199.103 Animals and the Environment - Biosecurity

Definition and Scope of Biosecurity

• Biosecurity Definition: Biosecurity is defined as the protection of an environment from biological threats.

• Levels of Biosecurity Application:

  • International: Coordinated through organizations like the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), focusing on infectious diseases of animals.

  • National: Managed through border control at points of entry, such as airports and ports.

  • Regional/Islands/Provinces: Containment and management within specific geographical boundaries.

  • Farm Level: Implementation of measures to prevent the entry of pathogens, including the use of specific clothes, boots, and disinfectants.

Key Biosecurity Governance and Legislation in New Zealand

• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI): Operates Biosecurity New Zealand (Biosecurity NZ).

  • The core focus is stopping pests and diseases at the border before arrival and managing or eradicating those already present.

  • The goal is to maintain the value of primary industries and protect unique environments.

• Relevant Statutory Acts:

  • Biosecurity Act 1993: This is the primary legislative framework, currently undergoing revision.

  • Resource Management Act 1991: Applies to marine aquaculture and marine biosecurity.

• Department of Conservation (DOC): Specifically tasked with the control of introduced species that threaten native biodiversity.

• Public Participation:

  • Individual citizens play a vital role. New Zealanders report approximately $10,000$ suspected pests and diseases to the MPI annually.

  • Approximately $750$ of these reports lead to formal investigations conducted by the MPI Investigation and Diagnostic Centre.

Categorization of Biosecurity Threats

• Pests and Diseases Types:

  • Plants: These can overrun native forests, agricultural crops, waterways, and marine environments.

  • Bugs and Parasites: These can attack humans, animals, and plants while spreading diseases.

  • Larger Animals: These can feed on native species, spread diseases, and cause severe damage or modification to landscapes, seascapes, and soil structures.

  • Saltwater Invaders: Organisms that interfere with wild indigenous species in marine settings.

  • Pathogens: Biological agents that cause sickness or death in humans, plants, and animals.

Multi-Dimensional Risks of Biosecurity Breaches

• Economic Risks:

  • Weakening of earning potential and the introduction of new costs.

  • Reduction in the health and productivity of commercial livestock and plants.

  • Limitation of New Zealand's access to critical export markets.

  • Degradation of wilderness areas, making them less attractive for tourism.

  • Requirement for extremely expensive control and eradication programmes.

• Environmental Risks:

  • Endangerment of native species and disruption of delicate ecosystem balances.

  • Competition with native species for food and water sources.

  • Predation on native flora and fauna.

  • Outbreaks of disease within native populations.

  • Physical damage such as clogging waterways or causing land erosion.

• Way of Life Risks:

  • Restrictions on the free movement of citizens (travel restrictions).

  • Destruction of wilderness areas and the spoiling of waterways.

  • Reduction in animal, plant, and fishing stocks.

  • Infestation of homes and direct attacks on humans by pests.

  • Zoonotic transfer of diseases from animals to people.

MPI Border Operations and Surveillance

• Border Clearance Statistics:

  • MPI staff inspect approximately $50,000$ import consignments annually.

  • Approximately $20\%$ of these consignments fail to meet biosecurity requirements.

  • Clearance procedures cover aircraft, ships, boats, cargo containers, and personal household effects.

• Surveillance Programmes:

  • Routine surveillance is used to establish which organisms are present in New Zealand.

  • Functions of surveillance:

    1. Assuring international trade partners that exports are safe.

    2. Facitilating rapid responses to outbreaks.

    3. Managing and understanding established pests.

  • The system includes $13$ targeted programmes focusing on high-risk pests, locations, and vulnerable species both on land and in water.

• Diagnostic Capabilities:

  • Animal Health Laboratory (Wallaceville): Processes $37,000$ diagnostic tests every year.

  • Plant Health and Environment Laboratories (Auckland and Christchurch): Identify approximately $1,000$ diseases and $6,000$ bugs annually.

  • MPI also utilizes approved private laboratories and collaborates with international labs.

• Trend Monitoring:

  • MPI monitors veterinary laboratory submission data and hotline reports to identify disease trends.

  • They determine the cause of death for critically endangered native plants and animals.

Specific Biosecurity Case Studies and Threats

• Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD):

  • Caused by a virus infecting cloven-hooved animals including cows, sheep, pigs, goats, deer, alpaca, and llama.

  • It can also infect hedgehogs. It is an acute, highly contagious disease.

  • The 2001 UK Outbreak:

    • Spread to $57$ farms across $16$ countries before eradication.

    • Animals slaughtered: $5 \text{ million}$ sheep; $764,000$ cattle; $428,000$ pigs; $7,500$ goats.

    • Total compensation for stock alone reached $\$6 \text{ billion}$.

  • Predicted New Zealand Impact: A study by Belton (2004) predicted a cost of $\$10 \text{ billion}$ to the New Zealand economy if FMD established itself.

• Queensland Fruit Fly (QLDFF):

  • One of the most significant threats to the horticulture industry.

  • A $2019$ discovery in Auckland triggered an $\$18 \text{ million}$ biosecurity response that lasted until February $2020$.

  • Recent detections occurred on January $7, 2026$ (QLDFF) and February $25, 2026$ (Oriental Fruit Fly).

• Varroa Mite ($V. destructor$):

  • Established in New Zealand in $2000$.

  • Responsible for increasing bee colony loss rates from $8.4\%$ to $10.2\%$ between $2015$ and $2018$.

  • Estimated to cause $19.5\%$ of all colony losses, costing the apiculture industry between $\$11.5\text{ million}$ and $\$25.7\text{ million}$ per year.

• Mycoplasma bovis:

  • First detected in New Zealand in $2017$ in a South Canterbury dairy herd.

  • Causes mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis, and abortions in cattle but does not infect humans.

  • The $M. bovis$ National Plan was established in $2019$ for response and control.

Management and On-Farm Measures

• Industry and Product Management:

  • Effluent control and disposal near waterways.

  • Monitoring of imported food (e.g., PKE - Palm Kernel Expeller).

  • NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing): System for cattle and deer to ensure traceability for disease control (e.g., TB-free).

• One Health Concept: Recognition of the interconnectedness between environmental health, human health, and animal health.

• On-Farm Biosecurity Best Practices (DairyNZ Guidelines):

  • Stock Management: Vet the disease status, TB status, and vaccination history of new stock before purchase.

  • Visitor Hygiene: Ensure visitors have clean equipment and clothing; provide footbaths, disinfectant sprays, and scrubbing brushes.

  • Fencing: Use secure boundary fences to prevent nose-to-nose contact with neighboring animals; implement double fencing or outriggers.

  • Calf Care: Restrict calf shed access to essential personnel only; use dedicated, cleaned clothing and boots specifically for the calf shed.

  • Weeds and Pests: Identify and prevent the spread of weeds; check that off-farm feed is free of foreign seeds; keep building perimeters clear of clutter and long grass to deter pests.

Active and Long-Term Protection Programmes

• Active Biosecurity Responses: Includes monitoring and responding to H7N6 bird flu in Otago, Babesia gibsoni (tick-borne parasite in dogs), exotic termites, and yellow-legged hornets.

• Long-Term Management Programmes:

  • Protecting Kauri from disease.

  • Wallaby control and eradication.

  • Wilding conifer control.

  • Managing invasive freshwater clams (Corbicula) and exotic Caulerpa seaweeds.

  • Management of velvetleaf and other National Interest Pests.