New Zealand ships last livestock as ban takes effect

Wellington, April 21 (BNA) New Zealand’s Agriculture Minister said on Friday that New Zealand’s last sea-based livestock exports have been completed and live exports have stopped, as it implemented a complete ban on animal export shipments on the grounds of their welfare. .

The government announced in 2021 that animals would be stopped overseas, largely to build herds in trading partners like China, but farmers would be given two years to transition from the lucrative export business.

“Our position on the map means that the journey to northern hemisphere markets will always be a long one and this brings unavoidable challenges around animal welfare,” Agriculture Secretary Damien O’Connor said in a statement announcing the halt to live exports.

Live exports by sea have contributed about 0.32% of New Zealand’s primary sector export earnings, which include agriculture and mining, since 2015.

The total value of live animal exports in 2022 was NZ$524 million ($322.78 million).

New Zealand said in 2020 that it was reviewing live exports when it introduced temporary measures in the wake of a China-bound ship capsizing that killed nearly 6,000 cows and 41 of the 43 crew.

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