The Government has launched a new biosecurity veterinary network aimed at strengthening New Zealand’s ability to respond quickly to serious animal disease outbreaks, including foot and mouth disease.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has contracted the Veterinary Council of New Zealand to establish and manage VetNet-Biosecurity, a network of private veterinarians who can be rapidly mobilised during a major biosecurity emergency.
Hoggard warned that a foot and mouth disease incursion would have severe economic consequences, triggering an immediate halt to most animal product exports and potentially cutting export values by about $14.3 billion a year. Cabinet last year endorsed an urgent eradication strategy should the disease reach New Zealand.
The network aims to recruit up to 200 private veterinarians to support field operations, including clinical examinations, sample collection, depopulation oversight and animal welfare monitoring. Veterinarians will remain employed by their practices while deployed, with MPI providing training and financial compensation. Training will also be available free to all registered veterinarians nationwide.
If they are so concerned about disease outbreaks why are they hell bent on allowing unregulated Crspr genetic modification by any Tom, Dick or Harry? Genetically modified organisms allowed to run rampant with no regulation, no labelling, no oversight and no corporate responsibility?