Risk to export markets from privatisation of meat
inspectors exposed
The privatisation plan to
replace independent government meat inspectors with
inspectors directly employed by meat companies raises the
risk of export meat being contaminated by traces of faecal
matter.
MPI has for the first time admitted to the PSA
that the new company meat inspectors will not be treating
faecal contamination as a food safety issue.
“This is
extremely alarming – MPI is effectively saying it will
tolerate traces of faecal matter, however small, on export
meat. This raises the risk of contaminated meat being
exported,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga
Mahi.
In an OIA response to the PSA (attached) after
repeated requests over many years to clarify the position,
Vince Arbuckle, MPI’s Deputy Director General Food Safety
stated that faecal contamination was only a ‘wholesomeness
or processing defect’.
Further he stated that ‘The
regulatory approach is that faecal contamination must be
managed and removed by the operator to ensure product
wholesomeness and compliance with good hygienic
practices.’
“Our largest red meat market is the USA.
It has zero tolerance for faecal contaminated meat following
an e coli outbreak in 1992 from contaminated hamburger meat
which killed four children – why are we taking this
risk?”
Under the current model, government meat
inspectors employed by AsureQuality, scrutinise all meat
being processed on the chain and defective meat is diverted
to the ‘detain rail’ where it is trimmed and made fit
human consumption. This means faecal contaminated meat
regardless of whether it’s treated as a food safety or
wholesomeness issue is always detected and cleaned
up.
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“In the past AsureQuality meat inspectors have
faced disciplinary action for failing to identify faecal
contamination, it’s that important. AsureQuality meat
inspectors have always treated faecal contamination as a
food safety issue.”
Now for the first time, that
safeguard is being torn up under the proposed
privatisation.
The proposal to privatise meat
inspection will mean much reduced oversight of
company-employed inspectors by independent assessors, with
fewer independent inspectors able to see what’s happening
on the chain. In addition, defective or contaminated meat
which is diverted to the ‘detain rail’, will not be
subject to independent oversight, currently carried out by
government meat inspectors.
Crucially, the change
would see faecal contamination become the responsibility of
company-employed inspectors, who are answerable to their
company supervisors, rather than independent AsureQuality
inspectors, to pick up and rectify.
“There is a clear
conflict of interest. Company meat inspectors will be under
pressure from the company to quickly assess and maintain
production – this means production will take priority over
food safety. Under the proposed model there will be just one
government meat inspector at the end of the chain to sign
off on meat before it is graded, and that inspector’s role
will no longer involve inspecting every animal carcass for
faecal contamination.
“Shortcuts will undoubtedly
occur when the pressure is on during times of peak
production, raising the risk of contaminated meat or
diseased meat slipping through.
“We are deeply
concerned that MPI is now openly stating that faecal
contamination is not a food safety issue. That’s why we
are raising our concerns with the US Embassy and requesting
an urgent meeting – the stakes are too high – the USA market
buys around $2.8 billion of NZ red meat every
year.
“The PSA urges MPI to consult with the US
Department of Agriculture before it’s too late and lasting
damage is done to our
reputation.”
Note:
Recent
statement
The Public
Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing
and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central
government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health
boards and community
groups.
