Vote Biosecurity (Agriculture and Forestry)
Within Vote Biosecurity (Agriculture and Forestry) the output classes contribute to the following MAF intermediate outcomes:
- Maintained and enhanced market access for agricultural, horticultural, food and forestry products and reduced market distortions resulting from trade rules and market interventions.
- Credible and trusted animal and plant product assurance.
- Balanced export and import regime covering the safety and suitability aspects of trade in animal and plant products.
- Protection of land-based and aquatic environments, primary production systems, trade, and human health and wellness from biosecurity pests.
- Reduced impacts on human health and wellness from biosecurity pests and pest management activities.
- Protection from biosecurity pests of the economic, environmental, recreational and cultural values and benefits associated with land, biological and water environments.
- Protection of Māori biologically based economic resources.
- Protection of Māori biologically based cultural resources.
Biosecurity Policy Advice and Co-ordination
This output class includes advice to the Minister, the Government and other departments on biosecurity issues, including animal welfare and science, as well as a number of cross-biosecurity co-ordination functions. Policy advice includes developing and maintaining the legal framework for biosecurity, providing whole-of-government and whole-of-biosecurity comments and advice, and responding to ministerial and parliamentary correspondence. Among the co-ordination functions are implementing the Biosecurity Strategy, refining an integrated risk management framework, developing a Māori responsiveness strategy, developing an awareness programme, facilitating a biosecurity research strategy, and reporting to the public. This output class also includes maintaining high-level relationships with other central government agencies, regional government, industry, and communities including through various biosecurity advisory forums.
Performance Measures
- All policy advice will conform to the criteria set out in Schedule A of the SOI to provide a whole-of-system approach to strategic biosecurity issues including animal welfare and science.
- Priority work is completed as agreed or, as subsequently amended by agreement, between the Minister and the Director-General via the 2004/05 Output Plan.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $9.478 million including GST. The GST exclusive sum of $8.425 million will be funded by revenue Crown of $8.393 million and estimated revenue from third parties of $32,000. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $10.542 million including GST.
International Arrangements and Market Access
This output class covers international biosecurity and animal welfare negotiations and representation reflecting MAF's role as the competent authority and in supporting MFAT. This includes New Zealand's contribution to international biosecurity agreements, the international regulatory framework for biosecurity, and international forums about biosecurity, as well as reporting on New Zealand's pest and disease status as required by international agreements. It also includes negotiating market access and challenging other countries'measures when appropriate.
Performance Measures
- New Zealand's interests are represented internationally at animal, plant and forest health, and animal welfare forums.
- Market access for New Zealand's animal, plant and forest product exports is maintained and unjustifiable technical barriers to trade are actively challenged.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $2.840 million including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $2.525 million will be funded by revenue Crown of $1.207 million and estimated revenue from third parties of $1.318 million. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $2.933 million including GST.
Accreditation and Official Assurances
MAF provides official government-to-government assurances about the pest and disease status of New Zealand's exports. MAF also approves and accredits organisations, facilities, people and procedures to meet export standards and the requirements of importing countries.
Performance Measures
- MAF assurances for animal, plant and forest products meet the stated phytosanitary and zoo-sanitary requirements of the importing country.
- Export assurance systems are credible and comply with international standards.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $1.155 million including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $1.027 million will be funded by revenue Crown of $280,000 and estimated revenue from third parties of $747,000. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $1.130 million including GST.
Prevention of Pests and Diseases – Pre-Border and Border
This output includes MAF's activities to prevent harmful and potentially harmful organisms from arriving, establishing or causing damage in New Zealand. Primarily these involve setting the conditions, based on risk assessment, under which goods, craft and people can enter New Zealand (import health standards), and maintaining a border system of inspections, transitional facilities and containment facilities. Supporting these two main functions are some additional activities such as offshore inspections, standards for treatment and quarantine facilities and surveillance around port environs, and may include direct assistance to other countries to increase their biosecurity protection where it will benefit New Zealand.
Performance Measures
- New high impact biosecurity pests are prevented from establishing in New Zealand.
- Technical standards and decisions integrate the full range of environmental, social, health and economic impacts, are based on sound science, and can withstand international scrutiny.
- Border inspection, transitional facilities and containment standards and aircraft, vessel, cargo, container, passenger and mail clearances are effective and delivered in accordance with MAF Biosecurity specifications and defined performance measures.
