Experts Flying To U.S. For Meat Investigation

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 10

Experts Flying To U.S. For Meat Investigation

(from Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 5. With New Zealand meat sales to the United States threatened as the result of the contamination of a shipment of beef two" experts are to fly to Washington for urgent talks. They are Dr. I. J. Cunningham, deputy-Director of Agriculture, and Mr J. W. de Gruchy, general manager of the Meat Board. They will leave Auckland on Sunday night for Washington. “We are vitally interested in this,” said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hayman) tonight. “Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of trade is at stake. We shall adhere to the principle that the customer is always right. We shall do our utmost to ensure that the purchasers of meat in the United States are satisfied.”

, Dr. Cunningham, who for some years was head of the > Wallaceville animal research i station, will seek the cause of the trouble. American authorities have impounded at least one shipment. of at least 1500 tons of boneless beef, to test for suspected traces of benzene hexachlorate. believed to come from fly spray. The decision to send representatives to the United States came after day-long consultations with Mr Hayman. Mr Hayman said Dr. Cunningham and Mr de Gruchy would stay in the United States until the matter was cleared up. “In New Zealand we are continuing our investigations, but it will probably be next week before they end,” said Mr Hayman tonight. "Dr. Cunningham will be kept informed of the progress with studies in this country.” Neither the degree of contamination nor the stage of production at which the meat was affected is y-et known. Officials said today that it was not necessarily in meatworks that the contamination occurred. It could have taken place in cowsheds, or even while the ships were loading.

Meat Board officials met today to discuss the matter, and, with representatives of the exporting companies, later had talks with Mr Hayman. The board is seeking elaboration of “skimpy details” so far received from the United States. ‘‘The cables are flying.” said Mr de Gruchy tonight. “With the Government we shall, of course, do all we can to resolve the difficulty.” Tt is understood that works which normally use fly sprays have suspended their use. Exporters have agreed to make their laboratory facilities available, if needed and the resources of the new Meat Research Institute at Ruakura have also been offered to find the cause of the contamination. Asked about the possibility of similar residues on locally marketed meat. Mr Hayman said: "We shall have to await the outcome of the tests. If we find any degree of conlamination above accepted tolerances, we shall have to take action.” Wellington officials are believed to have communicated to the United States Department of Agriculture the determination here to do every-

thing possible to meet the situation. Frozen meat sales to the United States last season totalled 60.000 tons, and in 1958-59 71,000 tons, nearly all of it being beef. The Persic recently discharged a shipment of meat at Newark. The Haparangi is due at New York on Sunday with 2900 tons of New Zealand meat. Other vessels are on the water, and others are loading beef for the United States on the New Zealand coast. The Meat Board has not yet imposed any restriction on the loading of meat for the United States. Since American codes allow “nil toler. ance” for chemical residues, any meat proved to be contaminated will automatically be rejected.