Sanity, based on sound science, has prevailed says Federated Farmers after the Government confirmed it would no longer be permitting imports of products containing animal manure.
The decision follows a Ministry for Primary Industries' investigation which discovered imported compost from the Netherlands, intended for mushroom growing, contained animal manure.
"This is the right decision. Federated Farmers made a strong submission earlier in the year against these imports," says Federated Farmers' biosecurity spokesperson Guy Wigley.
MPI had put the import on hold until it developed a new import health standard to cover animal-based manure.
"The initial measures outlined in the proposed import health standard were simply not robust enough or science based in our opinion, and this presented a biosecurity risk.
"We don't allow anyone from overseas to bring (unauthorised) raw meat into the country as the risks are just too great," says Mr Wigley.
"This import request fits the category of not meeting stringent import health standards."