Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 1/3/17

A new veterinary certificate approved by New Zealand authorities will open that nation’s market to cooked turkey products from U.S. sources, according to a news release from the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC).

New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries approved the agreement after two years of direct negotiations between the regulators and USDA after new import health standards were approved there in 2015. The process of opening the pathway for U.S. turkey products in New Zealand actually began in 2002 with USDA and USAPEEC taking leading roles in recent years, the release noted.

The lack of competitive local production has made New Zealand a potentially positive market for U.S. turkeys even though efforts were held up because of health concerns from New Zealand officials.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) next needs to update its Export Library to reflect the revised export requirements for New Zealand, providing U.S. exporters with the information they need to begin shipping the cooked turkey products, the release said.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.