Government Industry Agreement
A two hour open session was held to set the scene for how the biosecurity environment for the beekeeping industry would change if we agreed to sign the GIA deed.The aim of the scenario was to highlight the difference between how biosecurity planning and responses are handled now for our industry, and how they might be handled under GIA.
To see a copy of the GIA Scenario "What happens now and what happens under GIA" read here:
John Hartnell acted as MC, and David Hayes, Director Preparedness & Partnerships, Compliance
& Response, represented the Ministry for Primary Industries along with Paul Bolger, Senior Policy Analyst. Barry Foster and Kerry Gentleman were the NBA/Industry representatives. Daniel Paul, CEO assisted with the PowerPoint presentation.
Barry Foster kicked things off, setting the scene for the scenario by explaining that the GIA concept has been around for several years now.
Government believes the current system of planning for and handling incursions is not fair to all parties, and it has proposed a scenario whereby government and industry co-operate more closely on how to deal with pests and diseases that might make it over the border.
GIA has created a lot of controversy, and most industries were against it in the early days. As a result of this, government has adopted a slightly different approach – they’ve agreed to work more closely with industry on the conceptual design of GIA – and it’s fair to say things are progressing much more smoothly.
Together with BIG and various other industry bodies, the NBA has been part of a working group that has put together a new framework for how GIA might work.
So far, most industries are indicating their willingness to progress to Stage 1 of the GIA, signing a memorandum of Understanding (MOU). But there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge.
During the GIA demonstration at the conference, Barry stressed that there will definitely be some costs to signing up to GIA. However, there will also be some outcomes and major differences in
approach to biosecurity planning and incursion response that industry may feel are well worth the cost.
The demonstration was not about convincing anyone that GIA is good – or bad! It was simply about
showing the difference between what happens now and what would happen under GIA, as well as providing a clearer picture of GIA so we, as an industry, can make an informed decision about whether or not it is right for the industry.
The NBA plans to hold a detailed consultation process with its members to get their feedback
on GIA. For the bee industry to progress with GIA, it is a requirement that the whole industry works as one, and that the bee industry gets a mandate to proceed from industry.
Four important aspects of GIA that were covered in the session:
- How upfront biosecurity preparedness and planning would be addressed
- a pest surveillance programme could be designed and delivered
- The preparation of an incursion response plan
- What happens now and what would happen under GIA if we get an incursion
To see a copy of the GIA Scenario "What happens now and what happens under GIA" read here:
Government Industry Agreement - Sign up or opt out: What's best for our industry?
The NBA is beginning a detailed consultation programme to inform members of the GIA. We will consult with members over the coming year to ensure they are fully informed about the GIA and how it will affect them and whether, as an industry, we should become a signatory.
We will work with Federated Farmers Bees to undertake this consultation.
We have set up an email address where you can send questions, queries, comments or concerns. We will monitor these and attempt to answer all of them in the Journal over the coming months.
The mail address for members to write in is GIA@nba.org.nz
We have a range of other consultation intiatives planned for coming months so you will have every opportunity to ask any and all questions you want about GIA.
Click here to read the NBA's GIA consultation document.
