Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
About this consultation
The Biosecurity (Information for Incoming Passengers) Amendment Act 2022 will require commercial airline and maritime vessel operators with 20 or more passengers (excluding crew) to provide biosecurity information to passengers arriving in New Zealand. Many carriers, if not all, are already doing this voluntarily.
To enable the amendment act, supporting regulations are being developed that will set out the detail of the new law. The regulations will make it clear to airline and maritime vessel carriers what they must do to comply with the law. Biosecurity New Zealand will develop detailed guidance to help carriers implement the regulations.
Biosecurity (Information for Incoming Passengers) Amendment Act 2022 – NZ Legislation
Have your say
From 8 March until 5 April 2023, MPI is inviting comments on proposals for the supporting regulations. A summary of the 4 proposals for the regulations is on this web page. Full details are in the consultation document.
Consultation document
Biosecurity (Information for Incoming Passengers) Amendment Act 2022 regulations proposals [PDF, 2.2 MB]
Summary of the 4 proposed regulations
Proposal 1
Persons in charge of a commercial craft with 20 or more passengers (excluding crew) (defined in the amendment act as “a large commercial craft”) can either use information provided by Biosecurity New Zealand or develop their own pre-approved information.
Proposal 2
Notice to the director-general of MPI that the information has been provided to passengers would be through minor amendments to existing documents.
Proposal 3
If carriers choose to provide their own biosecurity information, it must include 6 key elements:
- what items are a biosecurity risk
- how these items can damage New Zealand’s environment and industries
- how a person can dispose of the items safely
- how to make a biosecurity declaration
- penalties if a person fails to dispose or declare an item
- any additional information the director-general deems necessary for management of biosecurity risk.
Proposal 4
If persons in charge of a large commercial craft do not comply with the amendment act or regulations, they could be subject to a compliance order or an infringement fee of $400 (individual) or $800 (corporate).
Making your submission
Email your feedback on the proposals before 5pm on 5 April 2023 to BSP@mpi.govt.nz
Make sure you include in your submission:
- the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
- your name and title (if applicable)
- your organisation’s name (if you’re submitting on behalf of an organisation)
- your contact details (for example, phone number, address, and email).
While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:
Biosecurity System Policy
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.
Next steps
After we have considered all submissions, MPI will report to the Minister for Biosecurity and Cabinet on any recommended changes. The regulations are scheduled to come into force by 21 October 2023.
