Whale salami intercepted at Auckland Airport

  • Breaking
  • 05/10/2012

By 3 News online staff

Quarantine inspectors at Auckland Airport last week confiscated whale salami meat from two New Zealand travellers returning home.

Ministry of Primary Industries team manager Steve Gay said the pair had declared the meat before crossing the border.

"The fact that they declared the item shows that our messages are getting through to travellers about declaring or disposing goods that pose a biosecurity risk before entering New Zealand," says Mr Gay.

The meat, purchased in Norway, was not covered by an import health standard, and there were concerns it could breach the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

"The passengers were happy to hand over the salami," says Mr Gay.

Norway currently allows hunting of minke whales.

It has since been destroyed.

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source: newshub archive