Industry seeks ban on Korean oysters

New Zealand oysters' reputation is threatened by dodgy imports.

The seafood industry wants food safety authorities to consider banning imports of South Korean oysters after they were linked to sickness among rugby fans at Eden Park.

Alastair Macfarlane of the Seafood Industry Council said yesterday that "extremely serious thought" should be given to a ban. "This is not the first time it has happened. Korean oysters have a reputation."

Dozens of patrons from corporate hospitality areas of Eden Park reported being sick after the All Blacks-Irish test on June 17. Tests found norovirus present in South Korean oysters served at the match.

Norovirus is a highly infectious gut virus that can spread directly from person to person through vomiting or touch, or through eating contaminated food. New Zealand-grown oysters from two suppliers consumed at the event tested negative for norovirus.

Australia banned imports of oysters from South Korea in October 2004 because of concerns over the bug.

Mr Macfarlane said New Zealanders grew up expecting to be able to eat oysters and other shellfish raw, but it was not always a safe practice where foreign oysters - particularly those from Korea - were involved.

He said people who ate the oysters at the test match - a mixture of raw New Zealand and Korean oysters - were playing "oyster roulette".

Clevedon Coast Oysters chief executive Callum McCallum said it was the fourth time in a year that Korean oysters had made people sick in Auckland alone.

New Zealand shellfish growers were heavily regulated, and water in which the shellfish were grown had to meet purity standards.

"If we had that number of noro outbreaks, we would be closed down.

"I can't see why you wouldn't ban them for ever. If Australia has the nuts to ban them, why don't we."

Mr McCallum, who is also chairman of the New Zealand Aquaculture Council, said there was an "ample supply" of local shellfish, and importing them was not necessary.

But Food Safety Authority assistant director Glen Neal said yesterday that an outright ban would not be imposed as it was too "draconian".

However, the authority would probably move to tighten regulations in the importation of all shellfish.

Extra regulations being considered were certification from the country of origin about growing conditions, printed directions to cook certain shellfish products, and extra requirements on the handling of the food once in New Zealand.