Joint Communiqué
12 August 2014, Canberra, Australia
The Australian and New Zealand Consultative Group on Biosecurity Cooperation (CGBC) was established in 1999 by the then Australian and New Zealand Ministers responsible for agriculture, under the terms of the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA).
The CGBC continues to steer the harmonisation of animal, plant and operational measures to better manage biosecurity risks which have the ability to impede trade, and strengthen dialogue on trans-Tasman biosecurity issues.
The CGBC met in Canberra on 12 August 2014, with representatives from Australia’s Department of Agriculture (DA) and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to share information on a range of strategic, regulatory and operational biosecurity activities.
CGBC members discussed:
- Progress of possible new Biosecurity legislation to replace the Quarantine Act 1908
- risk based intervention initiatives in both countries
- DA’s national service delivery and service delivery modernisation initiatives
- the importance of ensuring strong collaboration on a range of marine pest issues and projects
- progress of the Australian Government’s Post Entry Quarantine facility being constructed in Victoria, and
- the progress of implementing joint border management systems in New Zealand.
Australia acknowledged the importance of the current Queensland fruit fly status in New Zealand and the potential effects of a change in status on industry and the community. Australia also acknowledged its requirement to keep New Zealand MPI up to date on Australia’s actions on national fruit fly management through the Plant Technical Working Group.
At the meeting representatives from DA and MPI signed the Bilateral Treatment Accreditation Scheme (BTAS) arrangement. New Zealand MPI also notified their intent to participate in the International Cargo Cooperative Biosecurity Arrangement (ICCBA), to collaborate on matters relating to the movement of cargo in trade.
Outcomes
CGBC members:
- noted that technical working groups will monitor broader strategic issues for biosecurity including their intersection with food safety, animal welfare and the environment
- requested that the Animal Technical Working Group develop an agenda to address marine pest issues of concern
- noted that the Australian Government is developing a marine pest response plan through the Marine Pest Sectoral Committee, of which MPI is a member
- requested that the Operations Technical Working Group focus on:
- developing shared advice and approaches for managing biosecurity risks associated with pallets and wood products, and the risks associated with empty containers, and
- exploring opportunities for exchanging information to improve biosecurity compliance risks for both countries
- agreed to monitor Queensland fruit fly issues through the Plant Technical Working Group
- acknowledged the challenges and workload involved in progressing market access requests.
- agreed to share information on Australia’s risk return resource allocation program and model as it matures early in 2015.