july 2015 - The AgriChain Centre

ISSUE 14 | JULY 2015
Welcome
Welcome to our July 2015 issue of Bug Business, the
Biosecurity best practice newsletter, published quarterly
by The AgriChain Centre since 2009. Providing an
extensive range of industry support initiatives which
assist our clients with clear and simple solutions to meet
your Biosecurity compliance requirements.
IN THIS ISSUE
•
•
•
•
•
The AgriChain Centre Launches New Biosecurity App
New South Island Manager
Biosecurity Team Members
Report A Find
What To Do With Your Transitional Facility Operator
Training Certificate
• See, Contain, Report
• Feedback from MPI Auditors
• Biosecurity Support Services Initiatives
HOW THE AGRICHAIN CENTRE CAN HELP
Protecting New Zealand from unwanted pests and diseases is everyone's responsibility. As an importer operating a Biosecurity
Transitional Facility, your company must also meet certain obligations under the Biosecurity Act.
The AgriChain Centre is New Zealand's leading provider of Biosecurity services to the Sea Freight Import Industry.
Our experienced team has extensive knowledge of Biosecurity and has developed practical and cost
effective solutions to meet your business requirements.
THE AGRICHAIN CENTRE
LAUNCHES BIOSECURITY APP
The AgriChain Centre is committed to finding new and
innovative ways to keep our Accredited Persons and
Transitional Facility Operators up to date as and when
changes occur.
To download this Free App go to:
https://apps.appmachine.com/agrichaincentre
Or scan the Quick Code below:
To have access to the latest information in your pocket,
we have developed an App which provides answers to
frequently asked questions, training dates and venues, a
quick and easy way to report finds to the MPI hotline, as
well as access to the MPI online container check page to
complete your reporting requirements.
If you have any suggestions for other information you would like easy access to, please email us:
[email protected] so that we can incorporate your requests to assist you further.
1. Bug Business July 2015 © The AgriChain Centre
SOUTH ISLAND
MANAGER
Rob Mulholland has joined The AgriChain
Centre team as South
Island Manager. Based in
Christchurch, Rob will be
replacing Phil McLarin who
has transferred back to
Auckland.
After a 33 year career at the
old Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry (now MPI)
starting in 1976, Rob left
in 2009 to pursue other
interests.
During his time with MAF in Auckland, Rob covered all
areas of operation ranging from Places of First Arrival,
International Mail, passenger clearance and sea/air cargo
clearances.
Rob was instrumental in setting up the first MAF 24/7
worksite at Auckland International Airport Aircargo
facility. A major work component of this site was the
clearance of imported fresh produce and seasonal
inspection of export produce. He also managed the offshore clearance of USA and Mexican table grapes being
imported into New Zealand for many years.
In 2000 Rob and his family moved back to Christchurch,
where Rob took up the role of MAF Team Manager of
Passenger Clearance at Christchurch Airport. Later on,
Rob directed an NZAID funded project in Fiji to upskill
Fijian Quarantine staff and aid export capacity.
On leaving MAF Rob worked for himself in a variety of
roles linked to Biosecurity including a 3½ year stint as
a Project Quarantine Inspector on the Gorgon Project
Male Spider
located on Barrow Island, 1800 km’s north of Perth.
Rob is looking forward to bringing his vast biosecurity
and inspection knowledge and skills to The AgriChain
Centre and aiding its many clients in the South Island.
Contact Rob
Freephone: 0800-247-424
Email: [email protected]
FOR ANY QUERIES Please phone our Biosecurity Enquiries Team
0800-247-424
or email us: [email protected]
Biosecurity
Team Members
Jessica Wallace
Cert. Ag.
Biosecurity MANAGER
Jessica has been involved in the
area of Biosecurity training for
both Accredited Person training and
Transitional Facility Operator training
for more than 10 years. Jessica leads the Biosecurity Team
and is constantly implementing system improvements for
our clients. She is the primary contact for all Biosecurity
enquiries and assists clients with their Biosecurity Manual
development, applications to MPI for new facilities and
conducts site assessments.
