Liz Shackleton: Animal and Plant Health NZ CEO on the need for a review of new plant and animal products

A primary sector advocacy group says a review of new plant and animal products is critically important for New Zealand farmers.  

A backlog of more than 100 applications are awaiting approval, and it could take up to four years to clear the queue.  

Now, a dozen primary sector businesses and groups are calling for swift action to clear the backlog.   

Animal and Plant Health New Zealand Chief Executive Liz Shackleton told Mike Hosking the Government has one chance to get it right.  

She says it's a chance for the Prime Minister to put his growth agenda into action. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So I got some upset over a becklog, Silverthorne Farms, Business,
New Zealand Fed Farmers Hought New Zealand PGD Rights and
zisbre You all want the government to clear the becklog
of over one hundred potentially groundbreaking animal and plant health
products they're waiting for approval now. Animal and Plant Health
New Zealand Boss Liz Sheckleton's with us, Liz morning, Not
am I is this new? Has it always been the case? Look?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
I think it's about looking forward and where we are
at right now. As a contrary, this is a critically
important review for the primary sector and for all of
New Zealand. One chance to get this right. And this
is about action right now, getting innovative tools and solutions
out of a queue and into the hands of our

(00:42):
farmers and growers. And that's to help them mic to
face some really tough challenges at the moment were pests
and diseases solutions that are also mission critical to achieve
the government's goal of economic growth for primary sector export.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Is it simply a queue though because they don't have
resource would result solve it? Or is it more complex
than them?

Speaker 2 (01:03):
So look in the letter to ministers which will foindly
over a dozen primary sector and business leaders. We all
support this isn't a free pass. We all support regulation
and it's important that we have a regulator that is
appropriately resourced. But what the companies behind these solutions are
telling us is that it does more resourcing does not

(01:24):
appear to have moved the dial to date, and without
change it will be too hard to do business here
in New Zealand. I mean might look, it's great to
hear the Prime Minister's commitment to go and for growth
with a lot less now and a lot more. Yes,
this review is a chance to act on that when
Cabinet consider the recommendations from the review next month. Because

(01:44):
what matters here is unblocking that queue will benefit New
Zealanders from Fanga Aida and to in Vercago. And I'm
hearing this every day, Mike, and can give you some
examples if the audience are interested.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
They are interested.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Right now, Nortland farmers are telling us that one of
the world's most devastating pests, fall army worm, is getting
worse up there, two to three weeks more advanced than
last season. They have limited treatment options and there's a
worry those treatments are going to become resistance in the
queue at the moment is an alternative called tetronilla pol.

(02:22):
It's been there since December twenty twenty two, an unclear
when that will be approved. Go across over Christmas to
Hawkes Bay areas like Tucky Tucky. Our apple growers need
solutions for diseases like black spot to get access into
trade markets like China. It is their number one barrier
to trade in the QRE. Solutions for that too sitting

(02:46):
under assessment for the last three and a half years.
In that time, the Australians have approved active HAD label extensions.
So Australian growers are out in front of us and
look just even of a Christmas Mike. If up in Auckland,
if you go out to Mangai and the airport, shout
out to a fantastic biosecurity teams there at MPI. They're

(03:08):
juggling the fruit fly response at the moment and they're
also trying to stay on high alyrics for brown marmorated
stinkbog again one of the world's most wanted pests. It
would absolutely decimate our veggie industry if you got in
again in that queue is Dinota for and a solution
that would ease pressure on peoples and systems.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Fantastic listen. I got to move on because I've got
David Semah and i got the Trade Minister waiting for
you in a moment. But you outline the case very
very clearly, and given what the Prime Minister has been
telling us about growth, so you've given us the problem,
You've given us potential solutions. We'll talk to David Seymour
about it after seven thirty. That's a lose Sheckleton like
the calif herjib animal than plant New Zealand CEO. For
more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks.

(03:52):
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