Foot and Mouth Disease vigilance urged due to foreign outbreaks

With confirmed outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in South Korea (20 April 2010) and Japan (22 April 2010), Federated Farmers has written to the Ministers of Tourism and Biosecurity, to request increased biosecurity vigilance at all ports of entry.

“New Zealand’s border agencies need to be on higher alert and the reason is contained in a 1993 Treasury study, which showed what a ‘limited’ FMD outbreak would do economically,” says John Hartnell, Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson.

“That study into a ‘limited’ FMD outbreak, when adjusted for inflation, puts the cumulative impact on nominal gross domestic product at around $8.65 billion after one year and $14.41 billion after two years.

“The FMD virus can accidentally be imported by tourists or with commodities. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) interception data highlights that more attention needs to be placed on the clearance of tourists, mail and cargo coming from risk countries.

“Federated Farmers favours a pre border and border biosecurity focus, that’s why we’ve written to the Ministers of Tourism and Biosecurity to request greater vigilance. In March alone, some 19,000 tourist arrivals came from Japan and South Korea.

“Federated Farmers has requested that the Government move to issue airlines and shipping companies with advisories. This could be reinforced by special airline passenger announcements as well as written materials in Japanese, Korean and of course, English.

“The FMD virus can remain viable for long periods in fresh as well as in partially cooked, cured and smoked meats. It can also survive within inadequately pasteurised dairy products. Additionally, humans can spread the virus after coming in contact with infected animals and the virus can remain viable on clothing, footwear or other goods for several weeks.

“We would like to go one step forward and see disinfectant mats placed into airbridges to jolt jetlagged visitors out of their stupor. It’s about making visitors think twice about what’s in their luggage and where they’ve been.

“Where there are breaches then the book needs to be thrown at transgressors. Yet the newly increased $400 instant fine and a $1,000 maximum still seems light.

“While we appreciate the efforts of MAF improving its response systems in relation to eradicating diseases, such as FMD, the key is to keep FMD out in the first place and that’s increased vigilance beforehand then at the border,” Mr Hartnell concluded.