Launch Of The Ostrich And Emu Processing Standard

Ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting me to say a few words tonight.

Your industry boasts a number of success stories in a relatively short time and tonight we are here to celebrate another milestone with the launch of the Ostrich and Emu Processing Standard.

Ten years ago, Murray Gos a Manawatu farmer, started out with one pair of emus. Today the national flock totals 15,000 emus spread over 150 farms.

In 1994, the only ostriches in New Zealand, were the five zoo animals at Orana Wildlife Park just outside Christchurch. The first importation of incubating ostrich eggs came from Australia in August 1994, and the first importation of birds for farming, came from the UK in May 1995. Further importations of live birds have been from Canada and Australia.

These birds and the further importations of eggs, have led to a national flock of 20,000 birds in less than five years. There are now around 520 ostrich farms here, mainly set up for breeding.

However, the success of the industry cannot be measured solely in terms of the increased flock size. There have been other achievements for both ostrich and emu farmers, and MAF staff including the development of importation health standards for both the live birds and eggs for hatching.

It is vital for the future of the ostrich and emu industry, and of course for the economy in general, that diseases which could be imported with these birds or eggs, do not arrive here. Post arrival quarantine facilities have also been established. Again, that was achieved through industry working in partnership with MAF.

More recently, a pro-active group of ostrich and emu farmers realised that there was a need for an Animal Welfare Code for the handling and transportation of these birds. The handling of these birds is very different from handling other farm species that many of us are more used to handling. In July last year, after several months of hard work, the 'Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Ostriches and Emus' was launched at a function similar to this one tonight.

However, the ultimate goal for both farmers and investors in the ostrich and emu industry is for their healthy product to be enjoyed by New Zealand and overseas customers, and to be able to compete with other more established meats.

Because ostriches and emus are not covered by the 1981 Meat Act, the industry sought advice from MAF staff on the development of a processing standard in preparation for the passing of the Animal Products Bill into law. It is the final agreement of that processing standard that we are celebrating here tonight.

Initially MAF, the Ostrich and Emu Associations and the Ministry of Health formed the Ostrich and Emu Standards Council. Subsequently they were joined by representatives from the processing and marketing sectors who provided practical and technical expertise.

I understand that this afternoon all the parties signed the Terms of Reference for the Ostrich and Emu Standards Council. This document sets out the expectations and responsibilities of all those involved. This is a very positive step forward, especially for a new industry, and you are all to be congratulated.

Ross Davies, from Massey University who is the Chair of the Standards Council deserves a special mention for encouraging farmers, processors and marketers to work in a co-operative way, and to keep focusing on the 'big picture'.

I understand the Standards Council worked rapidly to draft up a technical standard for the slaughter and processing of ostriches and emus for human consumption. As the standard is outcome focused, it gives processors an opportunity to develop new techniques for processing within a framework of food safety outcomes.

MAF Regulatory Authority has made provision for this standard to be used in premises currently licensed under the 1981 Meat Act, and the Ministry of Health also support the use of the standard in premises registered in terms of the Food Hygiene Regulations. Although the Animal Products Bill will require animals to be slaughtered in premises under MAF supervision, I am glad to see these two Ministries working well together for this transitional phase.

This processing standard is a living document. You are a new industry, and there is still a lot of technical development and experience to be gained in the processing of these birds. This experience can be captured in future versions of the standard. The Ostrich and Emu Processing Standard is a very good starting point for your industry, and is totally aligned with the objectives of the proposed Animal Products Bill.

Ostrich and emu meat, as displayed tonight, is a versatile and healthy food. It is a tender, lean red meat, high in iron, high in protein and with a National Heart Foundation 'tick' of approval. It's a product that shows the way society is going these days. These qualities, and the concepts of food safety in which this standard guides your processors, will go a long way to helping the industry develop into a range of markets both domestic and ultimately overseas.

The adoption of this standard also allows opportunities for high quality leathers, oils and other items to be exploited. I understand at Heathrow Airport you can buy ostrich leather bags for 1000 pounds.

I congratulate the Ostrich and Emu Standards Council on your foresight in progressing this standard for the betterment of the whole industry. It is this type of vision that guides an industry's development, and brings cohesion between the links in the chain: farmers, transporters, processors and marketers.

Congratulations, it's my pleasure to be involved in the launch of this standard here tonight.