Improve biosecurity, say pig farmers

The nation's pig farmers have challenged the Government to improve biosecurity systems, both at the border and inside New Zealand.

They say the systems are inadequate and pose serious threats to the economy.

"While our Government proclaims this country has robust border controls, unfortunately these have proved not to be adequate," said Pork Industry Board chairman Chris Trengrove.

It was "extremely disappointing" there were no prosecutions over illicit imports of "significantly large quantities" of Korean pork in April, Trengrove said.

Biosecurity NZ announced in April that six tonnes of meat which came into New Zealand from Korea between August and December 2005 contained raw pork.

The raw pork was discovered at Auckland during routine surveillance of food distributors and retailers by quarantine staff at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) who were looking for prohibited goods.