Meat sector talks for butchers
Since March Federated Farmers' Rural Butchers Executive, representing home-kill operators and dual operator butchers, has been working with the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Working Group on Unregulated Meat. This is a stakeholder group looking at the issues around the unregulated meat sector.
The Federation strongly supports efforts to prevent any illegal activity, such as the sale of unregulated, or home-killed, meat. The group is looking at education and gaining a better understanding of the problem's extent, so verification activities and other resources can be used to best effect.
A modus operandi is also being developed for the Dual Operator Butcher sector, addressing factors affecting consistency of verification, interpretation and application of New Zealand standards. It will help ensure the consistent application of compliance nationally. Rural Butchers Executive members will be better placed to help members with any MPI compliance issues.
The group's 2013 conference will be held in Timaru on Saturday, August 24, with field trips the day before and after. For more information, contact chairman Mike Hanson on 027 269 4133, or at netherbymeats@xtra.co.nz, or David Burt on 0800 327 646, or dburt@fedfarm.org.nz.
