Hon Jim Anderton

Member of Parliament for Wigram
Opposition spokesperson on Agriculture

27 January 2010
Media Statement

Good step forward but more urgency needed

The National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme is an important step forward for New Zealand’s primary industry export sector but the lack of urgency to get this scheme up and running is worrying, said the opposition spokesperson on agriculture, Jim Anderton today.

“NAIT will ultimately see all livestock in New Zealand tagged as part of a database which traces animals from paddock to plate, a project which I strongly supported as the former Minister of Agriculture. We introduced the initiative in 2008 and would have had it implemented by now – as it needs to be. We had funding in place to develop a world-recognised animal identification and traceability system,” Jim Anderton said.

“NAIT is essential for maintaining international credibility for our food exports. The Labour-Progressive Opposition will be supporting the legislation for traceability and I would certainly like this scheme to have the importance given to it that it requires. The issue has been debated vigorously within the livestock industry for some years.

“David Carter, Minister of Agriculture, has announced that the date for implementation of the scheme will be in 2011 for cattle farmers and a year later for deer farmers. That means it will not be fully up and running in this term of government.

“Those that have opposed NAIT and used delaying tactics have been flying in the face of international reality. Having a scheme such as NAIT is how New Zealand demonstrates that we are one of the world’s leaders in producing high-quality, high-value, safe food.

“The world’s markets are increasingly demanding proof that food systems are of high-quality. Traceability is an important part of that. Consumers want to know where their food comes from, not just from what country, but sometimes even what farm and what particular part of a farm animals come from. NAIT will enable us to do that, on a systematic basis across the whole country. A comprehensive approach is called for.

“I congratulate the meat industry and especially Ian Corney, the NAIT chairman, who has worked with determination to overcome the obstacles to get the scheme accepted by the National government. It is time we saw action on this,” Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

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