Joint Communiqué
6 December 2022, Sydney, Australia
Delegates from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (NZ MPI) met face-to-face in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday 6 December 2022.
ANZBC Meeting 18 was co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary, Biosecurity and Compliance, DAFF and the Deputy Director General Biosecurity, NZ MPI, Stuart Anderson.
Facilitating the harmonisation of plant biosecurity regulatory practice
ANZBC endorsed and the Co-chairs signed the ‘Cooperative Arrangement between the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand to facilitate the harmonisation of plant biosecurity regulatory practice’.
The Cooperative Agreement is responsive to Australia and New Zealand’s acknowledgement of the need to continue to recognise each other's systems to manage plant biosecurity risk and facilitate trans-Tasman trade.
Pacific cooperation
The delegation was briefed on collaboration and engagement being undertaken to strengthen and increase Australian-NZ engagement in the Pacific.
Activities have been focused on matters relating to plant and animal health, emerging pest and disease risk, animal production and welfare, One Health and biosecurity.
The delegation agreed that building on these efforts will deepen and sustain engagement in the Pacific.
Animal Health Technical Working Group
Delegates noted that the annual Animal Health Technical Working Group (AHTWG) met in in Wellington, New Zealand on 25-26 October 2022.
Delegates noted that the AHTWG endorsed the Trans-Tasman Principles 2022-23 forward workplan and agreed on the governance for ongoing management of prioritised activities.
The update raised awareness of the importance of the need to continue to share intelligence and collaborate on foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) preparedness.
Plant Health Technical Working Group
Delegates noted that the Plant Health Technical Working Group (TWG) met in Wellington on 18 October 2022 following regular engagements within the TWG throughout the year.
Australia and New Zealand committed to work towards alignment of biosecurity systems, advancing bilateral trans-Tasman trade interests and promoting a consistent approach to assessment and management of risks.
Operations Technical Working Group
Delegates noted that the Operations Working Group met on 21 July 2022 in Wellington, New Zealand.
Delegates received an update on progress to increase shared intelligence and threat assessment capability; explore alternate approaches to managing biosecurity risk; and reinforce exchange of information on respective FMD prevention, preparedness, and controls measures.
Sharing quarantine services pilot study
The delegation was briefed on progress with a pilot to explore post-entry quarantine (PEQ) sharing arrangements that may provide ongoing mutual benefit to both countries.
Australia and New Zealand committed to work collaboratively on PEQ sharing arrangements and to consider areas of mutual benefit across the Tasman.
Closing
The delegation thanked the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Sydney office, for hosting the face-to-face meeting.
Next meeting
The delegation agreed to meet next in December 2023, in New Zealand.