The Meat Industry Association in New Zealand says lamb flaps are an ideal source of protein for those who couldn't otherwise afford meat.
The Papua New Guinea parliament is the latest Pacific nation to consider banning the imported New Zealand meat from trade and for sale over health concerns that the popular dish has contributed to the dramatic rise in lifestyle diseases.
But the association's Trade and Economic manager Dan Coup says calls to ban lamb flap exports to the Pacific region are nothing new.
He says says many Pacific Islanders currently cook it in a way that's unhealthy but this doesnt have to be the case.
"We think lamb flaps provide an affordable source of quality meat protein for people who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford that protein. We believe there are ways of preparing the lamb flaps so that theres a very low level of fat content in the final dish but people have to obviously choose to do it that way but its definitely possible to do that."
Dan Coup says China is the biggest market for New Zealand lamb flaps.
