GIA Engagement across the biosecurity system JWG

Meeting 1/2015

Friday 14 August

Communiqué

Present

JWG members / Others
Andrew Harrison - KVH / Amelia Pascoe – MPI (Project Lead)
Andrew Spelman – MPI Border Clearance Services / Katherine Bell – MPI Policy
Chris Baddeley – MPI Policy / Rebecca Lyon – MPI (Facilitator)
Colin Johnston – Aquaculture NZ / Sian Howard – MPI Communications
David Talbot – MPI GIA Team
Howard Pharo – MPI Animal Imports + Exports / Apologies
Jen Scoular – NZ Avocado / Anna McGuinness – MPI
Kimberly Crewther - DCANZ / Tom Hazelhurst – MPI Business Analyst
Nick Clark – Federated Farmers NZ
Nikki Johnson – NZ Citrus Growers
Nick Pyke – Foundation for Arable Research
Richard Palmer – Horticulture NZ
Stephen Butcher – MPI Plant Imports + Exports
Steve Rich – GIA Secretariat
Apologies
Alan Pollard – Pipfruit NZ

Matters discussed

The joint working group (JWG) for the GIA engagement across the biosecurity system project met for the first time on Friday 14 August, in Wellington.

The project has been set up to:

  • clarify Signatory obligations under the GIA Deed for engagement across the end-to-end biosecurity system,
  • develop a single and shared view of the current biosecurity system, including opportunities for engagement.

The key output will be a guidance document that captures this information, for use by MPI and Signatories to support ongoing discussions on biosecurity system matters.

The purpose of this first JWG meeting was to agree on what a fit-for-purpose document would look like, and what information it would need to contain to be useful.

During the meeting:

  • Julie Collins (Director, MPI Biosecurity & Animal Welfare Policy) provided an update on the Biosecurity 2025 project, and talked about some of the themes that were coming out of that work that could result in improvements to the way MPI and industry work together and engage with each other in the future
  • Participants had a free and frank discussion about what MPI and industry are currently doing right in the way they engage with each other, and what could be improved
  • Participants worked in small groups to identify acceptance criteria for a fit-for-purpose guidance document, and critical content.
  • Following group report backs, participants collectively discussed and prioritised the acceptance criteria and critical content
  • The group discussed the draft terms of reference (TOR) for the JWG and agreed that they were a fair and accurate reflection of roles and responsibilities.

Other key points that came out of the meeting follow:

  • While a big group (which has its pros and cons), participants agreed that the JWG membership should remain the same
  • Those not directly involved in the JWG will be kept informed of developments via the GIA newsletter, and will have the opportunity to contribute their views on drafts through consultation processes.
  • Participants felt that MPI is best placed to take the lead in drafting the guidance document, andshould seek feedback, guidance and input from the JWG via email or where more appropriate, through workshops.
  • It was possible that some components of the guide may be more appropriately drafted by industry representatives. The JWG will identify and agree on these components as we work through the process

Next steps:

  • Amelia Pascoe (Project Lead) willconfirm alignment of the proposed work with Biosecurity 2025 and other related MPI initiatives; and develop a plan of attack for the drafting and communicate this along with indicative timeframes to the JWG
  • MPI will then initiate drafting and schedule next JWG workshops (as/if required)

For any questions about this work, please contact Amelia Pascoe at or on 04 8942556.