Australia and New Zealand are bracing for the arrival of a destructive bird flu strain by tightening biosecurity at farms, testing shore birds for disease, vaccinating vulnerable species and war-gaming response plans.
Australia, New Zealand brace for looming bird flu threat
New Zealand to loosen gene editing regulation, make commercialization easier
The New Zealand government said on Tuesday that it would introduce new legislation to make it easier for companies and researchers to develop and commercialize products using gene technologies such as gene editing.
New Zealand exports last livestock
Reuters – New Zealand’s last exports of livestock by sea have been completed and live exports have ceased, its agriculture minister said April 21. The country has now fully implemented a ban on export shipments of animals on the grounds of their welfare. The government announced in 2021 that shipping animals offshore, largely for building
New Zealand farmers to face livestock emissions charges
Reuters – The New Zealand government has confirmed plans to separately price agricultural long-lived gases and biogenic methane that mainly comes from cow and sheep burps, in a plan that concerns farm groups. The government recently released its proposed plan on agricultural emissions pricing, which when introduced in 2025 will make New Zealand, a large
New Zealand bans export of live animals by sea
Reuters – New Zealand has banned the export of livestock by sea starting in April 2023, citing animal welfare concerns. The decision that will affect major trading partners including Australia and China. The ban had been well flagged and comes after a ship that left its shores with nearly 6,000 cows and 43 crew members
New Zealand raises bar against foot and mouth disease
Reuters – New Zealand said late July 20 that it had increased measures to prevent foot and mouth disease (FMD) from getting into the country after the illness was recently found in Indonesia. “With FMD recently found in the tourist hotspot of Bali, we’ve taken concrete steps to boost our work at the border in
New Zealand dairy, meat farmers disappointed in EU trade deal
New Zealand dairy, sheep and beef farmers say they are disappointed by the recently signed New Zealand-European Union free trade agreement, claiming it provides little new access to the profitable market for meat and dairy. The agreement, which has been in negotiation since mid-2018, will remove tariffs on a wide range of products and be
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