MAF reviews measures for clearance of sea containers at New Zealand’s ports and border facilities
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) today announced it will issue a public discussion document on the sea
container pathway review and a draft revised biosecurity standard for importing sea containers for public comment in
March.
The release of a revised standard – known as an import health standard – is being made as a result of a major review of
current methods of providing biosecurity clearance for sea containers. The review included a major survey of sea
containers arriving in New Zealand during 2001-2002.
“The amount of operational data analysed from the 11,000 containers we surveyed for this review was unprecedented
internationally,” said Neil Hyde, director of MAF Biosecurity’s Border Management group.
Sea containers have long been identified and managed as a problem pathway for hitchhiker pests by MAF. A report by the
Officer of the Auditor-General last year noted 100% inspection of the pathway is not practical.
The new review found that an average of one in five containers is likely to arrive with some form of internal
contamination and that most contamination is found inside, rather than outside, containers. Approximately one out of
every four containers arriving in New Zealand is currently inspected from the door by MAF Quarantine Service officers.
Most containers are certified as being free of contamination.
“The closer we looked at the data from the cross-section of containers we surveyed, the more apparent it became that we
need to broaden existing systems, encourage higher levels of compliance in consultation with the shipping industry and
importers and continue to promote greater biosecurity awareness.”
“MAF relies heavily on declarations and certificates about the contents of a container, use of acceptable packing
material and its internal cleanliness,” said Mr Hyde.
“These are all important requirements for a successful system. However as part of this review we have confirmed
thousands of containers arrive with live organisms inside and with unmanifested wood packing material that requires
treatment or destruction each year. Both are extremely difficult to pick up by a door inspection alone.”
“Based on the new data we can also estimate that 1-2 percent of the annual total of 260,000 loaded containers arrive
with cargo risk items that aren’t adequately described on the container manifest. This might seem like a small figure
but it undermines MAF’s ability to carry out targeted inspections and it could be solved by increased compliance”.
“Overall our conclusion is that we need to integrate biosecurity risk management into the entire sea container pathway,
starting before a container even arrives in New Zealand and continuing until it leaves the country,” said Mr Hyde.
“It is clear there isn’t a ‘one stop’ solution to the pest pathway posed by containers and their contents so we are
proposing a range of measures applicable at various stages in the pathway. This strategy is dependent on effective
participation by industry so that we link our systems together.”
Risk reduction measures put forward for further work over the next 6-18 months include:
Developing an electronic risk profiling system as part of a whole-of-government initiative, with participation by NZ
Customs Service and other government agencies, to replace the current manual paper-based system. Implementing a system
to accredit non-MAF staff to supervise unpacking of containers at various locations within New Zealand. Building on
awareness material already being produced by the Protect New Zealand programme’s “See-Contain-Report” campaign.
Instituting a strategy to determine compliance and target increased intervention and costs at parties who fail to comply
with biosecurity standards. Widening a current requirement on shippers to certify the internal cleanliness of containers
to include pre-clearance of external surfaces, perhaps aligned to inspections for structural soundness. Promoting
international harmonisation of biosecurity standards for containers and containerised cargoes. Assessing the equivalence
of risk mitigation systems proposed by shippers or importers.
The review notes that some measures will involve additional costs for monitoring, enforcement and auditing. Other
factors considered include legality, commercial impact, social and environmental implications, practicality and safety.
Using the proposed risk mitigation strategy, it is expected that the biosecurity risks posed by the container pathway
will be significantly reduced. Reducing risk offshore, before the containers arrive in New Zealand, is a key component
of the strategy.
“The challenge will be to involve everybody so that the task of protecting New Zealand from exotic pests and diseases is
seen as a ‘shared responsibility’,” said Mr Hyde.