Biosecurity 29
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Issue 29 • 1 August 2001 A publication of MAF Biosecurity Authority Expensive produce: $200 instant fines introduced p4 Also in this issue: Should pig feeding be regulated? BSE: an international public health, animal health and trade issue Precaution and the management of biosecurity risks More resources needed for international plant work security Import risk analysis for Cordyline and Dracaena Painted apple moth response report released Sudden oak death – new disease identified in US Developing codes of welfare: a consultative process Pipfruit industry certification post deregulation Biosecurity How to contact us: Contents Everyone listed at the end of an article as a contact point, unless otherwise indicated, is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity Authority. 3 Biosecurity takes a stand All MAF staff can be contacted by e-mail, FMD campaign wound up and the standard format for all addresses is 4 Cover story: Instant fines catch 454 travellers in first fortnight [email protected] For example Ralph Hopcroft would be New Zealand experts contribute to risk analysis text [email protected] (There are slight 5 Should pig feeding be regulated? exceptions for people with similar names, but these addresses are given where necessary.) 6 BSE: an international public health, animal health and trade issue 7 Varroa update: varroa control book published by MAF PO Box 2526, Wellington New Zealand 8 Biosecurity Council position statement on the application of precaution in managing biosecurity risks associated with the importation of risk goods under the Biosecurity (+64) 4 474 4100 (switchboard) Act 1993 most staff have direct dial lines which are listed where available 10 More resources needed to support international plant health standards work 11 Biosecurity people: John Hedley (+64) 4 474 4133 • Animal Biosecurity Group Cattle and deer ID changes proposed (+64) 4 470 2730 12 Import risk analysis for Cordyline and Dracaena cut flowers and branches • Biosecurity Policy International standard for wood packing Coordination Group • Border Management Group 13 Painted apple moth report released • International Agreements Group 14 Sudden oak death – new disease identified in the United States • Contracts Management Group 15 Developing codes of welfare – a consultative process (+64) 4 498 9888 16 Long-term response to southern saltmarsh mosquito incursion • Group Director and Business Services Manager, Biosecurity Biosecurity strategy update Authority 17 Pipfruit export certification in deregulated industry: plan early for change! • Director, Animal Biosecurity • Director, Plants Biosecurity Nursery stock industry informed over import health standards • Forest Biosecurity Group 18 African wildlife and veterinary experience shared • Animal Welfare Group 19 Aquarium seaweed a threat to marine environment (+64) 4 474 4257 • Plants Biosecurity Group ASB Bank House, 101 The Terrace, Wellington 19 New import health standards issued Biosecurity is published 6-weekly by MAF 20 Import health standards revoked Biosecurity Authority. It covers biosecurity Draft import health standards for horses and animal health, animal welfare, plant 21 Draft guideline for approval of semen collection centres exporting ruminant semen health and forest health issues. It is of special from New Zealand interest to all those with a stake in New Surveillance standards reviewed Zealand’s agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal welfare and environment. Used vehicle import health standard Codes of ethical conduct – approvals, notifications Enquiries about specific articles: Refer to and revocations since the last issue of Biosecurity contact listed at the end of the relevant article Icon Key Religious slaughter discussion paper General enquiries (eg, circulation requests or Animal Biosecurity information about MAF's biosecurity work): Biosecurity Magazine MAF Biosecurity Authority Plants Biosecurity PO Box 2526, Wellington 22 Biosecurity regulations notified internationally: Phone: 04 474 4100 publication through Biosecurity discontinued Forest Biosecurity Fax: 04 498 9888 23 New organism records: 12/5/01 – 22/6/01 Email: [email protected] Animal Welfare Editorial enquiries: Editor: Phil Stewart Issue 29 • 1 August 2001 Phone: 04 384 4688 Email: editor_biosecurity@ maf.govt.nz 2ISSN 1174 – 4618 www.maf.govt.nz/BiosecurityBiosecurity Issue 29 • 1 August 2001 Biosecurity takes a stand A pair of muddy gumboots, an x-ray stand, and Hugh Davies of the National machine and MAF’s hard-working Centre for Disease Investigation gave a detector dogs were among the presentation on the final day about drawcards at a highly successful lessons for New Zealand, and our biosecurity information stand at the preparedness to respond to a disease Mystery Creek National Agricultural emergency. Fieldays. It was promising to see a number of The recent outbreak of foot and mouth soon-to-be travellers, approaching disease (FMD) in the UK provided a