New biosecurity fines

Arriving vessels, transitional and containment facilities will face new infringement offences for careless biosecurity practices that expose New Zealand to risk from harmful diseases and pests.

The new offences will introduce fines of $400 for individuals and $800 for other entities, such as companies, for low-level offending that is not significant enough to warrant prosecution, says Steve Gilbert, border clearance services director for Biosecurity New Zealand.

"The infringements will send a strong message about the importance of biosecurity and will deter people and organisations from breaking the rules."

Under the changes, Biosecurity New Zealand's quarantine officers will be able to infringe transitional and containment facilities that do not have an approved operator or don't comply with operating standards.

International vessels will face fines for failing to notify Biosecurity New Zealand of their arrival and for failing to declare what steps they have taken to meet relevant craft risk management standards when asked to do so.

The new offences will come into force early next year.