Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:631;Page:3420] 
5.  
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister for Biosecurity 
: Are there any written guidelines for biosecurity inspectors upon finding contamination within a sea container; if not why not? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister for Biosecurity) 
: 
 Written guidelines for biosecurity inspectors are included in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s quarantine service process procedure. There are guidelines for the clearance of imported sea containers. Although the current version of those procedures is not as detailed as would seem desirable quarantine officers are thoroughly and specifically trained in the actions to be taken if contamination is found. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Can the Minister confirm that the report of the Auditor-General into managing biosecurity risks associated with high-risk sea containers highlights the fact there is no written guidance on what to do when a contamination is found by a biosecurity inspector; and what steps is he taking urgently to improve that situation? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: There are two groups of officials who inspect containers. There are the quarantine officers of Biosecurity New Zealand who examine all high-risk containers at the border. They are specifically and thoroughly trained. There are also accredited inspectors usually from private sector situations who are accredited to open containers when they are delivered to for example warehouses. Those inspectors are also trained. That has been the new system since 2004 and that is where the detailed description of actions to be taken I think is wanting. That is what the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will now turn its attention to. 
Dr Ashraf Choudhary 
: Can the Minister tell members of this House what further improvements have been made to the sea container system? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Prior to 2004—which means for all the period of the 1990s and the period up to 2004—only 25 percent of containers were inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s quarantine service inspectors. Now 100 percent of containers are inspected by those quarantine service inspectors or by accredited industry persons—a huge change compared with the past situation. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Can the Minister confirm that as part of the confidence and supply agreement between the Government and New Zealand First there will be an investigation undertaken into the feasibility of requiring all used-car imports to be decontaminated offshore and would he agree that if the requirement for offshore decontamination were policy it would greatly enhance New Zealand’s protection against threats to its biosecurity? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Before the Minister replies would members please lower the tone. There was an interjection during that question. It was not respectful of the member. Members are on their last warning. 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: All used vehicles—100 percent—arriving in New Zealand are inspected internally and externally either offshore or on arrival. A risk analysis is under way which is a major piece of work to see whether an import health standard is necessary. These processes and procedures would be developed after that risk analysis. I might say that New Zealand First has been very helpful in supporting that process.