The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry today axed its Biosecurity Authority and launched a new "umbrella" agency, Biosecurity New Zealand with wider responsibilities.
The MAF Biosecurity Authority was formed in 1999, mainly aimed at protecting agricultural exports by managing risks to plant and animal health and animal welfare.
The new Biosecurity NewZealand is the lead agency for preventing the importation of unwanted pests and diseases -- regardless of whether they pose an agricultural risk -- and for controlling, managing or eradicating them should they get past the border.
It is based on the platform of the Biosecurity Authority's team of over 100 specialist staff with extensive technical backgrounds in biosecurity risk management, standards development, animal welfare, and animal, plant and forest health.
"The new agency reflects MAF's expanded mandate and responsibilities in the biosecurity area," Biosecurity New Zealand assistant director-general Barry O'Neil said.
"It will help provide a fresh start to biosecurity in New Zealand".
Under the Government's 2003 Biosecurity Strategy MAF has taken on overall accountability for New Zealand's biosecurity and Biosecurity New Zealand will pick up responsibility from the Ministry of Fisheries for the management of risks to marine biosecurity.
In addition, the coordination of six national pest management programmes is expected to pass from the Department of Conservation to the new agency in July 2005.
The agency will also have responsibility for the protection of wider environmental and human health biosecurity values and for ensuring greater responsiveness to Maori.
Biosecurity New Zealand will work closely with another new MAF arm, its Biosecurity Strategic Unit, which will oversee all biosecurity activity in New Zealand -- both inside and outside of MAF.
The organisation will also have close links to MAF's quarantine service.
Dr O'Neil said the new name and branding showed a linkage with MAF but also that responsibility for biosecurity had been extended.
MAF will officially launch Biosecurity New Zealand at the Biosecurity Summit on November 18.
