Access requested for Western Australian honey: comments sought

A review that could result in New Zealand importing honey from Western Australia will shortly be available for comment. Australia has applied to New Zealand for recognition that Western Australia is free of European foulbrood (EFB). Biosecurity Australia has presented MAF with Western Australia's control measures for the disease. MAF compared them to the New Zealand situation and will shortly be inviting comment.

Background

A 1994 risk analysis for honey imports from Australia concluded that Western Australia could qualify for the export of honey to New Zealand if it could demonstrate its regional freedom from EFB. Western Australia is isolated from the rest of Australia by a natural (desert) barrier and by a regulatory barrier to entry of bees, equipment and untreated honey.

Surveillance and monitoring of bee health

There are no significant surveillance differences between Western Australia and New Zealand. EFB is notifiable and both use active and passive surveillance methods. Both have precise rules for issuing an international veterinary certificate for exports, and both maintain permanent surveillance under the authority of the veterinary administration (e.g. MAF Biosecurity). The surveillance is performed either by representatives of this administration or by representatives of an approved organisation, with the assistance of specially trained beekeepers.

Comparison of legislative control

The Australian two-tiered approach differs from New Zealand's control programme, which is primarily under the Biosecurity Act 1993. In Australia, both Commonwealth and state legislation applies. The Quarantine Act 1908 provides the legislative basis for the implementation of quarantine and import policies at the nation's border. Within Western Australia, bee disease control is administered by the state under the Beekeepers Act and the Exotic Diseases of Animals Act. Western Australia beekeepers must immediately notify of any suspicion of a contagious disease under the Beekeepers Act 1963. This applies to EFB, American foul brood and any parasite of bees.

Measures to prevent the introduction of disease

Border control systems in Western Australia are similar to those applied in New Zealand for mail and goods, used hive equipment, live bees and apiary products. The exception is that the importation of heat treated (pasteurised) honey is permitted from areas of Australia where EFB occurs. The importation into New Zealand of unprocessed honey and bee products is permitted only from countries or regions known to be free from EFB. The importation of live bees is currently prohibited although there is one import health standard for bee semen.

Emergency response provisions for European foulbrood

Western Australia has compulsory notification provisions and exotic disease response systems for exotic bee diseases that appear equivalent to New Zealand's. There is no compensation mechanism for an exotic disease outbreak in the Western Australia bee industry, while there is provision for compensation relating to disease control measures under section 162A of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Public consultation

Public consultation on the proposal will start once the last details are received from Australia, and will last for at least six weeks. The information will be distributed to beekeepers through the National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand (Inc) (offsite link to www.nba.org.nz) and posted on this website. Copies will also be available on request by contacting the person listed at the bottom of this page.

Page last updated: 30 April 2008