- Pathways will be monitored for new biosecurity risks enabling the revision of import health standards to address these risks.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $57.763 million including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $51.345 million will be funded by revenue Crown of $33.522 million and estimated revenue from third parties of $17.823 million. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $50.879 million including GST.
Surveillance for Pests and Diseases
Biosecurity requires surveillance for several purposes: determining whether organisms are already here or not; identifying organisms that have crossed the border; finding organisms that will prevent New Zealand products being exported; monitoring the effectiveness of eradication, containment, and management programmes; and determining whether certain organisms are spreading or causing damage (emerging threats).
Performance Measures
- Surveillance programmes are able to detect new high impact biosecurity pests early enough for a maximum range of response options, including eradication, to be available.
- Surveillance associated with initial investigation will rapidly and accurately delimit the distribution of new pests and diseases.
- Surveillance programmes are able to determine the distribution and impact of pests and diseases that are subject to current response actions.
- Official assurances for presence or absence of pests and diseases are supported by surveillance programmes that comply with international obligations and standards.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $18.564 million including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $16.502 million will be funded by revenue Crown of $13.440 million and estimated revenue from third parties of $3.062 million. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $22.485 million including GST.
Control of and Response to Pests and Diseases
This output class includes initial investigations when harmful and potentially harmful organisms are detected or suspected, and contingent response capability for highest risk organisms. It also includes: eradication, containment and management programmes for specific harmful organisms or specific pathways; co-ordination and leadership with other agencies, regional councils and industry in pest management; and monitoring genetically modified organism sites and response capability for new organisms on behalf of the Environmental Risk Management Authority.
Performance Measures
- Initial investigations are timely, and enable containment of new incursions while response options are evaluated and decisions made.
- Operational response capacity and access to expertise is sufficient to respond immediately to incursions of high impact biosecurity pests.
- Eradication programmes meet predetermined eradication targets as agreed with the Government.
- Transition to pest management is facilitated for those pests and diseases not able to be eradicated.
- Pest management programmes are facilitated and co-ordinated at a national level.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $14.813 million including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $13.167 million will be funded by revenue Crown of $13.017 million and estimated revenue from third parties of $150,000. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $49.390 million including GST.
Animal Welfare
This output class covers the development, promulgation and maintenance of science-based standards for animal welfare including ethical conduct in animal-based research, ensuring the effective discharge of statutory responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, and the provision of secretariat support to two independent ministerial advisory committees, National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) and National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).
Note the funding for this output is provided through Vote Biosecurity (Agriculture and Forestry), however, portfolio responsibility for Animal Welfare is with the Minister of Agriculture.
Performance Measures
- Codes of ethical conduct and ethics committees are reviewed in concert with NAEAC to ensure compliance with legal requirements of the Animal Welfare Act.
- Codes of welfare which meet the legal requirements of the Animal Welfare Act are revised and developed in accordance with the 3 year plan agreed with NAWAC.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $822,000 including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $730,000 will be fully funded by revenue Crown. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $611,000 including GST.
Enforcement and Audit
This output class includes compliance checking and auditing of service providers against agreed standards as well as investigations and prosecutions of breaches of the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1997 and the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
Performance Measures
- Complaints from the public about breaches and illegal activities are followed up in accordance with MAF standards.
- Ensure industry and service providers comply with relevant biosecurity and animal welfare standards.
- Prosecutions are well researched and legally sound (measured by acceptance in Courts).
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $6.244 million including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $5.550 million will be funded by revenue Crown of $5.430 million and estimated revenue from third parties of $120,000. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $5.599 million including GST.
Discretionary Services
- This output class covers the use of MAF's border services on behalf of other departments and agencies. Services are funded via fees, contracts or service level agreements. The range of activities includes:
- Inspections and interceptions of endangered species under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species on behalf of DOC.
- Inspection of imported used vehicles on behalf of the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA).
Performance Measures
- Services requested are provided in a professional and cost effective manner as measured by DOC and LTSA.
Cost
Outputs in this class will be provided within the appropriated sum of $2.643 million including GST. The GST-exclusive sum of $2.350 million will be fully funded by estimated revenue from third parties. The 2003/04 final appropriation for this output class was $2.643 million including GST.
Contact for Enquiries
Strategy and Performance Group
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0738
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