If exporters meet new requirements - they can now start shipping cattle overseas again.

An independent review launched after Gulf Livestock 1 capsized last month has found changes are needed.

They include restricting the number of animals on board vessels, daily veterinary reports during voyages, a focused inspection of ships entering the country, and extra feed on board for unplanned delays. 

Director General of MPI Ray Smith told Heather Du Plessis Allan 24- thousand animals have been sitting for the last six or seven weeks in pre export isolation, and can now be shipped.

He said exporters who take cattle overseas will have to go through intensive inspections of their ships by Maritime New Zealand to comply with the new requirements.

“They’ll have to reduce their stocking density, that means they can take less animals providing more space per animal.”

“We will have daily reporting’s… we’ll be receiving reports on the welfare of animals and the conditions on board and at sea.”

 

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