The pork industry says the health of the country's pigs are at risk from a Government plan to allow raw pork imports from countries with a potentially lethal pig disease.

NZ Pork wants a Ministry for Primary Industries decision to allow pig meat to be imported from countries with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome to be struck out by the courts.

The High Court found in favour of the ministry in June 2012, and the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal 2-1 in April this year.

However, NZ Pork has been allowed to hear the board's appeal in the Supreme Court.

NZ Pork chairman Ian Carter says New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world which is free of the decision.

The disease, also known as blue-ear pig disease, causes still-born piglets and respiratory illnesses in young pigs, and is estimated to cost the United States industry more than US$600 million [NZ$728m] a year.

"We want to protect our pigs from a devastating disease," Mr Carter said.

At the heart of the argument is a huge difference in the risk analysis.

Mr Carter said NZ Pork's advice, provided by Massey University, says an incursion of the disease was likely every 10 years, while MPI's analysis is that it would be once every 1227 years.

He said no effort was made by MPI to bring the scientists together to discuss the gulf between the figures.

MPI says it's confident it can effectively manage the risks of the disease becoming established in New Zealand.

Ministry director general Wayne McNee says it followed the correct process and it would continue to defend its position in the Supreme Court.

NZN  Thu, 16 May 2013 11:05a.m.

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