1. Biosecurity Act (1993)

2. Reasons for the act. To protect NZ from unwanted diseases and pests that are not currently present and to be able to control some of those that are.

3. Areas covered by the act:  Importation of risk goods.  Exigency actions.  Pest management.  Surveillance and prevention.  Administration

4. MAF’s Biosecurity Mission: To protect NZ’s unique biodiversity and facilitate imports by managing risks to plant and animal health and animal welfare.

5. Protection To protect NZ’s unique biodiversity by managing risks to animal, plant and forest health.

6. Development To develop science based animal welfare and ethics standards which contribute to success in the international markets.

7. Assurance To provide credible and accurate Government to Government assurances that NZ’s food and fibre products meet the biosecurity requirements of importing countries.

8. Co-ordination To lead and co-ordinate the NZ Government’s biosecurity programme.

9. Honey is brought in and declared by a passenger at an airport.  It is covered by the act.  Honey is one of the risk goods.  Covered by part 3 importation of risk goods.  Could bring in a new variant of Varroa Bee Mite or other honey diseases. Could affect bee numbers, viability of farming honey and exports of honey.

10. A passenger declares she has an unopened biscuit packet at an airport.  It is covered by the act.  It is not illegal or risk item but must be declared.  Surveillance and prevention.  Undeclared items could be riskier than the passenger thinks.

11. An official removes an item of stationery from a quarantine area without permission from his seniors.  It is covered by the act.  Must not enter, leave, use or remove items from quarantine area without permission.  Importation of risk goods.  Could be contaminated & spread disease.

12. A company wants to import human semen from USA.  It is not covered by the act.  Act does not cover humans or human products.

13. ERMA = environmental risk management authority

14. Role of ERMA in ensuring biosecurity in NZ. Prevent or manage risks to the environment, public health and safety from introducing new organisms or importing or manufacturing hazardous substances.

15. How does ERMA carry out its functions?  Makes decisions on HSNO Act  Promotes compliance of the HSNO Act.  Promote public understanding and applications. knowledge of risks associated with new organisms and hazardous substances.

16. HSNO Act = Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (1996)

17. New organism =  Species not present in NZ before 29 July 1998.  Risk species or variant prior to promoting  Organism with containment approval.  Genetically modified species.  Species or variant eradicated from NZ.  Illegally introduced organisms. given approval for importation. introduction of the act. It is no longer a new organism once