Border inspection resources

Minimum requirements for biosecurity /quarantine

This list is a suggestion of minimum requirements if setting up biosecurity / quarantine facilities from scratch. The list is based on one compiled by Allan Burne, Monica Gruber and Ray Pierce for SPREP on behalf of Kiribati MELAD for upgrading of biosecurity facilities, with contributions by Disna Gunawardana and Dave Nendick of MPI and Josua Wainiqolo of SPC. Most of these items are useful for all biosecurity activities, not just related to ants.

Biosecurity / quarantine officer gear : Lab and post-entry quarantine facilities : Container cleaning : Detention / disposal : Airport / ferry terminal arrivals : Rapid response

Biosecurity / quarantine officer gear 

Inspection kits with Torches / headlamp with spare batteries Knives for cutting open parcels Tape x 10 (for resealing parcels) Handlens for inspecting small insects Vials and 'ziplock' bags for collection of samples Notebooks, pens, pencils Scissors Barrier tape (do not enter) x 10 Nitrile gloves x 10 boxes For staff undertaking cleaning  at port facilities Steel safety capped boots Safety helmets

Biosecurity kit bags for Kiribati Biosecurity (© Pacific Biosecurity)

Contents of Biosecurity kits for Kiribati Biosecurity (© Pacific Biosecurity)

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Lab and post-entry quarantine facilities

Self-contained office facility(i.e. secure, not shared with other agencies) with two rooms (one for working and one for inspection/detention)

• Desk(s) with doors and drawers (for microscope and other equipment)
• Shelves x 4
• Chairs x 2
• Desk lamp
• Magnifying light
• Power multibox x 2
• Residual current device (RCD) x 2
• Power source – generator or solar panels and batteries
• Dissecting microscope
• Cooling facilities (e.g. fan / airconditioner with RCD)

Identification resources For ants Access to PIAkey CD or website (if the species you are looking for is not included in the PIAkey, Antkey.org is a great resource) Resin blocks MPI manuals for other insects. Contact Disna Gunawardana to arrange printing Crop based Taxonomic Keys: Part 1 & Part 2 Organism Order Descriptions: Part 1 & Part 2 Pictorial manual (Arthropods) : Part 1 & Part 2 Pathology manuals: Part 1,2 & 3

example of an MPI manual for identification of insects (© New Zealand MPI)

• Water flagons with tap x 2 (assuming they won’t have piped water)
• vials (2 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, 70 ml) 100 of each
• petri dishes 20
• propylene glycol 20 L
• ethanol 10 L
• isopropyl alcohol 10 L
• Flammable goods cabinet
• Dissection kit for identification (forceps, handlens, scissors etc.). 
• Rubbish bin 50 L
• First aid kit
• Digital camera
• Personal Computer 1 (and peripherals to enable internet access)
• Biosecurity / quarantine kit

Dissection kits. Standard and micro kits available from Bioquip (left and second left) and similar kits available from Entosupplies (right and second right).

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Container cleaning (port)

See Sea Container Hygiene System. Note that even if you are not exporting empty sea containers, the principles can still be applied i.e. maintaining clean transhipment area. Similar approaches can be used in maintaining biosecure passenger and cargo ferries internally (i.e. inter-island biosecurity).

• Water blaster – will need access to piped water and electricity
• Treatments for African snail and ants e.g. for monthly treatments
• Ant baits such as Brigade® granules, Maxforce®Ant bait, Exterm-An-Ant bait or similar
• Mesurol snail and slug bait
• Biflex® Ultra-Lo-Odour or similar residual spray for ants (knockdown for 30 days)
• First aid kit
• Secure storage for chemicals with secondary containment
• Warning notices for chemicals

Detention / disposal

• Large incinerator
• Freezer for detained items

Airport / ferry terminal arrivals

• Amnesty bin x 2
• Seizure bin x 2

Rapid response

See post-border rapid response information.

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Biosecurity / quarantine kits

Biosecurity / quarantine kits are available from companies like Civilquip, Spillbusters and Safetysource. These kits are intended to meet New Zealand MPI Import Health Standards requirements for organisations with facilities receiving sea containers and as a way to handle and dispose  of biosecurity waste.

Contents of biosecurity kits available from suppliers in New Zealand. (left to right ©: Civilquip, Safetysource and Spillbusters