Tuesday, 18 December 2012 11:52

Homekill rules reminder

Written by 

AS THE holiday season approaches the Ministry for Primary Industry says remember the rules about homekill.

"The law clearly states that homekill can be undertaken by the animal's owner only," stresses MPI animal products manager Judy Barker.

The resulting carcase or meat cannot be sold, nor is sale of an animal just prior to slaughter on a property for subsequent removal permitted.

"An owner can kill the animal themselves on their own property, or they can hire a listed service provider to slaughter and butcher the animal on their property or the service provider's premises," she explains.

To use a service provider an owner must be involved in daily care of the animal for at least 28 days prior to its slaughter.

Homekill meat can only be eaten by the animal's owner and their direct family (grandparents, parents, children) or household.
The run-up to Christmas and the holiday season often sees an increase in enquiries for homekill meat from farmers, notes Barker.

Wairarapa farmer and MPI employee Naya Brangenberg, who runs a small free-range pork business, echoes that. Over the years she says she's had many requests from people to buy one of her animals and kill it at her place.

"It's easy to explain that what they're asking for is illegal," says Brangenberg.

"What's more, I don't have the facilities to do the kill humanely on our property or the proper food safety protocols in place.

"Most people know what they're asking is technically illegal, so once they realise you're not interested they pretty quickly move on."

Buying a live animal from a farmer and having it immediately sent to slaughter at a registered abattoir is permitted.

More like this

Featured

$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement

A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.

Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house

The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Arable advocacy?

OPINION: Spare a thought for the arable farmer, squeezed on one side by soft global prices and on the other…

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter