Primary producers are worried about proposed changes to New Zealand’s biosecurity system which they believe could lead to more incursions and farmers being stung financially when an outbreak occurs.

Federated Farmers bees chairperson, John Hartnell, says the Biosecurity Law Reform Bill is signaling changes which could see an increasing reliance on technology, rather than people, to detect unwanted organisms at the border.

“They’re looking to use technology rather than to use, if you like, the current inspection system in a lot of instances" says Hartnell.

“The issue there of course is how successful is that technology?  Will it be as efficient as what we currently have?”

John Hartnell says that while the proposed Government Industry Agreement Programme, which would see farmers and officials jointly plan response strategies, is an excellent initiative, but the idea that farmers should foot the bill for any outbreak is absurd.

“Firstly, is it right than an exporter has to pay for an importer’s mistake or an imported pest or incursion? So, that’s the first question mark that’s sitting there.

"And secondly, can these industry groups actually afford to take on the liability that might come from substantial incursions into the country.”

Hartnell says previously central government covered the costs associated with an outbreak on behalf of all New Zealanders, and that under the proposed new system it would take only another varroa-like outbreak to financially cripple the country’s 600 commercial bee farmers.