming from imported pigs.