History made with first signing of biosecurity partnership

History made with first signing of new GIA biosecurity partnership

20 May 2014

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the kiwifruit industry
have laid the foundations for a new era of biosecurity partnership
with the first signing of the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) for
Biosecurity Readiness and Response Deed.

The Deed commits signatories Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) and MPI to
working together in partnership on preparing for priority pests and
diseases and on managing them if an incursion occurs.

MPI Director General Martyn Dunne says KVH is the first primary
sector group to formalise the significant benefits of working in
partnership with Government.

“KVH has taken the leadership role in biosecurity for the kiwifruit
sector recovering from the impacts of Psa. Signing the Deed is another
demonstration that they understand the importance of biosecurity to
kiwifruit growers, packers and exporters. From here forward, we will
be able to maximise our collective capability to more effectively
manage biosecurity risks,” Mr Dunne says.

“MPI is committed to making GIA work. From now on, we are at the
table together on biosecurity. GIA will enable us to jointly
prioritise and plan for the pests and diseases of most concern, and
should an incursion occur, we will work together on effectively
managing the situation.

“We now have a deliberate commitment to working together, to
achieving better biosecurity outcomes, and to protecting the primary
industries that underpin our New Zealand economy.”

Mr Dunne says the GIA is important because it will give primary
production industries a direct say in managing biosecurity risk. It
enables joint decision making and also co-investment in preparedness
and response activities which means that everyone is working together
on the most important priorities, he says.

“I expect that KVH will be the first of several industry
organisations to sign the GIA Deed. Biosecurity is a shared
responsibility, and we need everyone to be on board.

“I’m pleased that KVH has committed its time, expertise, and
resources to be the first cab off the rank. The kiwifruit industry
has had a key role in the development of the GIA Deed with
representation on the joint working group that drafted the
documentation. It is also actively involved in the development of an
operational agreement for a fruit fly readiness and response
programme of work. Operational agreements outline plans for managing
specific pests or diseases and improving biosecurity outcomes,” Mr
Dunne says.

“Joint decision making will give industry and government confidence
that the best decisions are being made about managing biosecurity
risk.”

Ends

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