An Independent Review of New Zealand's Biosecurity Surveillance Systems - Terms of Reference

Background & Disclaimer

Overall objective

To undertake a comprehensive review of New Zealand's biosecurity surveillance programmes operated by Government departments that aim to:

  • detect new to New Zealand organisms; and
  • verify the health status of animal (including terrestrial, freshwater, and marine animals) and plant populations (includes horticultural, arable, indigenous and plantation forests).

Background

Even though New Zealand's pre-border and border biosecurity programme is arguably the best in the world, it is not possible to intercept all harmful organisms at the border. Post-border surveillance especially if specifically targeted, can facilitate the early detection of new organisms, including new and emerging diseases, and therefore may enablef eradication options to be pursued.

General surveillance along with targeted surveys also enables New Zealand or parts of New Zealand to demonstrate freedom from certain organisms, which supports market access requirements of importing countries for many billions of dollars worth of animal, plant and forestry products.

Surveillance also provides essential background information on New Zealand's pest and disease status for use in developing Import Health Standards. Without accurate surveillance information it is not possible to develop technically robust import health standards that fulfil our obligations under WTO.

Surveillance can also be used to track the spread of harmful organisms within New Zealand. Surveys of the geographical distribution of newly recorded organisms are needed to provide the basis for determining an appropriate response.

The Crown and regional councils fund active and passive surveillance programmes in a number of sectors and regions and in some cases these are complemented by industry surveillance activities

Generally the Crown's role is focused on surveillance for exotic organisms, with the Government's biggest surveillance programme operated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Historically MAF's surveillance activities have focussed on the primary production sector and covered terrestrial, and some freshwater and marine areas.

MAF's surveillance programmes have involved substantial contracts with 3rd parties for the supply of surveillance information, which has been underpinned by government owned reference laboratories that specialise in diagnostics of animal and plant pests and diseases. In addition there are some key databases (e.g. PPIN) that support surveillance activities.

Over the last few years the government has recognised the need to expand its traditional "agriculture" focus of its surveillance programmes to not only cover indigenous flora and fauna, but also the marine environment.

In addition concerns about increasing risks from "environmental" pests have resulted in more surveillance activity focused on finding such pests arriving via trade routes, ships etc such as snakes and ants, and many marine invaders.

The Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) is in the early stages of developing a surveillance programme to detect organisms new to New Zealand's marine environment. In 2001 it is implementing a surveillance regime in selected high-risk locations, including ports and other high risk points of entry, and areas adjacent to these types of locations

Additional surveillance coverage is provided by the public and other marine enthusiasts (e.g. dive clubs) supported by various MFish awareness initiatives. MAF Quarantine inspectors and regional councils also undertake surveillance roles in relation to marine biosecurity. Overall MFish is taking a staged approach to implementing these initiatives over the next four years

Ministry of Health is currently reviewing its surveillance programme for exotic mosquito's following the Southern Salt Marsh Mosquito incursion. A surveillance contract for exotic mosquitos has been put out for tender.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has surveillance programmes in place for established animal pests, and pest fresh water fish. DOC is currently working with MAF to look at options for improving wild animal surveillance.

Under the biodiversity strategy DOC has introduced a weed control programme, which involves weed surveillance plans for each of the departments 13 Conservancy's and inventories and assessments of 18 important conservation sites.

Regional Councils via their Regional Pest Management Strategies also can include surveillance programmes for established pest species, both animals and plants.

Some industry led programmes (such as the TB or AFB pest management strategies) generate surveillance information that is used to verify health situations of individual animals, and animal populations.

A biosecurity strategy is in the process of being developed that will amongst other things make recommendations for the future strategy that will apply to surveillance for pests and diseases and environmental pests. The report and recommendations from this research study will be a major input into that process.

Specific objectives:

1.

  • Identify and describe the separate and collective aims of the existing surveillance programmes operated by the 4 operational biosecurity Government departments (DoC, MAF, MFish, MoH), in detecting new to New Zealand organisms
  • Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing surveillance programmes operated by DOC, MAF, MFish and MoH at detecting organisms new to New Zealand, that may present risks to animal and plant populations, or environmental and in some cases human health risks. This includes exotic "environmental pests" such as snakes, exotic frogs and lizards, mosquitoes and pest plants.
  • Review current surveillance programmes operated by DoC, MAF, MFish and MoH at detecting serious recently recorded unwanted organisms, and unwanted organisms with emerging significance.
  • Make recommendations on the efficacy, efficiency and appropriateness of the surveillance programmes operated by DoC, MAF, MFish and MoH at detecting organisms new to New Zealand.

2.

  • Identify and describe the separate and collective aims of the existing surveillance programmes, operated by the 4 operational biosecurity Government departments (DoC, MAF, MFish, MoH) along with regional councils and industry groups, to monitor established pests and diseases of animal and plant populations including unwanted environmental pests.
  • Identify the strengths and the weaknesses of the existing surveillance programmes, operated by DOC, MAF, MFish, and MoH along with regional councils and industry groups, in monitoring established pests and diseases of animal and plant populations including unwanted environmental pests.
  • In light of the government's accountabilities in this area, make recommendations on the effectiveness, efficacy and appropriateness of the existing surveillance programmes, operated by DOC, MAF, MFish, and MoH, in monitoring established pests and diseases of animal and plant populations including unwanted environmental pests.

3.

  • Identify and describe the separate and collective aims of the existing surveillance programmes operated by the 4 operational biosecurity Government departments (DoC, MAF, MFish, MoH), along with regional councils and industry groups in verifying existing animal and plant population health situations.
  • Identify the strengths and weakness of the existing surveillance programmes operated by DoC, MAF, MFish, and MoH in verifying existing animal and plant population health situations.
  • In light of the Government's accountabilities in this area, make recommendations on the effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness of the existing surveillance programmes operated by DoC, MAF, MFish, and MoH in verifying existing animal and plant population health situations.

4.

Make recommendations on the overarching principles and objectives (including legislation needed to implement) that should apply to the Government's surveillance programmes (as a contribution to the Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand development process).

  • Develop a framework including criteria that can be used by Government to identify surveillance priorities.
  • Propose an economic model that could be used by Government to determine optimal levels of funding in the surveillance area
  • Review and make recommendations on the options available for the funding of the various components of the Government's surveillance programme.

Page last updated: 16 October 2008