New Zealand has announced a new set of requirements for the safe transport of livestock after the incident of a capsized cattle ship in the east of china killing thousands of cows and most of the ship’s crew.
According to reports, only two of the 43 members and more than 6,000 cattle on the Gulf Carrier 1,
which was heading from New Zealand to China, survived. This incident has prompted authorities to suspend live cattle exports and launch a review.
The suspension expired on 23 October, but
a conditional ban is in place until 30 November, during which time New
Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) made livestock exports by sea
subject to new conditions.
The conditions include additional
inspection of livestock ships, lowering stock density on vessels to 90 percent
of current limits to match new Australian standards, increased requirements for
voyage reporting and ensuring at least 20 percent of feed is available for
unplanned delays.
The MPI said it needed to move to ensure
there's no serious animal welfare issue for the 24,000 cows in pre-export
quarantine, which would likely have to be slaughtered without the interim
measures.
“We want to ensure they are moved safely.
It’s important to note New Zealand does not export animals for slaughter, but
as breeding stock,” said MPI Director-General Ray Smith.
New Zealand, since 2019 had begun to look
into the possibility of a wider policy review of live animal exports. The MPI
said it will work together with the new government in the coming weeks after the
ruling Labour party was returned to power last week.
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