The National Bovine Tuberculosis Pest Management Strategy is being reviewed in accordance with section 88 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
The proposed result of the review is to make amendments
to the strategy. The proposed amendments, the reasons
for them and other background information, are set out
in a proposal prepared by the Animal Health Board (Incorporated).
The proposal is available on the Animal Health Board website at
www.tbfree.org.nz
and may be inspected at the offices of the Animal Health Board, Level 9, Guardian Trust House, 15 Willeston Street, Wellington.
Hard copies of the proposal are available on request,
by telephoning the Animal Health Board on freephone 0800 4824 636.
The key changes to the strategy that are proposed are:
(a) to extend the duration of the strategy, by changing the current expiry date of 30 June 2013 to 30 June 2025;
(b) to change the objectives of the strategy by –
? adding a new objective relating to reducing the size of areas where wild animal populations are infected with bovine tuberculosis;
? adding a new objective relating to testing the feasibility of eradication of bovine tuberculosis from wild animal populations across a range of different terrain; and
? altering the objective relating to the rate of infected herds, so that the objective is to keep the rate below 0.4 percent;
(c) to add a new strategy rule that places obligations
on the operators of slaughter premises relating to recording and reporting information about the identification of cattle and deer; and
(d) to amend a strategy rule so that the existing requirements to provide information to the Animal Health Board are extended to the operators of approved identification systems.
Submissions on the proposal may be made in writing by any person to:
Minister of Agriculture
C/o MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
Attention: Belita Pereira
or by email to
belita.pereira@maf.govt.nz
The closing date for submissions is 30 November 2009.
Every person making a submission should indicate whether they wish to be heard on their submission, in the event that the Minister appoints a board of inquiry.
Signed at Wellington this 27th day of September 2009.
HON DAVID CARTER, Minister of Agriculture.