Currently a review of the Biosecurity strategy is
underway. Key issues that Forest and Bird hopes will be included in the Strategy
are listed below. The issues paper includes a much wider range of issues than
is outlined here but these are the ones Forest and Bird considers to be particularly
important.
ISSUE: Precautionary approach and constant improvement Rather than accepting a certain level of risk, biosecurity
agencies should seek to achieve the best level of protection. A precautionary
approach should be taken when risk is not known, and importers should be required
to prove a product is safe before it can be imported. When risks are identified
there must be a process of continual review and improvement to minimise them,
and where this cannot be done importation should be suspended.
Example: Spiders in grapes
Numerous poisonous spiders (black widow and redback jumping spiders) have been
found in shipments of grapes from California recently. There are clearly risks
particular to this product and this country, and the importation of grapes from
California should be stopped until sufficient steps are taken to minimise those
risks.
ISSUE: Keeping risks offshore The safest way to deal with biosecurity risks is offshore.
Once a pest, weed or disease has arrived in New Zealand the risk of it spreading
is vastly increased, and once it has done so the chance of eliminating it is
decreased. Where possible, biosecurity risks should be kept offshore.
Example: Contaminated used vehicles
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry does not require used vehicles brought
into New Zealand to be decontaminated prior to shipment. This means that the
biosecurity risk is brought to New Zealand. A major risk with used vehicles
is the introduction of moths that can devastate forests, and mosquitoes that
can spread disease. It is safer to simply clean and inspect the vehicles before
they are shipped to New Zealand, rather than finding insects on vehicles at
our wharves and having to mount a biosecurity response to discover if they have
spread. The government should require offshore decontamination of all used vehicles.
Painted apple moth caterpillar
(MAF)
ISSUE: Increased surveillance When unwanted species arrive in New Zealand it is
vital to detect them quickly as early detection increases the chance of eradication.
This means effective surveillance, particularly around ports and other high-risk
areas. Current surveillance is not adequate and focuses on pheromone trapping
for identified pests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry and human health.
As a result environmental pests can be overlooked.
Example: Invasive ants
at ports
The invasive Argentine ant and a second new species of ant were discovered by
Landcare Research at the Port of Nelson early in 2001. They estimated that Argentine
ants had been at the Port for about three years, but they had never been picked
up by MAF inspections.
Argentine ant
ISSUE: Incursion response fund The next important step to detecting new pests is to
mount a rapid response. At present there is no dedicated funding set aside to
deal with new pests, weeds and diseases that arrive in New Zealand. An "incursion
response fund" should be established to respond quickly and effectively
to these events, increasing the chance of success.
ISSUE: Internal biosecurity As well as border-focused biosecurity, there is a need
for greater coordination of control of established pests, weeds and diseases
in New Zealand. That includes improvements in the consistency of pest control
throughout the country, greater emphasis on preventing the spread of pests around
New Zealand and to offshore islands, and more funding for pest control.
Ferret eating penguin on Otago Peninsula
(Rod Morris)
ISSUE: The Biosecurity Act Sound biosecurity legislation is a fundamental requirement
for effective biosecurity. The current Biosecurity Act is lacking in many areas,
and needs substantial improvement. The Act does not include any overarching
goals and objectives for biosecurity. Goals and objectives should be incorporated
into an updated Biosecurity Act and should place environmental concerns on an
even footing with agricultural and other concerns. Despite the fact that the
scope of biosecurity has been broadened to include environment, marine and health
impacts, MAF is the lead agency and a strong bias towards agriculture, horticulture
and forestry remains. The Biosecurity Act should be updated to include overarching
goals and to more explicitly require that environmental and other concerns be
given equal consideration to primary production.
The Biosecurity Act is also enabling rather than
prescriptive legislation so it doesn't direct action by any agency. More
direction is required in the Act, for instance the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry should be required to assess each new incursion, and Regional Pest
Management Strategies should be mandatory for all regional councils.
ISSUE: International environmental agreements New Zealand is a signatory to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) which requires that we "prevent the introduction of, control
or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitat and species".
Similar language exists in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. New Zealand
must live up to these commitments internationally, which means not exporting
pest species to other countries.
Example: Exporting pests
New Zealand exports possums, ferrets and wallabies, all of which are serious
conservation pests in New Zealand. We should not export species that are a problem
here to other countries where they are not native and may become pests.
Possum on lacebark
ISSUE: International trade agreements New Zealand is a signatory to various international
trade agreements. Under international trade agreements countries expose their
domestic legislation to international scrutiny as to whether it represents a
non-tariff barrier to trade. This includes environmental and biosecurity legislation.
Challenges to environmental legislation under the World Trade Organisation have
resulted in countries being forced to weaken their domestic legislation. New
Zealand must ensure that we do not sign up to international agreements that
could compromise our biosecurity system and thus threaten our indigenous species
and ecosystems.
