Kiwifruit Claim Applauds MPI For Foot & Mouth Success

The Kiwifruit Claim has congratulated the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for intercepting yak meat carried by a passenger arriving from Mongolia which could have caused untold damage to the New Zealand economy.

However, it says it disagrees with MPI’s view that it owes no duty of care to New Zealanders when protecting New Zealand from pests and diseases like foot and mouth or Psa.

“Some Mongolian cattle are known to be infected with Foot and Mouth disease so, as MPI Auckland Airport manager Dave Sims has pointed out, the yak meat could have harboured disease that could have wrecked New Zealand’s agriculture-based economy,” a spokesman for the Kiwifruit Claim, Matthew Hooton, said today.

“MPI is rightfully taking the credit and should be congratulated for for keeping us safe at the border from this potential threat. Yet, in our case, MPI has told the High Court it cannot owe a duty of care to kiwifruit growers for what we allege was its negligence in letting Psa into New Zealand, which it’s own independent advisors said cost our country at least $885 million.”

The Kiwifruit Claim has brought class action litigation against the government for alleged negligence in failing to undertake its biosecurity duties, allowing Psa to enter New Zealand and devastating the the kiwifruit industry in 2010.

Further information on The Kiwifruit Claim can be found atwww.thekiwifruitclaim.org.

ENDS

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