Viv Cooper
Dip. Hort.
Biosecurity Consultant
From assisting Transitional Facilities and
Places of First Arrival with setting up
and implementing Biosecurity systems
through to offshore grape inspections,
dis-insecting programmes and Grain Importation Systems
– Viv can assist you with all of your needs in the area of
Biosecurity. Bay of Plenty based Viv provides Biosecurity
consultancy support and Accredited Person training and
Transitional Facility Operator training for our clients in
the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Central North Island.
Carrie Chen
G. Dip. FoodTech, BSc Food Technology
Biosecurity Trainer
Carrie is our Mandarin and Cantonese
speaking trainer. Carrie delivers
Biosecurity training courses in both
English and Chinese.
Phil McLarin B.A (Geo)
Biosecurity CONSULTANT
Phil is a Biosecurity trainer for our
Accredited Person training courses
and Transitional Facility Operator
workshops. Phil also has a background
and interest in land conservation and protecting the
environment. He is coming back to Auckland to assist
our many Auckland clients to meet their Biosecurity
requirements.
Maddie
Cruickshank
Biosecurity Services
Administrator
Maddie works as part of the Biosecurity
Services Team to maintain training and company records
in our database, manage Biosecurity sales and assist
with Transitional Facility requirements in relation to
Biosecurity obligations.
Bug Business July 2015 © The AgriChain Centre 2.
REPORT A FIND
Remember to report all live contamination to the
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) free Exotic Pest
and Disease hotline immediately on 0800 80 99 66.
We are also keen to understand Biosecurity finds.
Transitional Facility Operators and Accredited Persons –
have you recently found pests or contaminants in or on
imported sea containers, machinery and vehicles?
PLEASE POST YOUR PICTURES OR COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR
RECENT FIND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE:
www.facebook.com/the.agrichain.centre
What to do with
your Transitional Facility Operator Training Certificate
If you recently attended a Transitional Facility Operator
Workshop with The AgriChain Centre Ltd we will email
you your Certificate of Training. This certificate should be
held on file. This certificate needs to be available to MPI
during External Assessments of your Transitional Facility.
If you are:
• An existing MPI Approved Operator for your facility
then you need to submit a copy of your Certificate of
Training to MPI: [email protected] - include
in your email your company name and ATF number.
• A New Operator* - You will need to complete an
application form and consent to disclose information
- go to www.biosecurity.govt.nz/border/transitionalfacilities/registration/application-form for the forms.
TRAINING
The AgriChain Centre is New Zealand’s most
established provider of Biosecurity Training
Programmes and offers a wide range of Biosecurity
Compliance solutions for New Zealand businesses.
Approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries
(formerly Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry –
Biosecurity New Zealand) since 2004, we provide both
Transitional Facility Operator (TFO) and Accredited
Person (AP) training workshops nationally. Our
competitive advantage for you is our commercial
background.
OUR TRAINING LOCATIONS
• North Shore
(Albany) • Napier • Palmerston North
• South Auckland
(Mt Wellington)
• West Auckland
(Henderson) • Hamilton • Wellington • Nelson • Christchurch • Dunedin
• Tauranga * Classes will be run on-site nationwide for larger
companies if required.
You will need to submit a copy of your Certificate of
Training along with the application forms.
[* A New Operator includes a first time Operator seeking
to become approved for a new Transitional Facility
(TF) and those existing Operators that are required to
become an approved Operator at a new or different TF]
• A Deputy Operator - You are not required to apply or
submit your certificate to MPI but your training date
and expiry details must be recorded in the company
operating procedures.
We will hold your details on file and notify you when your
certification is due for renewal.
We provide additional support services to assist you in the
role as the Operator of your facility: www.agrichain-centre.
com/biosecurity-solutions/
We also look forward to
assisting with any Accredited
Person or Deputy Operator
training should this be a
requirement for your company.
