The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) is a voluntary trade association representing New Zealand meat processors, marketers and exporters. It is an incorporated society (owned by members) that represents companies' supplying the majority of New Zealand sheepmeat exports and all beef exports, producing 13% of our nation's exports by value (22% of New Zealand's primary sector revenue). For the year ending June 2012, the meat industry earned export revenue of $6.1 billion.
MIA member companies operate approximately 60 processing plants throughout the country. The plants slaughter and process approximately 19 million lambs, 4.3 million sheep and 3.9 million cattle and calves each year. 90% of this production is processed into value-added products. More than one million tonnes, or 85% of the production is exported to 120 overseas destinations.
Our affiliate members add to the depth of expertise available from the membership, with representation throughout the meat supply chain, including road transporters, shipping lines, ports, packaging firms, energy and insurance providers, specialist product exporters, technology companies and research providers.
The MIA holds directorships on MIRINZ Inc (industry research); the Meat Promotion Group (generic markiet development/promotion); the Meat Biologics Consortium and its associated Meat Biologics Research Company; Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd (including the New Zealand Meat Board); Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc; NZITO (our industry training organistion); Ovis Management Ltd (OML); and the Shippers' Council.
OML is a wholly owned subsidiary of MIA whose mission is to provide a low cost programme promoting control of Cysticercus ovis (sheep measles) in livestock.
OAL is a consortium of nine MIA member companies and the government (through the Ministry of Science & Innovation) that aims to bring about a step change in sheep processing through the use of automation.
The MIA also facilitates a range of other industry-good R&D initiatives.
The MIA provides in-house legal counsel for use by its members and manages the recruitment and supply of halal slaughtermen for the industry.
The MIA advocates on behalf of its members and provides advice on economic, trade policy, market access, employment relations, business compliance costs and technical and regulatory issues facing the industry, with a particular focus on:
- Food safety trends and developments in importing countries;
- Economic and trade aspects of market access to key overseas markets; and
- Major public policy proposals that could impact on industry operations.
The MIA is also the interface between the meat industry and government i.e. it is the consultative body referred to in various New Zealand statues, such as the Animal Products Act 1999 and the Meat Board Act 2004.
To provide a forum for consideration of industry-wide commercial, human resource, marketing, and sanitary and zoosanitary issues; and
To provide the means of fomulating a collective view on issues of industry wide interest, and of conveying that position to government, departments of state, trade bodies and other appropriate external agencies and organisations.
The Association's goals is to improve profitability in the industry by helping its members achieve marketing and operational excellence.
