KVH was pleased to read an announcement from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) earlier this week about the hard line they are taking on arriving air passengers who fail to declare items that could bring unwanted pests or diseases into the country.

So far this year MPI has issued more than 9,100 biosecurity infringements and given over 1,000 warnings to passengers for failing to follow biosecurity rules. This is quite an increase on previous years, and the numbers will likely go up a lot after the busy summer season.

KVH backs the tough stance being taken on people that put New Zealand, and our primary industries, at risk.

Everyone in the kiwifruit industry has to play their part to help manage biosecurity risks when importing or travelling. KVH has produced a guide for kiwifruit growers to help reduce biosecurity risk after travelling (especially if an offshore orchard of farm has been visited) and to explain what growers can expect at the border when coming back to New Zealand.