Disease danger in palm kernel imports

Foot-and-mouth disease could arrive on the coat-tails of the dairy industry's massive uptake of palm kernel stock food, Fed Farmers grain and seed vice-chairman Hew Dalrymple warned. "We believe it's not if, but when, something really quite bad comes in with it," Mr Dalrymple said. Imports through Bluff are causing particular concern reports The Southland Times. Federated Farmers national board member John Hartnell raised concerns last month about a container-load of palm kernel expeller (PKE) that arrived in Bluff, so badly infested with live insects and maize kernel it had to be buried two metres deep. Last year NZ cows ate a quarter of the world's palm kernel stock food supply. More than 1 million tonnes of PKE was imported, mostly from Indonesia and Malaysia, prompting outrage from environmental groups concerned at the palm industry's role in the loss of tropical rainforest and destruction of tiger and orangutan habitat. Biosecurity and Agriculture Minister David Carter said from a biosecurity perspective, all palm kernel imports were fumigated."In response to industry concern, I am advised that MAF Biosecurity NZ is reviewing the requirements to add extra confidence to the importation process, but there is no evidence to suggest the current requirements have failed."