Traceability scheme opposition warning

Federated Farmers may be leading the opposition to the National Animal Identification and Traceability (NAIT) system, but opinion among farmers themselves appears to be far from unanimous.

The issue dominated farmer remits and public discussion at last week's Meat and Wool New Zealand annual meeting near Gore, and while Federated Farmers brought their heavyweights to the meeting to lead opposition to the scheme, there were also some vocal supporters in the audience of about 150 people.

Perhaps the most pertinent comment on the merits of the National Animal Identification and Traceability system came from the manager of Auckland Meat Processors, Dennis McClenaghan.

He said overseas buyers regularly quizzed him about New Zealand biosecurity and reminded him that it was not as airtight as New Zealanders would like to think.

Recent discoveries of snakes, moths and the 1998 importation by farmers of the rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD) had all been raised with him by buyers, who wanted greater assurance about the safety and quality of meat.

"There is a lack of vision and responsibility to future generations because you are worrying about the cost today," he said of those opposing the scheme.

Silver Fern Farms chief executive Keith Cooper said if farmers rejected NAIT, they would be sitting at a future annual meeting of the board discussing why New Zealand was unable to export to some countries.

"If you want to be shut out of some markets, then carry on your crusade against NAIT," he warned.

A farmer responded that instead of lumping the cost of NAIT on farmers, meat companies should tell buyers that if they want traceability, it would cost them extra.

"We produce the best meat in the world, but we need to be paid so we can continue to produce the best meat in the world," he said.

Remits were voted on calling for an end to board levies being spent on the NAIT and for an independent referendum.

Several farmers spoke against those remits.

There was obvious frustration with the NAIT process, with its drawn-out introduction and with much about the scheme still being unknown.

Agriculture Minister David Carter urged the parties to wait for an up-to-date cost analysis expected later this year, thereby providing a factual basis for discussion.

Details were being kept quiet, but it was understood the traceability system would cost less than $1 a head for cattle and deer, and 0.3c per kg of milk solids for dairy cows.

The lack of broadband coverage so NAIT information could be sent via the internet was raised as an impediment, but it was understood an 0900 telephone system would be introduced so farmers could provide their animals' details over the phone.

Federated Farmers chief executive Connor English said farmers were getting mixed messages, with public comments that sheep would not be included but discussions leaving that possibility open.

Meat and Wool New Zealand chairman Mike Petersen said the board had always taken the view NAIT was required to control cattle because of the possibility they could carry bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which was a risk to humans.

Farmers should look at the cost to Canada of having a single cow infected with BSE, he said.

Information required from farmers was likely to include the place and date of birth and subsequent movements up to slaughter.

The date of birth would be taken from the month of the first calf born in a herd.

Federated Farmers board member Lachlan McKenzie supported a referendum on farmer opinion, because if farmers did not buy into NAIT there would be extensive non-compliance, he said.

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