New Zealand’s Wallace Corporation Limited has been fined a record $80,000 by the Environment Court. The fine is the largest ever handed out under the Resource Management Act for a single charge, and was imposed following 12 breaches of consent for air discharge between April and November 2004 at the firm’s Waikato abattoir and rendering plant.

The Wallace Corporation also owns Wallford Meats (NZ) Ltd, Eureka Hides & Skins Ltd and Wallace Industries Ltd. It employs some 600 staff seasonally and has an annual turnover exceeding $200 million. The company exports over 80% of its products to the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.