Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut under the Government's plan to reduce the public service.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is seeking public views on possible changes to the Horticulture Export Authority (HEA) Act.
The HEA provides a voluntary mechanism for horticulture industries to jointly fund and organise activities that support successful exporting, such as quality assurance, promotion and marketing.
Export earnings for industries currently using the HEA totalled $264.6 million in 2012.
MPI is seeking feedback on some specific issues identified in consultation with the sector.
"A recent independent review showed that the HEA remains popular with small export-based horticultural industries," says MPI forestry and plant sector policy manager Lisa Winthrop.
"But we have identified some opportunities to make the HEA more functional, useful, effective and efficient, and possibly reduce compliance costs, as well as updating some provisions."
The four key areas where feedback is sought are: enabling different markets to have different programmes; clarifying entry and exit procedures; questioning whether licence application assessment criteria are adequate; and questioning whether enforcement and penalty provisions are adequate.
The consultation will be open for public submissions until 5pm on Friday, February 15, 2013.
For further information, see
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-resources/consultations/review-of-the-nz-horticulture-export-authority-act
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.