Pursuant to section 62 (1) of the Biosecurity Act 1993,
I hereby give public notice of a proposed national pest management strategy for Varroa Bee Mite (Varroa destructor).
Varroa is a parasite of honey bees, which may affect crops dependent on bee pollination.
The strategy proposes to keep the South Island free
of varroa through implementing movement control and awareness measures, and carrying out an intensive surveillance programme.
The strategy proposes that these measures be funded
by South Island beekeepers and South Island regional councils/unitary authorities, and that responsibility for funding and implementing incursion responses remains
with the Crown.
The proposal for the strategy may be downloaded from the MAF web site at
http://www.maf.govt.nz/varroa
or requested from MAF Information Bureau (Publications Adviser, P.O. Box 2526, Wellington. Telephone: (04) 474 4100).
A copy of the proposal can be inspected at MAF, 101-103 The Terrace, Wellington.
Submissions on the proposed strategy may be made in writing by any person.
Every submission should state:
1. Those aspects of the proposed strategy that the submission supports;
2. Those aspects of the proposed strategy that the submission opposes;
3. The reasons for the support and opposition identified;
4. Any specific alternatives to the proposed strategy that the person making the submission wishes to recommend; and
5. Whether the person making the submission wishes to be heard in respect of that submission if an inquiry is held.
The closing date for submissions is Friday, 30 January 2004.
Submissions should be addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, P.O. Box 2526, Wellington (Attention: Tricia Caughley). Facsimile: (04) 498 9888. Email: tricia.caughley@maf.govt.nz
Dated at Wellington this 22nd day of November 2003.
JIM SUTTON, Minister of Agriculture.