Express Lane Trial at Auckland International Airport
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is trialling a new biosecurity clearance process at Auckland International Airport. A temporary express lane will be in operation from 1 April 2009-30 April 2009 on Trans Tasman flights.
Passengers directed to the express lane will have their baggage screened for biosecurity risk items by detector dogs. If no risk items are found they will proceed to x-ray before exiting.
The trial replaces the current biosecurity processes with targeted interventions, or actions, including electronic profiling and detector dog screening.
MAFBNZ is conducting the trial to find the most efficient balance and combination of interventions needed to maintain high levels of biosecurity compliance – i.e. passengers declaring correctly.
The detection of risk items amongst low risk profiled passengers will be closely monitored throughout the month.
How does it affect Trans Tasman passengers flying into Auckland?
Australian and New Zealand passport holders who meet a biosecurity low-risk profile will be directed by Customs staff at Passport Control to the express lane. Trans Tasman passengers using the express lane should experience faster biosecurity clearance and reduced waiting time on arrival.
A selection of passengers will be surveyed before exiting to test the accuracy of the express lane clearance process.
The baggage of all other passengers will continue to be x-ray screened or hand searched.
Why is the trial being carried out?
The trial is designed to test and document a targeted clearance process for low biosecurity risk passengers.
Since 2001 air passenger numbers have increased by approximately 35% and the biosecurity clearance process is becoming ever more resource-intensive. Currently MAFBNZ carries out 100% x-ray screening and hand searching of all air passenger baggage. The process being trialled should enable more resource to be applied to higher-risk passengers, potentially reducing the number of risk items that pass undetected through the border.
What happens at the end of the trial?
At the conclusion of the trial MAFBNZ will review the processes used and analyse the data collected to determine whether the express lane process is a viable option for biosecurity risk screening. A report will be prepared for the Deputy Director General MAF Biosecurity New Zealand and for presentation to Cabinet in mid June 2009.
For more information contact us www.biosecurity.govt.nz/contact 
Page last updated: 1 April 2009