Biosecurity readiness and response meat levy

We want to let you know that beef farmers will pay a new levy to contribute to the response to Mycoplasma bovis from 1 March 2020.

The new $1.80 + GST beef cattle levy will be collected at slaughter on a per head basis and paid to Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). 
Last year, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) asked for farmer feedback on a proposal to raise the biosecurity levy rate for cattle and sheep to help fund biosecurity readiness and response activities under  the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA).

The levy proposal was supported by farmers and meat processors and B+LNZ subsequently applied for a levy under the Biosecurity Act. Last month, the levy order was passed into law.

At this point in time, B+LNZ’s only obligation under the GIA is to contribute to the cost of the Mycoplasma bovis response. B+LNZ’s share of the response costs was determined by an independent panel, which determined that 6% of the industry costs of the response (just under 2% of the total response cost) should be met by beef farmers.

There will be no levy collected for M. bovis for dairy cattle at the point of slaughter. Dairy farmers are paying their full M. bovis contribution through the levy set by DairyNZ and collected by milk processors.

The levies payable from 1 March 2020 are:

Find out more

If you have any questions, please contact: 

• Email: dave.harrison@beeflambnz.com
• Phone: 027 248 3510