New Zealand-Meat Boss speaks out on sheep ear tags.

NEW ZEALAND.

MEAT INDUSTRY LEADER SPEAKS OUT.

Keith Cooper the CEO of the biggest meat company in New Zealand, has come under attack for his remarks last week about ear tags.

The Executive said, that the new tag system in Australia was a good idea and that if NZ was not careful they could indeed " miss the boat", in regard to having acceptable traceability, for the European Union in particular.

Federated Farmers group, yesterday said that Coopers comments could potentially undermine market confidence in the New Zealand meat industry. Saying "Keith Coopers comments could do harm to our multi billion dollar industry".

Cooper dismissed the claims as "absolute rubbish", going on to say the federation were confusing tracing the history of the animal, with different issues over meat quality.

Cooper went on to say, "The Australian system was likely to set a new bench mark and NZ was in danger of being left behind".

New Zealand now trace the animals from farm to farm, along with all movements to meat plants, however not before this.

Cooper said that is was irrelevant that Europe had required tagging in Australia, but now that it was happening, New Zealand should be considering it.