A world of biosecurity or insecurity?

From a speech to Federated Farmers Dairy Council, Hotel Ashburton 18 February 2011.

Federated Farmers welcomes a free trade world of open borders, but New Zealand needs to make sure its biosecurity measures are up to scratch.

“While it may seem logical that New Zealand upgrades its biosecurity to match any expansions of our trade borders, we are seeing some worrying signs from those in charge of it,” says John Hartnell, Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson.

“I spoke today at the Federated Farmers Dairy Council Meeting and needless to say there are a few worried farmers in the dairy sector, especially in a World Cup year.

“We worry that the government’s proposed ‘SmartGate’ may be a dumb gate. A shared biosecurity border with Australia isn’t being taken seriously as a biosecurity risk and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry needs to ramp up its efforts.

“All it takes is one naughty tourist hiding some fruit, or one bad shipment from an exotic country and our very fragile ecosystem is torched.

“We have already seen what happens when these pests get in – Psa has devastated the kiwifruit industry to the tune of $25 million. The varroa mite is wiping out our honey bees and is estimated to cost $15 million to treat in 2011.

“The ban on New Zealand apples by Australia was costing our apple industry $50 million of sales per year.

“The other thing easy to forget is the flow on effects. Beyond the intangible damages, biosecurity intrusions can devastate land values on top of the produce value. It damages our very way of life as Kiwis.

“The Biosecurity Bill is currently under review and some of its proposals are of concern particularly the reduction in physical inspections and the cost sharing arrangements.

“Exporters are being asked to cost share biosecurity incursion response, without having any say in frontline operations and policy as they are seen as ‘the beneficiaries’ of biosecurity.

“As crazy as this sounds it means the importers, the ones bringing risk into New Zealand are getting a free ride from our exporters.

“Biosecurity benefits all New Zealanders equally, so the costs should fall on Government as it’s no different to policing, health or defense.

“We will certainly not support any biosecurity measures that do not involve physical inspections of risk goods. It's just common sense.

Needless to say the Biosecurity Bill is a piece of Swiss cheese, with more holes and inadequacies. We aren’t alone here; DairyNZ, PorkNZ, Beef + Lamb, EquineNZ, MIA and HortNZ all have reservations.

Federated Farmers will be working to clear this up as a matter of priority.

“New Zealand needs to maintain our status as an exporter of high value, disease free protein which feeds affluent markets around the globe, or else we will fail as a country. Its that serious,” Mr Hartnell concluded.