New Zealand

NZ wants Fiji lamb flap ban removed

meat producers are working

to have Fiji’s ban on importing

lamb flaps lifted. The Fiji government in December banned lamb flaps, which are comprised of muscle fat and tissue from the belly of young sheep.

Studies warn that lamb flaps, available in the Pacific primarily from Australia and New Zealand, pose a health risk and can lead to high blood pressure and obesity. Lamb flaps are processed as fertilizer and dog food in New Zealand, but they are a very popular and inexpensive food item for people in the Pacific Islands.

Meat New Zealand International’s General Manager Gerry Thompson said the ban is unfair and sets a bad precedent.

“Judgments are always made by consumers,” he said. “This product is sold in New Zealand and anywhere else. Our industry doesn’t particularly seek to export it to Fiji or Island countries, but

the demand is there.” Thompson said he’s not suggesting the ban is a political move and believes the

government is sincere in treating it as a health issue. But he said the ban is a misguided approach.

“There are other meat products that are as fatty or more fatty than lamb flaps,” he added. “We just wonder why the Fiji government has particularly singled out this product.” Thompson noted that Fiji continues to import other products that pose a health risk, such as tobacco and alcohol.

“After all, it’s not a poison,” he said. “It’s a question of something that one shouldn’t have too much of, and there are quite a few things in that category. Health experts emphasizing the fat content are overlooking the fact that there are nutrients in the lean part of the meat ... and the cheapest form of meat protein you can find, and that’s a very good value for people in developing countries,” he said. (Pacific Beat) ■