Exotic Animal Disease Response
For New Zealand to be able to trade internationally, Biosecurity New Zealand must be confident that the products associated with agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and apiculture are free from unwanted pests and diseases.
Purpose of Exotic Disease Response system
- Maintain capability to respond to suspect exotic disease 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Confirm diagnosis in shortest possible time - NZAHRL exotic disease diagnosis capability
- Respond in accordance with government/industry-agreed technical plans
Suspicion of Exotic Disease
- Private veterinary practitioners
- Animal health laboratories
- Farmers, or other industry participants
- Members of the public
- MAF Exotic Disease & Pest Emergency Hotline 0800-809-966
Structure of an Exotic Disease Response
- National Control Centre (NCC)
- MAF Head Office, Wellington
- Decision-making, industry liaison, overseas notifications, media communications
- Exotic Disease Response Centre (EDRC)
- MAF NCDI, Upper Hutt
- Technical management, & advice to NCC
- Field Operations Response Centre (FORT)
- Located close to outbreak
- Carries out all field activity
Objectives of an Exotic Disease Response
- Technical operating plans for selected diseases - based upon disease biology and epidemiology
- Establish extent of spread - field surveillance
- Contain further spread - movement controls, vaccination, tracing, pre-emptive slaughter, cleaning & disinfection
- Eradicate - technical feasibility, benefits must outweigh costs
National Centre for Disease Investigation (NCDI)
MAF's National Centre for Disease Investigation (NCDI) centralises the exotic disease response within MAF by incorporating the field investigation, diagnosis, management and control of exotic diseases with the exotic disease surveillance and laboratory diagnosis functions.
The NCDI incorporates:
Exotic Disease Response Standard
Under the Biosecurity Act 1993, the chief technical officer (in this case, the Chief Veterinary Officer) is responsible for the overall management, co-ordination and leadership during an initial investigation and a response to an incursion of an exotic animal disease.
This series of standards sets out the Chief Veterinary Officer's requirements in relation to investigation, control and eradication of exotic organisms of animals, the presence of which is suspected in New Zealand. The Act provides powers in Parts IV (Surveillance and Prevention) and VI (Administrative Provisions) which can be used in such circumstances.
- MAF Standards: Response Programme for Exotic Diseases of Animals PDF
(1304 KB) - Summary of Changes between Version 1 and Version 2 PDF (41 KB)
Page last updated: 30 April 2008