NBA to explore value of Government Industry Agreements

30 August 2012 For immediate release

NBA to explore value of Government Industry Agreements

The National Beekeepers’ Association plans to work alongside government to assess how it can better prepare for and respond to biosecurity risks that threaten beekeepers.

The NBA has agreed to sign a “memorandum of understanding’ with MPI while it explores the possible value offered by the Government Industry Agreement (GIA).

The GIA is a significant change to New Zealand’s biosecurity system that aims to give primary producers an equal say in the decision-making process around biosecurity preparedness and incursion response.

“The NBA needs to find out exactly what benefits there are for us as beekeepers and we need to identify the possible downsides,” said NBA President Barry Foster.

“Once that is done and the pros and cons weighed up then our members can make an informed decision as to whether or not to sign up formally to the GIA Deed.”

A small working group of beekeepers will now go through the MPI proposition very carefully and report back to members about whether it is worth signing up to the formal GIA Deed or not.

ends

© Scoop Media