Auckland - The New Zealand Meat Board on Thursday voiced its protest about a Canadian plan to impose a C$1.00 a head levy on imported and domestic beef to finance promotion and research.
The board, which undertakes marketing initiatives for New Zealand beef and lamb producers, said the plan was against the principle of the Uruguay trade agreement.
Chief executive Neil Taylor said the so called "checkoff" plan could cost New Zealand farmers up to NZ$290,000 a year in total.
The levy was proposed by the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, and would be collected and spent under the authority of a new Canadian Beef/Cattle Market Development and Promotion Agency.
New Zealand exported 40,700 tonnes of beef, worth about NZ$109 million (fob), to Canada in 1997.
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