Biosecurity Strategy Issues Groups - Terms of Reference

Contents

Background

Nation-wide public consultation on the Issues Paper is now completed. Submissions on the Issues Paper are due by 31 December 2001. The biosecurity strategy development team is preparing a work programme for the development of the draft Biosecurity Strategy (by April 2002). This programme includes the creation of four Issues Groups to assist the team.

Role, identity and coverage

The four Issues Groups will operate from late January to early March 2002. Each Issues Group will be requested to focus on specific biosecurity topics, which collectively will cover all aspects of biosecurity. The specific topics for each group are attached as Appendix 1. The groups will provide expert analysis and interpretation of consultation outputs and submissions, identify any information gaps, suggest ways of filling those gaps, and help the team to develop the relevant parts of the draft strategy.

The four Issues Groups are:

  • Biosecurity scope & significance
  • Biosecurity decision-making
  • Biosecurity funding
  • Biosecurity leadership, co-ordination & communication

Main tasks

The main tasks for the Issues Groups are to:

  • Review information provided by the strategy development team
  • Consider outputs from the regional workshops and meetings.
  • Consider the written submissions.
  • Identify any information gaps requiring investigative work or analysis.
  • Suggest a range of approaches for dealing with the issues raised.
  • Consider the consequences of adopting the various approaches.
  • Suggest goals, objectives, and possibly targets, for future biosecurity programmes.
  • Provide written reports to the strategy development team.

Membership

Each Issues Group will comprise 3-5 invited members, selected on the basis of their individual expertise, experience and suitability. Relevant attributes include:

  • Specialist expertise and experience.
  • Ability to think strategically.
  • Willingness to consider other viewpoints.
  • Ability to work in a team.
  • A constructive approach to problem-solving.
  • A focus on achieving results.

Time commitments

Issues Group members will be expected to dedicate blocks of time during late January, February (particularly 11-22 February) and early March 2002 to the work of the groups. The groups will probably meet several times during this period.

Fees and expenses

In accordance with the government’s intended ‘partnership’ approach for developing the Biosecurity Strategy, organisations are asked to contribute the time of Issues Group members free of charge. However, the strategy team will consider negotiating short-term contracts or secondments to engage members who can’t participate on these terms.

Operating procedures

Strategy development team members will work with and support the Issues Groups, specifically by:

  • Providing a chair.
  • Providing meeting and general administrative support.
  • Providing information.
  • Liaising with other groups.

Issues Group meetings will be held in Wellington between late January and early March 2002. Some groups may need to meet more than once. Members will also be expected to contribute time to the group activities outside the planned meetings. Meetings for all groups have been scheduled to take place within the time periods shown below. Other meetings, if needed, will be scheduled for each group individually.

Meetings Time Period for Meetings Location
Briefing meeting (all groups) Monday 11 February 2002 Wellington
Meetings/workshops (for each group individually) Week of 11-15 February Wellington
Meetings/workshops (for each group individually) Week of 18-22 February Wellington

Next steps

Following the Issues Group process, the strategy development team will work with key officials and strategy advisory group members to finalise the draft strategy. This will involve drawing together the work of the Issues Groups, considering any outstanding matters, and making final decisions on strategy proposals to put before the Biosecurity Council.

Appendix 1.1

Issues Group 1: BIOSECURITY SCOPE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Specific Topics

The group will consider the scope and significance of biosecurity. This will include, but is not limited to, considering, commenting on and/or making recommendations about:

  • The relative importance and contribution of biosecurity to New Zealand:
    • economic
    • environmental
    • social
  • The values that underpin biosecurity:
    • identification and description of those values
    • a ‘vision’ statement that encapsulates them
  • Key principles that are fundamental to biosecurity, for example:
    • governance
    • ‘partnership’ approaches
    • Treaty of Waitangi obligations
    • collective responsibility
    • transparency
    • technical justification
  • Key definitions, for example:
    • of biosecurity
    • of risk (analysis, assessment, management).
    • of ‘pest’ (unwanted, regulated, quarantine)
  • Appropriate level(s) of protection (ALOP):
    • in relation to the different values identified
    • as in SPS agreement obligations
    • New Zealand’s statement on ALOP
    • ‘Pathway’ considerations
  • High level priorities for the future:
    • biosecurity programmes
    • major activity areas

Appendix 1.2

Issues Group 2: BIOSECURITY DECISION MAKING

Specific Topics

The group will consider issues of biosecurity decision-making. This will include, but is not limited to, identifying and/or making recommendations about:

  • Policies and processes, for example:
    • exclusion
    • eradication
    • control
    • use of ‘precaution’
  • Involvement in biosecurity decision-making:
    • agency specialists (e.g. Chief Technical Officers)
    • inter-departmental specialists
    • Non-government experts and specialists
    • affected non-government organisations
    • Maori
  • International agreements:
    • rights
    • obligations
    • future expectations
  • Information management:
    • fundamental principles
    • information access
    • sharing and co-ordination
  • Domestic legislation: identifying improvements required to:
    • the Biosecurity Act
    • The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act
    • Other Acts or Regulations relevant to biosecurity

Appendix 1.3

Issues Group 3: BIOSECURITY FUNDING

Specific Topics

The group will consider issues relating to biosecurity funding. This will include, but is not limited to, identifying and/or making recommendations about:

  • Current national and regional biosecurity funding arrangements – sources of funding, where it is applied, policies that guide funding decisions
  • Potential sources of future biosecurity funding
  • Principles for funding biosecurity activities, looking particularly at the potential for partnership arrangements between central government, regional government, and industries.
  • A practical guide for decision makers to ensure consistent decisions across the biosecurity programme

Appendix 1.4

Issues Group 4: BIOSECURITY LEADERSHIP, CO-ORDINATION & COMMUNICATION

Specific Topics

The group will consider issues of biosecurity leadership, co-ordination and communication. This will include, but is not limited to, identifying and/or making recommendations about:

  • The roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of:
    • central government agencies
    • regional councils
    • science and research providers
    • non-government organisations
  • Appropriate mechanisms for the co-ordination of biosecurity programmes, both nationally and regionally. This will include reviewing the role and functions of:
    • the Biosecurity Council
    • the Biosecurity Technical Forum
    • the Biosecurity Consultative Forum
    • the Pest Management Strategy Advisory Committee
    • other biosecurity consultative committees and groups
  • Best practice procedures for risk communication at all levels of the biosecurity programme
  • The role of education and awareness programmes, and where these should be targeted
  • The development of Maori partnerships to ensure the Crown’s Treaty obligations are met
  • Government institutional structures that:
    • allow priority and focus in the correct areas
    • allow for transparent regulatory processes
    • provide for clear accountabilities
    • promote a consistent approach to risk management
    • maintain market access stability
    • minimise fiscal costs

Page last updated: 16 October 2008