Friday, March 29, 2024

No evidence of NZ export covid claims

Neal Wallace
New Zealand officials believe cross-contamination is the cause of a sample that tested positive to covid-19 found on NZ meat packaging in China.
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Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor says authorities in the Chinese city of Jinan have confirmed the sample taken from packaging on a shipment of NZ tripe has tested positive for covid-19 genetic material.

The NZ consignment was stored in a cold storage facility along with meat products from other countries.

“There is no evidence that the New Zealand product was the source of covid-19 on the packaging of products in the cold store facility,” O’Connor said in a statement.

NZ officials are in contact with their Chinese counterparts and have stressed NZ has strong national covid-19 controls in place and a track record of managing the disease.

“New Zealand food and fibre exporters have responded well to managing the risk of covid-19 transmission, keeping their workers and product safe, and their exports flowing,” O’Connor said.

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