Wednesday, 11 May 2016 07:55

Agreement on fruit fly

Written by 
From left to right: David Teulon (B3), Jen Scoular (NZ Avocado), Allan Pollard (Pipfruit NZ), Barry O'Neill (KVH), Rebecca Fisher (NZ Citrus Growers Inc), Andrew Coleman (MPI). Top row: Martyn Dunne (MPI),  Minister for Primary Industries, Hon Nathan Guy, Philip Manson (NZ Wine Growers). From left to right: David Teulon (B3), Jen Scoular (NZ Avocado), Allan Pollard (Pipfruit NZ), Barry O'Neill (KVH), Rebecca Fisher (NZ Citrus Growers Inc), Andrew Coleman (MPI). Top row: Martyn Dunne (MPI), Minister for Primary Industries, Hon Nathan Guy, Philip Manson (NZ Wine Growers).

An operational agreement to reduce the damaging impacts of a fruit fly incursion has been signed by a number of horticulture industry groups.

Fruit Fly Council chairman, Philip Manson says that the council is pleased to have finalised the agreement after months of negotiations amongst the parties. "This means the horticulture sector and the Ministry for Primary Industries can work together to manage and help reduce the impacts of fruit fly on the sector," says Mr Manson.

"Fruit flies are one of the biggest biosecurity threats facing horticulture. A fruit fly incursion could cost the horticulture industry up to $2.1 billion (calculated as the annual value of first point of sales). Eighty percent of this value is represented by signatories to the agreement, who will be partners in joint decision making under Government Industry Agreement (GIA) for readiness and response."

This is the first such agreement under GIA. It sets out the operational requirements for readiness and response activities and cost-sharing arrangements between Government and affected industries.

"By working together under GIA, Government and affected industries can achieve far greater outcomes than working in isolation. The agreement clearly sets out the roles and responsibilities of all the parties, and how joint activities will be funded between all the parties," says Mr Manson.

The agreement was signed by the parties at the B3 – Better Border Biosecurity Conference with the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy. Other attendees included representatives of the signing industry groups, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the GIA Secretariat.

Initial signatories to the operational agreement are Pipfruit NZ, Kiwifruit Vine Health, New Zealand Avocado Growers Association Inc, New Zealand Citrus Growers Inc and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

For more information or to view a copy of the agreement summary, visit www.gia.org.nz.

More like this

Bikinis in cowshed

OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.

Featured

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter