Government takes steps to safeguard against exotic animal diseases.
The New Zealand government is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to regulations governing the feeding of food waste to pigs, aiming to prevent the introduction of exotic diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said that feeding untreated meat waste to pigs could lead to costly outbreaks, disrupting farmers and rural businesses.
The current regulations, introduced in 2005 following a UK FMD outbreak, require food waste containing meat to be treated before being fed to pigs. However, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) finds it challenging to verify compliance with these rules. To address this issue, four options are being considered:
1. Requiring food waste treatment
2. Prohibiting meat-containing food waste
3. Treating food waste at source
4. Banning all food waste feeding
The consultation is open until April 27, 2025, and the government encourages stakeholders to share their views on these proposals. The aim is to develop evidence-based regulations that are practical and enforceable, ensuring New Zealand's animal health and biosecurity.
A modelling study estimates that an FMD outbreak could result in a $14.3 billion annual drop in export values. The proposed changes seek to mitigate this risk by strengthening protections against exotic diseases.