Australia, New Zealand say no issues with meat exports to China

SYDNEY/WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Australia and New Zealand mentioned on Tuesday they had been conscious of Chinese language media experiences of a ban on meat imports from each international locations by Beijing however mentioned that they had not acquired any official discover and shipments had been clearing as regular.

The Australian Monetary Evaluate newspaper mentioned one Chinese language media outlet had reported that agricultural imports, notably meat, from Australia and New Zealand could also be suspended as a result of issues about foot and mouth illness.

“We’re conscious of rumours. The Australian Embassy in Beijing has been in touch with China Customs and no formal notification has been issued,” a spokesperson on the Australian agricultural division mentioned in an emailed assertion.

Steve Ainsworth, Market Entry director on the New Zealand Ministry for Main Industries, mentioned exports had been persevering with as regular.

“We have made enquiries with Chinese language authorities, together with by our Embassy workers in China. These enquiries affirm that New Zealand merchandise are persevering with to be cleared by the border,” he mentioned in a press release.

Neither Australia nor New Zealand has reported a case of foot and mouth illness amongst livestock. However each nations are taking further biosecurity precautions after the animal virus was discovered within the common Indonesian vacation vacation spot of Bali.

Foot and mouth illness is a extremely contagious animal illness that impacts cattle, sheep, goats and pigs however doesn’t pose a risk to people. Australian authorities modelling initiatives a widespread foot and mouth outbreak within the nation may have an estimated direct financial impression of round A$80 billion ($56 billion).

($1 = 1.4251 Australian {dollars})

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington and Renju Jose in Sydney; Enhancing by Lincoln Feast)