Biosecurity Act 1993

Administrative provisions - Administrative powers

122: Power to give directions

You could also call this:

"Inspectors can give you instructions to stop pests from spreading"

If you are in charge of a place or own something that might have pests, an inspector can tell you what to do. They can tell you to treat things that might be contaminated with pests or unwanted organisms. They can also tell you to destroy pests or things that might have pests in them, or to take steps to stop pests from spreading.

An inspector can give you a written notice to follow rules that are part of a pest management strategy if you are not already following them. They can tell you to do this if you have not been following the rules.

If you are in charge of things that might pose a risk, like certain goods or a craft, an inspector can tell you to take steps to fix problems that happen when you do not follow a pathway management plan.

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This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM316331.

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishingImmigration and citizenship > Border control

121B: Prohibition or control of certain tests, or

"Rules to stop or control tests that could harm New Zealand or its exports"

123: Power to vaccinate, etc, or

"Inspectors can give animals medicine to keep them healthy"

Part 6Administrative provisions
Administrative powers

122Power to give directions

An inspector or authorised person may, whenever that inspector or authorised person considers it to be necessary, direct the occupier of any place or the owner or person in charge of any organism or risk goods—
to treat any goods, water, place, equipment, fitting, or other thing that may be contaminated with pests or unwanted organisms; or
to destroy any pest or unwanted organism or any organism or organic material or thing that there are reasonable grounds to believe harbours a pest or unwanted organism; or
to take steps to prevent the spread of any pest or unwanted organism.

An inspector or authorised person may, by notice in writing, direct any person who has failed to comply with a rule included in a pest management strategy to comply with that rule.
An inspector or authorised person may direct the owner or person in charge of risk goods or a craft to take steps to avoid, remedy, or mitigate an effect of non-compliance with a pathway management plan.

Notes

Section 122: replaced, on 26 November 1997, by section 83 of the Biosecurity Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 89).
Section 122(3): inserted, on 18 September 2012, by section 52 of the Biosecurity Law Reform Act 2012 (2012 No 73).