Onion industry joins bio-security partnership

That was all it took to sign the deed this month with the Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy in Pukekohe, the onion heartland where 54% of the crop is grown.

But Ahern says the signing followed widespread consultation with members -- growers and exporters.

"We have worked quite hard; it is actually a complex issue. Basically there is an act of faith in the higher level principles involved. We have worked with MPI officials and reached this point after a couple of years."

Guy said it was the fifth GIA agreement and they are all concerned with partnership. "MPI can't do this on its own and neither can the industry," said Guy. "The public play an important part as well.

"We have seen how this works with the Grey Lynn, Auckland Queensland fruit fly response, where the industry sat around the table -- Pipfruit NZ and Kiwifruit Vine Health, working with MPI on the response. That's one aspect. The other big aspect is working on the preparedness." He said there was a lot of work to get to the point of signing the deed, which was only the start.

"This partnership will see us working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to make joint decisions on readiness and response to manage priority biosecurity pest risks impacting our sector," says Ahern.

GIA secretariat manager Steve Rich welcomed Onions NZ to the partnership, saying biosecurity is a shared responsibility.

"Unwanted organisms are some of the biggest threats facing our primary industries. As NZ trade and tourism continues to grow, the GIA partnership will have a critical role to play in helping to manage NZ's biosecurity system."

"The growing number of signatories is a positive signal that NZ's primary industries are beginning to see the value of working together in partnership; this can only lead to better overall biosecurity outcomes."

Onions NZ joins organisations representing the kiwifruit, pipfruit, equine and pork sectors; MPI represents the Government as GIA partner.