Australia can expect to see some pigs from across the ditch

Uncooked New Zealand pork meat and products containing New Zealand pork will be available in Australia soon.

Australia's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and NZ's Ministry for Primary Industries have agreed on the terms, conditions and certification for NZ's pork to be sold in Australia. One condition is that uncooked pork meat will have to be further processed once it arrives in Australia.

NZ can start exporting pork to Australia immediately. Currently NZ's pork exports are limited to a small number of markets, such as the Pacific Islands and Singapore. In the year to 30 June 2017, New Zealand exported about 173 tonnes of pork in total valued at around $1 million.

New Zealand Pork Chairman Ian Carter said access to Australia for New Zealand pork will provide a positive boost for New Zealand's pork industry.

"We see the granting of access to Australia as an important formative step to explore export markets that value the qualities associated with pork and pork products produced from pigs born and raised in New Zealand, backed by PigCare — the industry's independently managed animal welfare assurance program — and the sector's world-leading high health status," said Carter.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ Anatolii Tsekhmister