Regulation of Export of Dripping to Britain Questioned by Butchers

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1948, Page 8

Regulation of Export of Dripping to Britain Questioned by Butchers

INVERCARGILL, Sept. 16.

Invercargill butchers are at a loss to understand a new direction from the Export Division of the Internal Marketing Department. The Department has refused to grant further licences to export dripping in bulk to the United Kingdom. One butcher has received a letter from a firm in Dunedin, which arranged for the collection of dripping jmd for its export under a permit from the Department. The firm advises that no further consignments can be accepted under the new-ruling. In the past it had been the practice of tins butcher to send surplus dripping to the Dunedin firm in barrels. His consignments have been accepted and exported. The Department has now refused to grant further licences to export. The Dunedin firm has been unsuccessful ih attempts to have the decision changed. The firm says:— “The decision appears to us to be contrary to all common sense. We regret it, but there appears to be nothing more that we can do about it,” Butchers cannot understand *thc move. One said: —“People of Britain are desperately short of fats. I have been sending privately all I can spare. The policy of the Export Division appears to be contrary to the principles of the Aid to Britain movement. It will mean a substantial loss to people who need all the aid we can give them at present.” Inquiries show that the situation has an explanation from the Department’s point of view. The Government regulations provide that for such exports, in bulk, certification is required that the product comes from first-grade animals. This is obtained as a matter .of course when fat or tallow ■is obtained from the abattoirs, or from a frozen meat company, but when the product is handled by any other means where no such certification can be provided, this is contrary to the regulations, and is not acceptable. To the Department, privately, fat can be sent without any questions being asked, but any firm collecting fat cannot export it 'in bulk under a Departmental permit. One such firm operating in Southland was credited with producing quality fat, but it was not suitable for' export, because it had not complied with .the regulations.