New Zealand now fining cruisers who unintentionally land potential biohazards

Currently the fine only applies to passengers permanently leaving a ship, but Biosecurity New Zealand is working to extend it to transit passengers.

 

The agency already has the power to prosecute passengers who intentionally smuggle risk goods ashore.

 

‘This is about empowering our officers to send a clear message about how important biosecurity is to New Zealand,’ Steve Gilbert, border clearance services director, said.

 

‘So far we haven’t had to issue any fines, which suggests the cruise lines are doing a good job of informing passengers about their biosecurity responsibilities,’ Gilbert said.

 

‘Cruise ships go to considerable trouble to let guests know on board that they cannot take food off the ship,’ Kevin O’Sullivan, ceo of the New Zealand Cruise Association, said. ‘They broadcast frequent messages in various languages, but despite this there is still the occasional person who comes ashore with food.

 

‘Now ships will be able to broadcast that any lack of compliance—even if it is unintentional—will carry a fine.’

 

Australian Biosecurity does not currently issue infringements for passengers arriving by cruise ships who may have failed to declare items of biosecurity risk, unlike passengers arriving at airports.

 

However, a spokesperson for Australian Biosecurity said it is empowered to issue infringement notices and, depending on the seriousness of the offence, it could go before the court as a civil matter.