The Meat Industry Association says it supports a bill regarding emissions trading which the Finance and Expenditure select committee is hearing submissions on.
Forest owners and farm foresters are critical of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill.
They say it weakens the ETS scheme and fails to encourage the effective mitigation of carbon emissions in New Zealand.
The association's chief executive, Tim Ritchie, says the meat industry already incurs the cost of carbon emissions as a result of processing, transportation of stock, on farm fuel and electricity use and fertiliser production.
"We're not opposed to an ETS type system, but we don't believe it should be introduced until such time as our competitors out there in the world with whom we trade also face a similar position, and that there are practical and economic means available here to mitigate the impact of carbon.
"It's taking a sensible approach to it and realising the importance of pastoral New Zealand to the New Zealand economy."
