Contractors
movement of machinery, equipment and tools, personnel, and kiwifruit plant material to orchards where Psa is not detected, and to the South Island, is strictly prohibited or restrictedKiwifruit orchard contractors are considered high-risk because they routinely move machinery, equipment and tools, personal effects, kiwifruit plant material, and/or compost into, within and between orchards.
Growers should have confidence that their contractors are not adding additional risk to their orchards by moving new pests and diseases around the industry through contaminated tools and machinery. Therefore, the Pathway Plan requires kiwifruit contractors to have a biosecurity plan that identifies the potential risks they bring, and steps taken to manage these risks.
KVH recognises that risk will differ depending on the activities undertaken. The outcome sought is a plan that includes biosecurity hygiene practices and staff awareness and training programmes that are appropriate to the level of risk they pose. KVH also recognises that the kiwifruit industry already has existing systems in place and where possible we seek to incorporate our requirements into these to keep things simple and efficient for all involved.
Contractors
Contractors who are part of the Zespri Gap/Compliance Assessment Verification (CAV) will have a biosecurity plan included as part of their CAV requirements, and this will be audited as part of their existing CAV audit.
There is a CAV contractor list available on the Zespri website.
Contractors who are not currently required to hold a Zespri CAV need to complete a Non-CAV Contractors Biosecurity Plan and present it to growers (much as a CAV is currently). This form is available below as a PDF and as a Word version so that you can adapt it to suit your needs.
Traceability of any plant material is critical so contractors such as grafters and pollen applicators, who are on multiple orchards, need to ensure they have records of source and destination orchards for all plant material they supply. Traceability records must be maintained so that in the event of an incursion a contractor can supply information about the orchards they and their staff have visited over any nominated time period.
CAV Contractors Biosecurity Plan (Word) - for use if you prefer to type into a document rather than handwrite.
Non-CAV Contractors Biosecurity Plan (Word) - for use if you prefer to type into a document rather than handwrite. You may also choose to adapt this template to suit your needs, and include other requirements, such as Covid-19 protocols for example.
Growers
Growers need to ensure the contractors who come on to their orchards have evidence that they either hold a current Zespri CAV or have completed a Non-CAV Contractors Biosecurity Plan.
Template plans for contractors are provided above and are adaptable to suit the biosecurity risks identified. You/your contractors may also wish to adapt a template to include other requirements, such as Covid-19 protocols for example.
Growers then need to ensure biosecurity risks posed by contractors, their people and equipment, are appropriately managed.
