June 16, 2023

NZPork signs agreement with New Zealand government to bolster biosecurity response

In a proactive move to safeguard New Zealand's pork sector, NZPork has entered into an agreement with country's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to manage a coordinated response in the event of a biosecurity incursion affecting the industry, Rural Life reported.

This partnership aims to ensure swift action and limit the potential impacts of any disease outbreak on New Zealand's largely disease-free pork sector.

As part of the Operational Agreement, a biosecurity levy framework will be established specifically for the country's pork sector. This framework will provide a funding mechanism in the event of a disease outbreak affecting swine, offering financial support for effective response measures.

Brent Kleiss, the chief executive of NZPork, expressed confidence in the agreement's ability to leverage the industry's expertise in biosecurity readiness and response decision-making.

The agreement outlines the collaborative approach between NZPork and the ministry, delineating the joint decision-making process, funding responsibilities, and the amount of available funding required to activate and execute a response to a swine-specific non-zoonotic exotic disease incursion. The consultation conducted by NZPork revealed strong support from over 90% of swine farmers for the agreement, underscoring the industry's commitment to protecting its high-health status and mitigating the risks associated with potential outbreaks.

Eric Roy, chairman of NZPork, said that the agreement prioritizes the diseases that pose the greatest concern to New Zealand's pork sector, including African swine fever and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome. The risk associated with imported products, which make up approximately 60% of pork consumed in the country, is duly recognised. In the event of an incursion, the cost-sharing arrangement outlined in the agreement stipulates that the government would contribute 60% of the funding, with the industry contributing the remaining 40%.

With the agreement now in place, NZPork has engaged in discussions with the ministry to identify key readiness projects. Among the agreed priorities are the clarification of processes relating to destruction, disposal, and disinfection, as well as conducting a simulation exercise to test updated biosecurity plans specifically addressing African swine fever incursion.

-      Rural Life