The first Biosecurity Forum held under the auspices of the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA) was held on 5 September 2013 in Wellington.  It attracted more than 40 participants from across primary industries and from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Presentations from industry and government speakers covered a range of topics that encouraged wide ranging discussion on the benefits of becoming a partner in biosecurity under the GIA and teased out issues for further guidance where 'the devil of implementation is in the detail'.

Chair of the Interim Governance Body, Mr David Hayes from MPI hailed the Forum a success and invited participants to the second Forum to be held in Wellington in February/March 2014.

"The Forum provides us with an opportunity to develop the GIA in the way that works for us," he said.  "Feedback from today tells us that industry organisations are keen to learn from each other's experiences as they move towards signing the Deed and negotiating an Operational Agreement."

The Forum agenda, presentations and paper can be viewed and downloaded here: