OIA23-0057
24 February 2023
Tangata Whenua
[FYI request #21431 email]
Dear Tangata Whenua
Thank you for your email of 7 February 2023 requesting information relating to the National
Biocontainment Laboratory. Your request has been considered under the Of icial Information Act
1982 (OIA).
You requested the following
What safety measures wil be put in place to protect the public in the unfortunate event that
a virus escapes from the bio lab in Wallacevil e?
The National Biocontainment Laboratory (NBL) in Wallacevil e was designed and built to meet
international standards required for laboratories of its type and is approved as meeting the
international standards required in New Zealand. The facility is monitored 24/7 and serviced on a
regular basis to ensure its containment systems operate as intended. Further information regarding
the lab can be found here:
https:/ www.mpi.govt.nz/science/laboratories/national-animal-health-
laboratory/national-biocontainment-laboratory/.
In addition to the physical facility, our procedures are accredited to international quality assurance
standards ISO:17025. We have regular internal and external audit programmes, training
programmes and risk management systems in place. This ensures our staff are highly trained and
experienced in laboratory operations including the emergency response.
Since the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) began operating a high-level biocontainment facility
at Wallacevil e in 1999, there has not been an accidental release from containment.
In the unlikely event of an accidental release of infectious organisms MPI would utilise our
emergency animal disease investigation and containment methods. These are used constantly to
respond to suspected and confirmed cases of foreign animal and plant disease. You can read
more about this on our website here: ht ps://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/how-to-find-report-and-
prevent-pests-and-diseases/surveil ance-programmes/
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns with this
response, I would encourage you to raise these with the Ministry for Primary Industries at
[email address].
Biosecurity New Zealand
Charles Fergusson Building, 34-38 Bowen Street
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140, New Zealand
biosecurity.govt.nz
Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns with the Of ice of the
Ombudsman. Contact details are: Of ice of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington
6143 or at
[email address].
Yours sincerely
Veronica Herrera
Director, Diagnostic & Surveil ance Services
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