Intervention Framework
Regulatory activity is a large part of MAF's role. We carry out functions related to approvals or accreditations, standard setting, compliance, and enforcement, and are accountable for official assurances that animal and plant products meet the standards required by domestic law or importing countries.
MAF's regulatory interventions fall into two classes:
- BIOSECURITY, ANIMAL WELFARE AND FOOD SAFETY; and
- SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT - relating to the broader economic and governance aspects of regulation impacting on sustainable growth and innovation in the sectors.
MAF must ensure our approach to regulatory intervention is based on sound principles. We must also consistently apply and align with other Government regulatory authorities and with Government and international policy. Regulation plays a critical role in shaping behaviour; our aim is to minimise regulatory compliance costs when a change in behaviour is required.
Among the critical issues MAF is addressing are:
- where and how is regulation an appropriate form of intervention? When would other types of non-regulatory intervention be a better approach;
- explaining the costs and benefits of regulation, including guidance in cost recovery;
- developing a rationale for achieving the lowest possible compliance costs;
- facilitating - or at least not impeding - innovation whilst regulating;
- consistency with whole-of-government approaches to regulation, including risk management;
- compliance with international obligations;
- intervention drivers which take into account the public good or industry good; and
- maintaining New Zealand's comparative advantage internationally.
MAF is developing a set of intervention framework guidelines, which will enable a more consistent and robust approach to the use of regulatory intervention. The purpose of the guidelines is to ensure our intervention decisions are most likely to secure Government outcomes while least likely to result in perverse impacts and unnecessary compliance costs. The guidelines will cover two key aspects:
- the key steps that should be followed in making and then implementing an intervention decision; and
- the principles that should be applied in making such decisions, concerning both the process of decision-making and the content of decisions. Decisions must follow the processes set out in relevant legislation, and as for content, interventions should aim to improve New Zealand's overall economic, social, health and environmental wellbeing.
Example: MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's Decisions Project
This project has developed a common, principles-based framework and a set of good practice processes and content principles for MAF Biosecurity New Zealand to use to support biosecurity decision-making and an implementation planning to ensure consistency and efficiency. The end result will be a single, simple decision-making framework to support biosecurity risk managers.
Decisions should be prioritised based on strategic advantage, technical feasibility and cost benefit and should aim to improve New Zealand's overall economic, social, health and environmental values.
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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