Biosecurity Forums

There are two biosecurity forums: the Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee and the Central/Regional Government Forum.

The Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee and the Central/Regional Government Forum meet quarterly. The Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee is supported by the Strategy Directorate in MPI’s Policy Branch. The Central/Regional Government Forum is supported by MAF’s Compliance and Response Branch.

MPI also runs an annual Biosecurity Summit, which brings together people with an interest in biosecurity. The participants include representatives from government departments, regional government, local government, research institutes, industry boards and pest management companies, to name a few.

Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee (BMAC)

BMAC is an advisory committee that provides the Minister for Primary Industries with independent advice on the performance of the overall biosecurity system, including:

a. advising the Minister and MPI how the biosecurity system can assist in creating an environment that supports growth, innovation and sustainability across the animal, plant, food and associated industries;

b. assisting the Minister and MPI to ensure that the biosecurity system supports and protects the environmental, human health and social/cultural outcomes sought by the government and a wide range of stakeholder groups;

c. helping the Minister and MPI identify opportunities to improve the performance of the biosecurity system by adopting a whole-of-system approach to policy development, regulation and programmes for the biological value chain;

d. providing the Minister and MPI with advice on the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and capability of the biosecurity system; and,

e. advising the Minister and MPI on strategies and policies covering the end-to-end biosecurity system.

BMAC’s committee members have expertise in key biosecurity areas, including production/economy; conservation/environment; health; Maori; regional councils; science and technology; tourism; transport; communications; and public interest.

Central/Regional Government Biosecurity Forum (BCR)

As providers of pest management services, regional councils are a critical component of the end-to-end management of biosecurity system. BCR is a means of involving regional councils in strategic direction setting, particularly as it relates to decisions at the boundaries of central and regional government responsibility. The aims of this forum are:

  • to improve coordination and collaboration across central and regional government biosecurity agencies
  • to provide support to the Director-General of MPI that enables effective end-to-end management of the biosecurity system.

View the BCR's terms of reference

Page last updated: 30 April 2012