ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY DECISION



ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY DECISION

|Application code |S2699004 |

|Application type |Determination whether or not any organism is a new organism under section 26 of the |

| |Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. |

|Applicant |Bloomers Growers & Exporters Limited |

|Organisms |Zantedeschia odorata P.L. Perry |

| |Zantedeschia jucunda Letty |

| |Zantedeschia valida (Letty) Y. Singh |

|Purpose |Determination whether or not three species of Zantedeschia (Z. odorata, Z jucunda, and|

| |Z valida) are new organisms under section 26 of the HSNO Act. |

|Date application received |25 November 1999 |

|Consideration period |14 – 31 August 2000 |

|Considered by |The New Organisms Standing Committee of the Authority appointed under section 19(2)(b)|

| |of the HSNO Act 1996. |

|ERMA New Zealand contact |Anne Rose |

Decision

The Committee determines that Zantedeschia odorata P. L. Perry, Z. jucunda Letty, and Z. valida (Letty) Y. Singh are not new organisms under section 26 of the HSNO Act, and directs that this decision be enacted by notice in the New Zealand Gazette.

Purpose of Application

Bloomers Growers & Exporters Limited (BLOOMZ), on a Zantedeschia industry basis, sought a determination that all eight known species of the genus Zantedeschia Spreng. are present in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Plants Biosecurity Index (Biosecurity Index) is the primary reference of plant species recorded to be present in the New Zealand prior to the HSNO Act commencing on 29 July 1998. Based on the Biosecurity Index, five Zantedeschia species are already considered to be present in New Zealand (ie Z. aethiopica, Z. albomaculata, Z. elliotianna, Z. pentlandii, and Z. rehmannii).

On the basis of evidence provided by all parties, a determination was therefore sought that the three remaining species of Zantedeschia not recorded in the Biosecurity Index (ie Z. jucunda, Z. odorata, Z. valida) are not new organisms under the HSNO Act.

Application Process

The application was formally received on 25 November 1999 following receipt of a letter (dated 23 November 1999) from Mr Andrew Warren of BLOOMZ. The application was not required to be publicly notified under the HSNO Act.

The documents available for the evaluation and review of the application by ERMA New Zealand included the application and appendices and comments from the Department of Conservation, Landcare Research, MAF, Dr Keith Funnell (Massey University), Mr Ed Morgan (Crop & Food Research) and Dr Dan Cohen (HortResearch).

The application was determined by the New Organisms Standing Committee (the Committee) of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (the Authority) appointed in accordance with section 19(2)(b) of the HSNO Act. The Committee comprised the following members: Dr Oliver Sutherland (Chair), Dr Lindie Nelson, Mrs Helen Hughes, Mr John Maasland and Dr Terry Lomax.

Reasons for the Decision

For a determination under section 26 the HSNO Act, the definition of ‘New Organism’ (section 2 of the HSNO Act) must be shown not to apply to the organism. In the case of all Zantedeschia species, the Committee is satisfied that:

• No Zantedeschia species have been prescribed as risk species under the HSNO Act. There are currently no prescribed risk species under the HSNO Act;

• Zantedeschia species are not genetically modified;

• Zantedeschia species are not species, subspecies, infrasubspecies, varieties, strains, or cultivars that have been eradicated from New Zealand;

• No approval has been given in accordance with the HSNO Act for the importation for release or release from containment of organisms of the same kind as these Zantedeschia species;

• No Zantedeschia species were present in New Zealand before 29 July 1998 in contravention of the Animals Act 1967 or the Plants Act 1970;

• Zantedeschia species are not rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, or rabbit calicivirus.

The Committee also notes that no Zantedeschia species are listed as ‘prohibited organisms’ in the Second Schedule of the HSNO Act or ‘prohibited entry’ under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

On the basis of information provided by all parties, the Committee considers that there is adequate evidence that Z. odorata, Z. jucunda and Z. valida were present in New Zealand immediately prior to commencement of the HSNO Act 1996. As a consequence, all eight known species of Zantedeschia are therefore considered to be present in New Zealand. Thus MAF can consider import approval for named New Zealand-bred hybrids where original species parentage is unclear, subject to the Biosecurity Act requirements. In the event that a further species of Zantedeschia is identified overseas, which is not present in New Zealand, this species and hybrids derived from it would need HSNO Act approval in order to be imported.

Conclusion

In accordance with section 26 of the HSNO Act 1996 and having regard to the information provided by all parties, as detailed above, the Committee determines that the following organisms:

Zantedeschia odorata P. L. Perry,

Zantedeschia jucunda Letty, and

Zantedeschia valida (Letty) Y. Singh

are not new organisms for the purposes of the HSNO Act, and directs that this decision be enacted by notice in the New Zealand Gazette.

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