Choudhary Ashraf: National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill — Second Reading 
Choudhary Ashraf: National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:675;Page:20998] 
Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY (Labour) 
: 
 Thank you very much for this opportunity. I rise to support the National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill. The Primary Production Committee had a very good discussion on this bill. As the Minister said we heard 10 submissions but they were very thorough submissions very good submissions from a range of submitters. I say at the outset that this is a bill that the Labour Government started in 2004 and then we formally committed to implementing it and allocating resources in 2008. I think it is very important to say at the outset that this is an issue about animal tracing that all the key exporting countries around the world have already. We are the one that has actually been slack. I have a list of the countries that have already got some kind of national animal identification and tracing scheme in their systems: Australia the United Kingdom Canada the United States—in that case it is voluntary—South Korea Japan the European Union Argentina and Brazil. Those countries have it just for export purposes. 
I think it is very important that as we move forward from a number of other animal issues like animal welfare—we have now passed a number of Acts for animal welfare—and also for the image that we have as a clean and green country that we go into animal identification because there will be more and more demand as countries and consumers want the ability to trace where their protein is coming from and which country the animals are coming from. I think we have done well in terms of getting this bill in place so we can assure consumers and countries that the meat they are consuming is coming from reliable sources. In particular as a major exporting country New Zealand has over the years taken leadership in many areas. Whether it is technology on the farm or whether it is meat processing or freezing meat for over 100 years we have done very well. In that vein it is important that we pass this bill because it will give consumers better choice and better understanding of where their protein comes from. It is also important as a country that is very serious about biosecurity and any issues to do with animal diseases that we have a way to identify animals so consumers and buyers know which source the animal protein is coming from. Going forward I think consumers will want proof of where their meat has come from. This identification will start with cattle and deer because as we get into the system we have to ensure we start with animals that are easily traceable. Of course the next step will be to go to sheep in future years but because of the numbers—30 million sheep—it will not be easy or cheap. 
I must highlight a couple of points that have been raised by a number of submitters on this bill. One issue is about the lifestyle block people—the people who have small lifestyle blocks. There will be a cost factor for them and how will we identify those small lifestyle blockholders who have a few animals? There will be a cost issue and as I understand it it could cost $2 to $3 per animal to microchip those animals. That cost issue has been raised by some of the submitters and I think it is important that we need to keep in mind that to fulfil the animal tracing requirement the holders of small lifestyle blocks can be contacted. Obviously we have what we call the FarmsOnLine database. That could be useful for this purpose. 
The other issue that has been raised by submitters is the accountability for recovery. What principles will be used to recover the cost of microchipping animals? The levy recovery will be a major issue. Another issue will be at what time and what stage these animals will be microchipped. Will they be microchipped at the time of birth? What happens when animals are moved from one farm to another farm or even moved from south to north or north to south? Those issues need to be sorted out because this could be a potential problem in terms of animals being moved from farm to farm but farmers not being sure at which stage animals should be microchipped. 
The other issue is whether it will be helpful given that a lot of diseases are spread by wild animals such as possums. We know that in New Zealand we have millions of these terrible animals which spread disease. The question is whether just microchipping export animals will be good enough to stop the spread of disease. That is another issue we will need to look at. 
The other issue that could potentially be a problem is dispute resolution in terms of levy payment. That is another issue that the ministry will have to resolve—whether these disputes will be resolved through regulations or whether that should be in the bill. In other areas these disputes are often dealt with through regulations rather than through legislation and that is another concern that some submitters had. 
The other issue will be to ask what process will be used to include other animals like as I said sheep. What processes will be used to include them in the whole National Animal Identification and Tracing process? 
I say finally that although I support this bill it is something that has been ongoing for a number of years. I am glad that at last this Government is taking this matter seriously enough to get this bill approved hopefully before the end of this Parliament. I personally am delighted because this is an area that I as a scientist have had a lot of interest in over the years. I foresee that in the future along with animal welfare issues and our clean green image the tracing of animals will be very important for consumers. They are looking for safe food they are looking for the ability to trace the animal and trace where the meat has come from and I think that is an edge that we should have had years ago along with other countries. But I suppose one could say that it is never too late and even now we are passing this bill. I think it is good for the industry it is good for the consumer and it is good for the name that New Zealand has overseas in terms of providing a good source of protein. With those words I am delighted to commend this bill to the House.