A team of 10 veterinarians, farming leaders and Primary Industries Ministry staff will take part.
“While the major focus is always on preventing FMD, it is also very important that we are prepared to respond to such an outbreak quickly and effectively if it ever did happen,” Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said.
“The training will develop a larger pool of people in New Zealand with experience in recognising, diagnosing and controlling the disease.”
This is the latest initiative in a major 18-month programme for a ministry and industry working group.
Other preparedness programme projects include:
A map of resources for an FMD response and inventory of personnel;
A pre-agreed notification process for stakeholders;
Carcase disposal plans;
A vaccination workshop held last month with industry;
Trade pre-agreements;
Identification of recovery needs and;
A trans-Tasman action plan.
Last year Exercise Taurus dealt with a simulated outbreak and a desktop simulation with industry at MPI’s Wallaceville campus was held in June.
“The agricultural sector is the powerhouse of NZ’s economy and any outbreak would have a major impact,” Guy said.
“This is why biosecurity is my number one priority as minister and why the Government and industry are working closely together on this issue.”
