Alarming holes in NZ's biosecurity net have been exposed following a review of MAF. Of most concern, MAF has come clean that its response to the Varroa bee mite and Didymo outbreaks was not up to scratch reports the Rural News. The damming admission is part of the 2007-08 financial review of MAF, a report for Parliament's Primary Production Committee. The report notes that concerns were raised about the chain of command among the agencies for pest management, and the outbreaks of Didymo and Varroa mite cited as instances where there appeared to be "˜no leadership structure to co-ordinate the response'. "˜The ministry acknowledges that some criticism of its approach to managing the response to these outbreaks was valid,' the report states. "˜In 2005 it had inherited five different response systems, which have since been integrated. "˜It has also worked with regional council and industry groups to clarify their collective responsibilities in the event of such outbreaks.' MAF says these measures have significantly improved the situation. "˜The ministry noted, however, that some sector groups had not yet done enough work on their preparedness. "˜MAF has been working on agreements with industry groups, which it is hoped will lead to firm plans, providing clarity as to what should happen when a pest or disease is discovered.' Minister of Agriculture and Biosecurity David Carter is adamant firm plans will be in place, sooner rather than later. "˜I made it perfectly clear to them when I became minister that I was not happy at all with the immediate response,'
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