The most significant changes to the Biosecurity Act in 15 years were brought into place this week, when the Biosecurity Law Reform bill passed into law.

The bill makes a wide range of amendments to the Act, along with related amendments to four other Acts.

“New Zealand has a highly effective biosecurity system which is recognised as world-leading, but the legislation has not kept pace with the way the system has had to evolve to meet ever-growing challenges,” says Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

“The amended Act covers the areas of border security, biosecurity, joint decision-making on newly detected harmful organisms and on-going management of established pests. the reforms will enable better use of information to target risks and encouage partnerships in the management of potential biosecurity incursions.”

A key plank of the reforms is the development of government-industry agreements on preparing for, and responding to, newly detected pests and diseases and for sharing the costs of jointly-agreed activities, the Minister says.

“Protecting New Zealand from biosecurity risks cannot be the role of government alone,” says Carter. “Industry expertise needs to be brought to the decision-making table to help improve prioritisation and our preparedness to respond to incursions.”