Bird Flu: Keep Distance, Wash Hands, Report It
OPINION: It's a tough pill to swallow that bird flu (avian influenza) has finally arrived in New Zealand. This is a moment many of us have hoped would never come.
The KPMG Agribusiness Agenda report, released today at the National Fieldays, reveals having a world class biosecurity system is top priority for the leaders surveyed.
“Biosecurity risks can threaten our economy and way of life. This Government understands that if we are to keep pace with the increasing levels of goods and people across our borders we need to step up our efforts in biosecurity,” says O’Connor.
“A pleasing result from the survey was a recognition from industry that biosecurity is everyone’s job and that everyone has a role to play in dealing with the risk.
“The strong partnership formed between industry and Government in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis has demonstrated that we can come together effectively when needed.
“But there’s plenty of work to do to improve our ability to respond effectively to major incursions. High on the list is improving compliance with the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) system, as we have seen throughout the Mycoplasma bovis response.”
O’Connor says not enough farmers have been complying with NAIT, and there’s a growing understanding throughout the sector that this needs to change.
“This year I’ve accelerated a year-late report into the effectiveness of NAIT and have instructed my officials to make the appropriate improvements, including making it easier to use.
“To give biosecurity the attention it deserves, I’ve reorganised the Ministry for Primary Industries, to create Biosecurity New Zealand, a stand-alone unit whose sole focus is biosecurity.
“In addition, I’ve signalled that the Biosecurity Act is past its use-by date and needs a thorough review. The current Act gives us a solid foundation, but we need to make sure it is fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world.
“This is a big job and needs to be carefully considered with strong input from industry and the public. I expect it to begin after we have dealt with the Mycoplasma bovis threat.”