MPI will issue a new ATF
Certificate if there is a
change to the Operator. See
on the right for a sample ATF
Certificate.
FOR ANY QUERIES Please phone our Biosecurity Enquiries Team:
or email us: [email protected]
0800-247-424
3. Bug Business July 2015 © The AgriChain Centre
see, contain, report
The eastern brown snake often referred to as the common
brown snake. This snake is considered the world's second
most venomous land snake. It is native to Australia, Papua
New Guinea, and Indonesia.
Adult eastern brown snakes are highly variable in colour.
Whilst usually a uniform shade of brown, they can have
various patterns including speckles and bands, and range
from a very pale fawn colour through to black, including
orange, silver, yellow and grey. Juveniles can be banded
and have a black head, with a lighter band behind, a black
nape, and numerous red-brown spots on the belly.
This species has an average total length (including tail) of
1.1–1.8 m (3.6–5.9 ft). The maximum recorded size for the
species is 2.4 m (7.9 ft), although any specimen of greater
than 2 m (6.6 ft) in total length would be considered
exceptionally large.
Facts
Since about 2000 there have been 60 snake finds with
Sea Container importations into NZ. In 2013 a dead
snake was found in a shipping container which arrived
in Dunedin from Brisbane.
Read the article here:
www.3news.co.nz/nznews/hitchhiking-snake-founddead-in-container-2013111811#ixzz3SFPfVFzt
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Please report sightings of the above pests by ringing MPI on 0800 80 99 66
Feedback from MPI Auditors
The number one issue auditors are finding during
Transitional Facility audits is:
Accredited Persons and Sea Container Checks
All sea containers must be checked by a current
Accredited Person (AP). If contamination is found in/on
the container or goods then MPI must be notified.
Either the Transitional Facility Operator's training needs
to be renewed, is overdue and they have not retrained
or the nominated and approved Transitional Facility
Operator has left the company - this is a major nonconformance and leads to suspension.
You cannot operate the facility and receive sea containers
whilst suspended. This can be a major inconvenience
and lead to extra costs and delays.
Make sure your facility remains compliant and meets MPI
Standard TFGEN requirements.
If unsure give us a call on 0800-247-424 and we will
provide guidance.
Bug Business July 2015 © The AgriChain Centre 4.
REMINDER
ATTENTION ALL TFOs
Make sure you review your Operating
Manual processes and procedures to ensure
they are up to date and you have sufficient numbers of
trained Accredited Persons (AP's).
Please be aware that when you take on the responsibility
as the Transitional Facility Operator you remain
responsible for that facility until such time as you notify
MPI that you have left or no longer hold that role.
If you require assistance with your self assessment or
updating your manual, one of our Biosecurity Consultants
can visit your facility and review your documentation,
processes and manual. We'll then guide you to complete
future self assessments and updates.
It is important that you notify MPI when you are leaving,
otherwise you are still accountable for what is happening
on the site and potentially liable to prosecution if the
site is not operating correctly.
Please visit our website for further information:
www.agrichain-centre.com/biosecurity-solutions/
or contact us to discuss your options.
Email: [email protected]
To notify MPI, send an email with the subject line –
Notification of Cancellation as TFO. Include your name,
your Transitional Facility Name and address and the
Transitional Facility Number and also provide the date
when you are leaving.
This information can be found on your “Certificate
of Approval as a Transitional Facility and Operator”
certificate.
PERSONALISED AP CARD
All Accredited Persons (AP's) attending our training are
provided with a complimentary personalised AP card on
successful course attendance with The AgriChain Centre.
The AP card is useful
when completing log
sheets as it contains
your AP number, name,
your certificate expiry
date and important MPI
contact details.
* Please note if you
have a minimum of 6
staff members requiring Biosecurity training, we can come to
you and deliver training at your site at a
preferential rate.
