Airport biosecurity staff have been reminded of the correct process when dealing with passengers from Bali, after a North Otago farmer returning from the Indonesian province was not checked.
Indonesia is battling an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and all arrivals from that country are supposed to undergo close scrutiny.
Sue Ross had been in Bali for a month visiting family, and arrived at Christchurch International Airport after transiting through Melbourne.
Ross said when she arrived in Christchurch she gave her customs and immigration documents to a biosecurity officer, telling the officer that she had left her shoes in Bali.
Instead of being directed to a dedicated lane for close luggage inspection, she said, she was told she was low risk and allowed to leave without even going via a disinfectant mat.
Stuart Anderson, the deputy director-general of Biosecurity NZ, apologised to Ross and said the officer did not follow the required procedure.
“The traveller had good awareness of FMD and did the right things, such as leaving footwear she had worn while on holiday, behind in Bali,” he said.
She advised that her carry-on baggage was searched in Melbourne and she was directed through a disinfecting foot mat while in transit.
Her baggage, which included both check-in bags and carry-on luggage went through our x-ray machines on arrival in Christchurch.
She was spoken to by a senior border clearance officer and her arrival card was assessed.
“Based on the assessment, the officer decided the person was a low risk and did not direct the traveller to a further open bag search and disinfecting foot mat.”
Anderson says the risk assessment was made by an experienced staff member who took into account information available and in conversation with the passenger.
“Regardless of that assessment, it was not the correct course of action as it wasn’t done in line with our processes, which were updated on July 22nd.
“Those new processes instructed our border staff to direct all passengers who have travelled to Indonesia within 30 days of their arrival in New Zealand to additional open bag searches and footwear treatments regardless of whether they are assessed as low risk.”
Two other passengers on the same flight who were returning from Bali were directed to the additional open bag searches and foot mats.
All visitors from Bali should be directed to a separate lane, individually questioned and assessed, and have their luggage checked.
Luggage is also x-rayed and checked by sniffer dogs, and once passengers have been inspected, they walk over a disinfectant foot mat.
Anderson said the risk of FMD arriving in NZ is low, but the primary form of defence is the border, where scrutiny and awareness have been heightened.
Steps taken involve education and awareness including brochures, signage and in-flight announcement for travellers, and close scrutiny and questioning of travellers arriving from Indonesia and luggage inspection.
Similarly, mail from Indonesia is kept separate and screened by x-ray and dogs, and shipping containers can only be opened in the presence of a biosecurity officer.
There are no direct flights from Indonesia, which provides a further layer of protection, and new restrictions have been imposed on importing risky foods.
In June two staff members from the Ministry for Primary Industries visited Indonesia to audit the production and handling of palm kernel extract (PKE).
“The audit showed all measures are being taken and followed appropriately,” Anderson said.
The heat used in the PKE process will kill any FMD, and livestock are kept away from where it is stored.
Even though the risk of FMD reaching here is low, Anderson pointed out that Indonesia is relatively close to NZ and people are travelling again now that borders have reopened.
“We have heightened the alert level and taken an extra belts-and-braces precautionary approach,” he said.
