BMAC recommends more container improvements

Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee Chair Mick Clout.
Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory
Committee Chair Mick Clout.

Biosecurity Ministerial Advisory Committee (BMAC) Chair Mick Clout, Professor of Conservation Ecology at the University of Auckland, spoke at the Biosecurity Summit about the Committee’s role and focus.

Professor Clout said BMAC had been concerned about the sea container pathway since its first meeting in 2005, but that progress had been made. More MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) resources were being devoted to it and a working group had been established involving MAFBNZ and industry. Other improvements included introducing electronic inbound messaging, updating of accredited persons training material, new transitional facility standards and revision of the sea container import health standard.

The Asia Pacific Plant Protection Convention (APPPC) conference had also recognised the value of having an international set of guidelines on container cleanliness, and these were currently under consultation.

However, BMAC also recommended that:

  • port companies be responsible for ensuring the exterior of inbound containers were clean when leaving the port;
  • high risk containers were identified through profiling and dealt with by MAFBNZ on arrival;
  • low risk containers had interiors and contents checked and dealt with at transitional facilities, with the facility operator being clearly responsible;
  • incentives be given for good performers and penalties for non-performance;
  • all technological options be explored to reduce biosecurity risks.

Professor Clout said BMAC was also looking closely at progress in implementing the Biosecurity Strategy, lessons learned from incursions, legislation relevant to biosecurity and the future of pest management.

  • BMAC is an advisory committee that provides independent advice to the Minister for Biosecurity on the performance of the overall biosecurity system, and monitors the implementation of the Biosecurity Strategy. It replaced the Biosecurity Council, as recommended by the Biosecurity Strategy. BMAC consists of 13 committee members with expertise in key biosecurity areas including production/economy, conservation/environment, health, Maori, regional councils, science and technology, tourism, transport and public interest.

Page last updated: 12 January 2009