WHAT TO BRING
TO YOUR TRAINING COURSE
All attendees are required to bring the following to AP/
TFO courses:
• Proof of identity (photographic ID). The following IDs
will be deemed acceptable proof of identity:
Driver’s Licence; 18+ Card; or Passport.
If you know who is replacing you in the role, then it
is best before you leave to get the new operator to
complete an Operator and Facility Application, TSW 224
and Consent to Disclosure forms and supply all of the
relevant supporting documents requested.
These forms and the information regarding what needs to
be done/sent can be found at: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/
border/transitional-facilities/registration/application-form
If unsure give us a call on 0800-247-424 and we will
provide guidance.
BIOSECURITY
AWARENESS TRAINING
In addition to AP and TFO training, MPI requires that all
staff working at a transitional facility will have a general
Awareness of the site's biosecurity requirements, even
if they do not have a role as an Accredited Person or
Transitional Facility Operator.
The purpose of this awareness
training
is
to
ensure
that no team member
inadvertently compromises
the Biosecurity status of a
Transitional Facility due to
lack of understanding.
ITY
R
U
C
E
S
S
S
O
E
I
N
B ARE
AW AINING
You
can
deliver
this
TR
Awareness training yourself or
The AgriChain Centre can come
to your site and run a 90 minute
Biosecurity Awareness session for your staff.
• Name consistency for ease of training renewal is also
very important.
MPI Auditors are increasingly looking for evidence that
regular Awareness training sessions are conducted.
Contact us if you have any queries.
Freephone 0800-247-424
or visit our website: www.agrichain-centre.com
Please contact us on 0800-247-424
or email: [email protected]
for more information.
5. Bug Business July 2015 © The AgriChain Centre
Biosecurity Support Services InitIatives
sIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER
FREE BIOSECURITY
COMPLIANCE ADVICE
We will take your calls for advice on complying with
Biosecurity requirements. This service is free for calls of
less than 10 minutes duration.
Please contact our Biosecurity Enquiries Team during
office hours.
Phone (09) 414-4536 or Freephone 0800-247-424.
biosecurity equipment kit
The Ministry for Primary
Industries regulations
specify the type of
equipment needed at a
Transitional Facility
Site.
If you would like to order equipment or need more
information please visit our website:
www.agrichain-centre.com or contact our Biosecurity
Enquiries Team on 0800-247-424.
What sets us apart?
Bug Business is The AgriChain Centre's own regular
communication tool for Transitional Facilities. We aim to
inform and assist in understanding how businesses can
satisfy the Ministry for Primary Industries requirements
in a sound and rational fashion.
Signup at:
www.agrichain-centre.com/biosecurity-newsletter
Or update your details online at:
www.agrichain-centre.com/update-your-details-online/
keeping in touch
Please LIKE our Facebook page to stay up to date
with the courses, advice and solutions we offer - plus
relevant news articles and more. We’re also on LinkedIn.
www.facebook.com/
the.agrichain.centre
www.linkedin.com/company/
the-agrichain-centre-ltd
We pride ourselves on offering:
• Fixed cost (no hidden extra charges)
• Interactive and practical classes - learning from each others' experiences
• Easy to understand - the science is converted into layman's terms
The AgriChain Centre also has strong FOOD SAFETY and TRACEABILITY expertise.
We would be happy to assist you with your needs in that area of your business.
www.agrichain-centre.com/food-safety/
Publisher’s Contact Details:
The AgriChain Centre Ltd
PO Box 101-245, NSMC,
Auckland 0745,
New Zealand.
Telephone: +64-9-414-4536 or 0800-247-424.
Facsimile: +64-9-414-6140.
www.agrichain-centre.com
Dr Hans Maurer Publisher
Debbie Woods Publication Manager
[email protected]
Lisa Ritchie Media Co-ordinator
[email protected]
Bug Business July 2015 © The AgriChain Centre 6.