58116 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for Biosecurity

58116 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for Biosecurity: What preparation has been made, if any, to prepare and protect the poultry industry from an incursion of avian flu?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: I am advised that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Department of Conservation and health agencies are working together with the poultry industry to develop response options that represent the best approach for New Zealand to protect our unique native species, mitigate the impact on the poultry sector and take preventative measures to protect human health. MPI is working in partnership with the Poultry Industry Association New Zealand and Egg Producers Federation on business continuity and resilience in the event of an outbreak of HPAI, which included a recent joint fact-finding trip to Australia and the UK, to understand the requirements of an HPAI Response. MPI is working with industry to build on what is already being done by operators and farmers as part of their normal risk management activities. This work will support farmers and growers to have robust on-farm biosecurity plans in place. The implementation of rigorous on-farm biosecurity in New Zealand now, before an incursion, will help protect individual farms from infection and limit impacts on the domestic supply of poultry meat and eggs.