Wednesday, 03 August 2016 12:38

TB differential levy

Written by 
The Meat Industry Association says member meat processors have agreed to collect a TB eradication differential levy on dairy cattle. The Meat Industry Association says member meat processors have agreed to collect a TB eradication differential levy on dairy cattle.

The Meat Industry Association says member meat processors have agreed to collect a TB eradication differential levy on dairy cattle, although it does not agree with this method of collection.

New Zealand's meat processors have for some years collected a single uniform biosecurity levy on beef and dairy cattle at meat processors to pay for the costs of TB eradication, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA) in a statement.

Following a review undertaken last year, the Government and DairyNZ agreed that dairy farmers shall pay for a greater share of their share contribution to TB eradication via a differential levy paid on dairy cattle at meat processors.

"Meat processors opposed this differential levy on dairy cattle at meat processing,". MIA says.

"Meat processors believe that it is contrary to good public policy for costs to be charged at the point of production where they do not arise – in this case, costs incurred by dairy farmers should have been met by a charge on their dairy production, rather than through a complex system of differentiating dairy and beef cattle at meat processing.

"Meat processors also note that a differential levy at meat processing incurs greater costs which would not be incurred if the increase was made to the existing dairy levy.

"Nevertheless, meat processors recognise the importance to New Zealand of eradicating TB. The industry wishes to be constructive in this, so it has accepted the requests of the Government and DairyNZ that it impose a differential levy on dairy farmers. The Ministry for Primary Industries is shortly to promulgate the regulations to give effect to the differential levy, which will be imposed on dairy cattle from August 1, 2016.

"If any farmers have concerns about the application of the levy when the cattle are slaughtered they should contact OSPRI at 0800 482 463."

More like this

Editorial: NZ's great China move

OPINION: The New Zealand red meat sector, with support from the Government, has upped the ante to retain and expand its niche in the valuable Chinese market - and the signs are looking positive.

Red meat's China push

The red meat sector is launching a new campaign to lure Chinese consumers to New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb.

Primary sector chuffed

Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy says his organisation welcomes the new trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), noting the UAE is the second largest market for the red meat sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council after Saudi Arabia.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter