What MAF Is Doing To Protect New Zealand Against Foot and Mouth Disease

New and existing protection measures at our borders mean New Zealand has the toughest defences against Foot and Mouth Disease in the world.

Nine new xray machines have been installed at our international airports making a total of fifteen at nine airports. These machines can detect plant, meat, fruit and food material.

All baggage coming into New Zealand is xrayed or hand-searched.

Mail coming into New Zealand also goes through an xray machine and is screened by  Detector Dogs. Risk parcels are then examined by MAFBNZ staff.

Passengers arriving in New Zealand from countries that have Foot and Mouth Disease are being treated as high risk and are singled out for special checking.

One hundred new biosecurity staff are being recruited to bolster numbers working at the airports. Extra staff are currently working at peak times and staff have had their leave restricted.

A new, more detailed and easier to understand biosecurity declaration card has been produced, and must be completed by all travellers to New Zealand.

If you are careless when completing your declaration card or forget to declare items, you will be instantly fined $200. If you deliberately make a false declaration, you could be fined up to $100,000 and imprisoned for up to five years.

A major education campaign is under way to inform travellers, farmers and people living in urban areas about Foot and Mouth Disease.