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Moves to protect the national piggery
19 Mar 2004
A new joint industry-government working group will be formed to develop a plan to secure the future of Australia's $1 billion pork industry, which has been hit by rising imports, falling prices, high feed prices and quarantine fears. The establishment of the group was announced yesterday by Senator Judith Troeth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Australian Pork Ltd's chairman Paul Higgins welcomed the move. He said imports in the December 2003 quarter were 57 per cent higher than in the December 2002 quarter, which was a huge increase when producers are still suffering from the effects of the drought on feed prices. Imports have also helped to push down the prices of pigs.
APL also has fears about new quarantine rules and says they will weaken the defences against exotic diseases. An outbreak of post-weening multi-systemic wasting syndrome, for example, would cost the Australian industry $55 million.
The Age, 19/3/04.
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