Background
The NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) scheme is a vital part of New Zealand's biosecurity system. If there is an outbreak of an animal disease, NAIT helps the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) respond to and manage the outbreak.
NAIT's biggest test has been the Mycoplasma bovis response, and the scheme fell short in some areas. While the NAIT scheme is fundamentally sound, there was room for improvement.
Cabinet has made changes to the NAIT Act and regulations to improve the scheme. These include strengthening the requirements for tagging, improving incentives to comply with the scheme, and making better use of NAIT data. The improvements will take us another step closer to creating the animal tracing scheme we need to keep our primary sectors and economy safe.
What the changes are for
We want to:
- improve traceability
- incentivise compliance with the scheme
- encourage the effective and efficient use of NAIT data
- ensure the scheme is fit for the future.
How we'll achieve this
To achieve these objectives, specific law changes have been made.
To improve traceability
- "Persons in charge of animals" (PICAs) can only use the tags issued for their specific location. Farmers have until 14 December 2020 to use up any stockpiles of tags.
- The "impracticable to tag" exemption is renamed "unsafe to tag". The need for this exemption will be reviewed in 5 years' time.
- A PICA must declare a movement of an "unsafe to tag" animal to NAIT before it is moved (rather than 48 hours before it is moved, under the previous law). All untagged animals must be visibly marked. It is an offence to not do this.
To provide incentives to comply
- A seller can more easily make the animal location history available to a purchaser on request. There are now no privacy issues with providing these reports.
- Penalty limits have gone up to match those in the Biosecurity and Animal Products Acts. A judge can now impose a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual, and up to $200,000 for a body corporate.
- Infringement fees have increased and are now comparable to similar offences under the Biosecurity and Animal Products Act. Offences that had a $150 fee are now $400; the fee for failing to register as a PICA has gone up from $300 to $800.
- It is an offence for anyone to transport untagged animals that do not have an exemption. This offence won't apply to transport operators who are carrying a PIA declaration that the animals in the consignment are NAIT compliant. This will come into effect in mid-2020. In early 2020, farmers will get detailed advice on what they need to do so they have time to practice with the new system before this change is enforced.
To improve access to (and use of) NAIT data
- The Act's purpose for holding core data now includes stock theft, wandering stock, and dead NAIT animals in a public place.
- The public sector organisations that can apply to NAIT for access to core data have been clearly defined.
- Access to NAIT information by MPI staff has been improved, and MPI can help other authorities to use it in urgent situations.
To help ensure the scheme is fit for the future
- The definition of PICA (person in charge of animals) clarifies that responsibilities apply to everyone in charge of NAIT animals, including body corporates.
- PICAs must report annually the presence and estimated numbers of non-NAIT animals at their location.
- A NAIT organisation must ensure continuity of access to NAIT data and the information system by whomever is the designated NAIT organisation.
- The Minister for Biosecurity can notify the NAIT board of government priorities and expectations related to their statutory duties and functions.
- The requirements on a NAIT organisation to keep the minister informed of its performance in delivering its statutory duties and functions are spelled out.
- The threshold for potential ministerial intervention in a NAIT organisation is related to non-performance of statutory duties and functions.
- The minister may issue "directions" about existing statutory duties and functions.
- The minister may appoint a (non-voting) person to assist the NAIT board.
Where the proposed changes came from
An OPSRI-led review of NAIT between 2016 and 2018 made recommendations to improve the scheme. Most of these were operational changes that NAIT Limited is already doing, but implementing some of these required the recent law change.
The other changes come from lessons we learned during the Mycoplasma bovis response. The response provided lessons about how effective the scheme is, and how it can be improved.
In 2018 MPI consulted publicly on proposed law changes. Overall there was good support from submitters for the package of changes. The final package of proposed changes takes account of the feedback we received. The select committee also received written and oral submissions, and adjusted some of the proposals as a result of feedback and discussion.
What else is being done to fix NAIT?
These changes are part of a bigger programme of work to improve NAIT and ensure it is fit for the future.
NAIT Limited is making operational changes to improve the scheme. You can find out more on the NAIT website.
We're also working closely with NAIT Limited to educate farmers about their obligations under NAIT, and to enforce compliance with the scheme.
Tag and register your animals
Farmers are urged to continue recording all movements of cattle and deer in the NAIT system. Most farmers are already doing this. Those that aren't put their livelihoods and the entire industry at risk.
Find out more
Summary of the 2019 changes to NAIT laws and regulations [PDF, 137 KB]
Frequently asked questions [PDF, 258 KB]
Background documents
Cabinet paper [PDF, 373 KB]
Cabinet submission – additional policy [PDF, 138 KB]
Regulatory impact assessment [PDF, 14 MB]
Regulatory impact assessment – additional policy [PDF, 15 MB]
Summary of submissions received on the proposed changes [PDF, 979 KB]