people staffing the biosecurity stand to “Excuse me, sir – did you realise those were strong focus for biosecurity information check on their obligations when they dangerous goods?” A gumboot wearer at the Mystery Creek Fieldays sees his footwear in a at this year’s event. return to New Zealand. This contact was new light. a good opportunity to get the message on display. People were constantly amazed For the first time, MAF designed a out and to reiterate just how serious the at just how much could be seen in their generic biosecurity display site disease is. The FMD false alarm that bags; a display cabinet of seized goods hit representing all of the government occurred during the field days also home the lesson. ministries involved. sparked interest from the visiting media With the FMD crisis taking centre stage, a and general public and heightened The rain held off and the four days were a pair of large muddy gumboots marked as curiosity about the site. success. With the theme of next year’s Fieldays being New Zealand’s clean, green ‘dangerous goods’ topped off a 1.8m high While FMD formed a useful focus, the image, planning is already underway to pillar at the front of the site. The opportunity was taken to educate people make the most of it and to keep the gumboots were a sobering reminder to about the need to protect New Zealand biosecurity message in front of New visitors – many of them gumboot clad – from a whole range of exotic pests and Zealanders. that even a mundane item of farm diseases. footwear can carry a killer virus. Kelly Hawkins, MAF Biosecurity The MAF Quarantine Service beagle The recent FMD television Awareness Programme, dogs made a huge impact and pulled in phone (09) 356 9793, advertisements were screened at the the crowds, as did the new x-ray machine [email protected] FMD campaign wind-up no excuse for complacency The public awareness campaign about disease in summerfruit, citrus canker At least 40 percent of the people carrying foot and mouth disease (FMD) may be disease for citrus fruit, Asian gypsy moth undeclared risk material were New winding up, but that’s no excuse for and pitch pine canker which could affect Zealanders. “This isn’t just a problem of complacency, according to Minister for our horticulture and forestry industries. uninformed foreigners. It’s our own people Biosecurity, Jim Sutton. not taking the dangers seriously.” “There are Newcastle disease and avian Reflecting on the campaign at a meeting influenza which affect birds, equine Federated Farmers President Alistair in Wellington last month, Mr Sutton said influenza and equine infectious anaemia Polson endorsed the FMD awareness the publicity about the increased danger which affect horses, as well as nasties campaign and the Government’s increased from FMD has acted as a useful bridge to such as anthrax and rabies. biosecurity measures. the ongoing $2.79m biosecurity “To that we can add the ‘hitchhiker’ “We’ve got the best biosecurity system in awareness campaign, due to be launched species – snakes, red fire ants, scorpions the world, but we need to be the best,” he in September. and mosquitoes.” said. “Two hundred thousand people are “Anecdotal evidence indicates that people employed in agriculture. A foot and mouth Mr Sutton said New Zealand is the only are much more aware of the risks of that outbreak in this country could directly country to x-ray 100 percent of incoming disease now,” he said. affect up to a million people. We’ve had a passenger luggage and mail. Seizures of let-off from foot and mouth for now, but However, he warned that the flurry of undeclared goods at Auckland, Wellington we must learn from the UK experience.” publicity surrounding the UK outbreak of and Christchurch international airports FMD should be kept in perspective. There were up 25 and 28 percent on the Mr Polson said he was disappointed that are many other biosecurity risks to previous year for April and May so many people were being caught since consider. respectively, while passenger volumes the instant fines had been introduced in had only risen by 6-7 percent. mid-June. “Perhaps we should look at “For example, there are several species of doubling the fine to $400,” he said. fruit fly, Pierce’s disease for grapes and This was a clear sign the increased the glassy-winged sharpshooter insect biosecurity measures are working, he which transmits that disease, plum pox said. Biosecurity Issue 29 • 1 August 2001 3 Instant fines catch 454 travellers in first fortnight Instant fines for passengers who fail to offenders. Few people under 20 or over 60 declare risk items were implemented at have been fined. New Zealand’s international airports from Most of the infringements involved small 18 June 2001. items such as single pieces of fruit or small The infringement fee is applied when a plant items. The complete breakdown of passenger erroneously declares that they product types involved with undeclared are not in possession of goods specified in items for the first two weeks was: the declaration card.