MAF Biosecurity Standard for Appointing Supervisors of Animal Quarantine and Containment

Ref: AL15-054

December 2009

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Table of Contents

1. Scope
2. References
3. Definitions
4. Service Requirements
5. Training
6. Skills and Knowledge

Endorsement

This Ministry of Agriculture Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) Standard is approved.

Matthew Stone
Group Manager, Border Standards Directorate
on the 8th day of December 2009

Contacts

Please use the following contact details for any issues regarding this Standard:

Animal Imports & Exports Group
Border Standards Directorate
MAFBNZ
PO Box 2526
Wellington
animalimports@maf.govt.nz 

1. Scope

1. This standard sets out MAF’s requirements for appointing Inspectors to clear imported animals and supervise the post arrival quarantine of imported animals for which quarantine is required.

2. This standard supplements the requirements for Inspectors/ Supervisers in live animal transitional facility standards and the relevant import health standards.

3. This standard does not apply to Inspectors of imported dogs and cats for which post arrival quarantine is NOT required.

2. References

This Standard is an approved standard in terms of sections 39 and 40 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

The following publications are referred to in this MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Standard:

  • MAF live animal transitional facility standards
  • Import health standards approved under section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
  • Other MAF policies, standards and procedures relating to the appointment of Inspectors.

3. Definitions

Audit
An official evaluation to determine the degree of conformity with criteria prescribed in a MAF standard.

Authorised movement (biosecurity direction)
Authority from an inspector, given under section 25 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, to move uncleared goods to a transitional facility, containment facility, or biosecurity control area or to be exported from New Zealand.

Biosecurity clearance
A clearance under section 26 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 given by an inspector for the entry of goods into New Zealand.

Chief Technical Officer
A person appointed a chief technical officer under section 101 of the Biosecurity Act 1993

IMPACT
A MAF database for recording operational information relating to imports of risk goods.

Import health standard
A document issued under section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 by the Director-General on the recommendation of a chief technical officer, specifying the requirements to be met for the effective management of risks associated with the importation of risk goods.

Imported animal
For the purposes of this standard this term includes sheep, cattle, horses, alpacas, pigs, ornamental fish, avian hatching eggs and zoo animals. It also includes dogs and cats for which post arrival quarantine is necessary.

Inspector
A person appointed under Section 103 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 to undertake administering and enforcing the provisions of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
NOTE: The Inspector is employed by the Supplier to inspect imported animals. This person may also be a Superviser.

MAF
The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Operator
Person or organisation approved by the Director-General of MAF to operate a transitional facility under section 40 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Superviser
An inspector appointed under the Biosecurity Act 1993. This person, employed by the supplier, inspects transitional facilities and audits the operation of post arrival quarantine.
NOTE: The Superviser is employed by the Supplier to supervise post arrival quarantine and live animal transitional facilities.

Supervision
Supervision means the inspection of and intervention in animal transitional facilities and the risk goods that are held in them to ensure compliance with Biosecurity Act 1993 requirements.

Supplier
The party responsible for the performance of audits and the inspection, supervision and clearance of certain live animals on behalf of MAF.

Transitional facility
An approved facility for the purpose of inspection, testing, storage, treatment, holding or destruction of uncleared goods, which may be harbouring pests or unwanted organisms, until a biosecurity clearance is given by an Inspector.

4. Service Requirements

The clearance of imported animals and the supervision of live animal transitional facilities in New Zealand must be provided in accordance with this standard and with any other specific requirements documented in relevant import health standards and/or transitional facility standards.

The Supplier of the inspection, supervision and clearance of imported animals in New Zealand is responsible for ensuring that there are systems in place to meet the requirements of this standard and that these systems are implemented and

Inspectors of imported animals and Supervisers of the associated transitional facility must be appointed as Inspectors under the Biosecurity Act 1993. MAF has a procedure for the appointment and this will be provided to the Supplier for their reference and use. Appointment will be in writing and signed by a chief technical officer under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Before applying for a veterinarian to be appointed an Inspector under the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Supplier must:

    a. be satisfied that the candidate has demonstrated competence in the skills and knowledge listed in this standard and in the relevant transitional facility standards

    b. assess the candidate for suitability, including an onsite visit of the candidate to at least one facility for which they will be responsible.

