NZ chicken exports heading back to normal after Otago outbreak – MPI

An outbreak at an Otago egg farm of pathogenic avian influenza in December was New Zealand's first case of the disease. Image / Patrimonio Designs

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says New Zealand chicken exports are returning to normal after trade was suspended last year.

Last December, New Zealand experienced its first confirmed case of pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), specifically the H7N6 strain, at an Otago egg farm.

Thousands of chickens were later culled.

While the outbreak was contained to the Hillgrove farm, measures were taken to prevent further spread, including surveillance and temporary suspension of poultry exports.

Steve Ainsworth, MPI’s divisional manager bilateral relations and trade, in a response to an inquiry from the Herald, said: “Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million (about 75%) of trade in poultry products recovered to date.

“This includes products containing poultry ingredients such as petfood,” he said.

A spokesperson for Tegel Foods – a major exporter – said several international markets had imposed temporary restrictions on New Zealand chicken exports after the outbreak in Otago.

“However, we’ve been working closely with MPI, who have been highly proactive and supportive in helping us regain access to those markets,” the spokesperson said.

“We’re now down to only a couple of markets where access is still being worked through.

“Overall, the impact to our business has been minor.”

MPI said it had worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and had also proposed alternative assurances to some markets.

New Zealand’s main chicken exporters are Tegel, Ingham’s, Brinks and Tara Exports.

The companies export chicken products, including retail cuts, to various markets worldwide.

In February, MPI said there continued to be no sign of HPAI beyond Mainland Poultry’s farm at Hillgrove.

“There remains no risk to eggs and chicken supply in New Zealand, given the size of the national flock,” the ministry said at the time.

“The risk to human health remains low and there are no food safety concerns.”

Farms linked to Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove site have been confirmed as free of the virus after testing.

There are no signs of the disease anywhere else, MPI has said.

Jamie Gray is an Auckland-based journalist, covering the financial markets, the primary sector and energy. He joined the Herald in 2011.