MAF picks up alien invaders at Timaru port

More than two thirds of the machinery and vehicles inspected on arrival at the Timaru port last year were contaminated.

Cruise ship passengers came with potential biosecurity threats as did a container housing a rare, deceased, Saudi toad.

Figures released to The Herald show 149 of the 219 vehicles and machinery items inspected at the port last year by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry quarantine inspectors were contaminated. Contaminants ranged from soil to seeds and insects.

While more than 15,000 containers landed in Timaru, MAF only checks those deemed potentially high risk. Other containers are checked by accredited contractors offshore.

Most of the containers arriving in Timaru are empty. Found in one of those empty containers was a rare species of toad. The container had been shipped from Saudi Arabia via Australia.

In 2008 4 per cent of the loaded sea containers arriving in Timaru were contaminated.

Of those containers a third contained soil, 15 per cent seeds, 7 per cent housed spiders, 4 per cent plant material and 4 per cent contained wood packaging that did not conform with biosecurity guidelines. There were insects in 2 per cent, while 1 per cent contained reptiles (mainly lizards from Pacific Islands). Snails accounted for another 1 per cent of the contamination. Non-specified contaminants accounted for 15 per cent of what was found.

Hazardous goods were seized from nine visiting ships.

Timaru quarantine inspector Tom Smith said insects, soil, seed and plant material had been removed from visiting vessels.

International cruise passengers were subject to searches too. Two cruise vessels visited last year. Officials made 12 seizures of fresh produce from the 2512 passengers who came ashore. Mr Smith said it was common for undeclared poultry and pork to be confiscated from visiting ships.

Biosecurity researchers said New Zealand had a reputation for stringent border policies. Lincoln Biosecurity research leader Dr Craig Phillips said the balance of responsibility fell equally on the shoulders of importers and exporters.

"Exporters get it wrong sometimes, especially with big volume orders. Border inspectors can be misled."

Dr Phillips said MAF looks at how the items have to be treated and comes up with tests that are efficient if inspectors want clarification on anything.

"There is a lot of trust in the international trading system. We can't import anything into New Zealand without taking a risk."

Auckland firm International Waste is being investigated for allegedly dumping rubbish from ships without properly treating the waste.

- © Fairfax NZ News