Help available for flood-hit farmers
The chair of the Otago Rural Support Trust, Tom Pinckney, says he believes that they will be especially busy in the coming months as the enormity of the floods hit home.
Today, public consultation begins on a series of proposals designed to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity system.
Included in those proposals are higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility surrounding import requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says the future is about resilience, adding that the current Biosecurity Act – which is 30 years old – requires updating.
“A number of potential amendments are proposed to ensure it remains resilient and fit for the future,” Hoggard says.
He says New Zealand’s relative freedom from pests and diseases play a significant role in New Zealand’s competitive advantage, underpinning the country’s $53 billion food and fibre export industry.
“The Act is the legislative framework for the system that enables us to manage biosecurity risk and protect the economy and environment from harmful incursions,” Hoggard says. “This is important work, and we need input from primary industries, mana whenua, local authorities and the wider public to ensure we’ve got it right.”
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will lead the policy programme to amend the Act.
Consultation materials, including seven discussion documents setting out policy proposals for change are on MPI’s website and can be accessed by visiting https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming a new free trade deal with the country’s second largest market.
Nominations are now open for the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
Lower volumes from meat processing plants are impacting export returns for New Zealand red meat.
Animal disease management agency OSPRI has written off nearly $17 million after a botched attempt to launch a new integrated animal disease management and traceability system.
A free trade deal signed overnight with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a boost for New Zealand’s red meat exports to the high-value market.
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