Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says some New Zealand meat was kept in the same cool store as beef packaging from Argentina that had tested positive for Covid-19 - and she wants to get to the bottom of claims New Zealand products and packaging tested positive.
"We were advised yesterday there had been positive tests on packaging beef products from Argentina," Ardern said, adding that did not include New Zealand product.
"We were not advised New Zealand products themselves tested positive for Covid," she said.
Reuters reported there was Covid-19 on beef and tripe products and packaging , originating from Brazil, Bolivia and New Zealand found in Jinan in Shandong province, China.
Ardern would be seeking more information about the claim - adding she had not been advised officially of the report.
"I want to get to the bottom of this. This (beef exports) is incredibly important to New Zealand."
Tests were carried out on beef and tripe products that had arrived in a city in Shandong province. (Source: Other)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was not informed directly about the issue by Chinese authorities and New Zealand officials were working to "ascertain the origin and veracity of these reports".
This morning on TVNZ1's Breakfast, Ardern says was looking into the report after "being advised it's not our beef".
"We've been advised that's Argentinean beef, so just trying to get to the bottom of what's been reported there as we speak but rest assured we'll keep doing that."
The New Zealand Argentinian Embassy said there was an allegation received on November 12 "of nucleic acid in the external packaging of a shipment of beef from Argentina".
"The alleged event did not affect the product, which is in perfect condition and meeting all the required sanitary standards, but rather the outer packaging at the cold store facilities where it had been transferred.
"In this respect, we would like to indicate that this is an isolated case, being the first time that this has happened in the packaging of products from Argentina since the pandemic began."
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