5. Training

The Supplier must be responsible for the ongoing training of Inspectors/Supervisers of imported animals and live animal transitional facilities to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities under this standard.

Refresher audit training and training in technical issues under the Biosecurity Act 1993 should be conducted annually. This will help to ensure that inspection and audits are carried out effectively and to ensure that Inspectors/Supervisers are aware of the relevance and importance of their role.

Supervision must be provided for new staff undergoing training. The Supplier must maintain training and warranting records of each inspector or superviser.

6. Skills and Knowledge

The following are the minimum expected requirements for inspectors of imported animals and supervisers of post arrival animal transitional facilities.

6.1 Qualifications

All Inspectors/Supervisers must be qualified veterinarians registered to practise in New Zealand by the New Zealand Veterinary Council.

6.2 Experience and further training

Practical veterinarian experience is recommended.
Inspector/Supervisers must have required computer literacy to perform the job including the ability to use MAF databases (QuanCargo and IMPACT). MAF will provide database training.

6.2.1 Biosecurity

MAF provides training on the Biosecurity Act 1993 for all warranted Inspectors. In addition, Inspectors must be familiar with the relevant import health and transitional facility standards and familiar with diseases of concern identified in the import health standard.

All Inspectors/Supervisers must be confident in their ability to recognise any clinical signs of such disease in an imported animal and know what procedure(s) to follow to contain any biosecurity risks in the event that disease is suspected.

6.2.2 Post arrival quarantine

All Supervisers of live animal transitional facilities must understand the principles of quarantine (including pre-export isolation) including:

The purpose of quarantine

  • To detect any pests and diseases that are of any biosecurity concern to New Zealand as outlined in the import health and transitional facility standards.
  • To contain, deal with or exclude pests and diseases as required by the import health and transitional facility standards.

Quarantine hygiene

The hygiene requirements included in the MAF approved import health and/or transitional facility standards must be followed.

Superviser knowledge

The Superviser must be able to:

  • carry out a clinical examination / diagnosis
  • identify abnormal health conditions and report to a clinical veterinarian to perform further inspection and treatment
  • demonstrate knowledge of the possible presentations, how transmission occurs, and biosecurity precautions to reduce the risk of spread of the key diseases included in the import health standard
  • identify and mitigate any potential process and/or procedure risks carried out by transitional facility staff that are not compliant with the approved facility standard
  • make arrangements to despatch the carcass to the relevant laboratory for post-mortem examination in consultation with the specialist of the laboratory
  • collect samples on request by MAF
  • recognise potential escape routes for organisms of biosecurity concern, as identified in the relevant import health standard
  • assess and approve effective decontamination processes
  • assess the welfare of animals being quarantined and transported to the facility.

Emergency protocols

What to do when an animal has died, if abnormal clinical conditions are observed, the animal is sick or if there is any other emergency

Implications if quarantine is not managed effectively

The Inspectors/Supervisors must demonstrate that they understand the implications if supervision of quarantine is not carried out correctly:

  • New Zealand has to deal with the incursion of the exotic pest or disease
  • New Zealand’s international reputation is endangered, affecting market access for New Zealand exports.

6.2.3 Auditing

The Supplier must provide audit training and audit procedure for Inspectors/Supervisers to implement.

The Supplier must implement a system to monitor and evaluate the auditing skills of the Inspector/ Superviser annually. Any evaluation must be documented and held by the Supplier.

6.2.4 Regulation and certification

The Inspector/Superviser must demonstrate knowledge of New Zealand Government and OIE principles of certification and be familiar with

The Inspector/Supervisor must demonstrate that they are familiar with the IATA Live Animal Regulations.

Page last updated: 19 March 2010