Appendix 2
PROPOSAL FOR THE IMPORTATION OF
THE RABBIT CALICIVIRUS DISEASE VIRUS (RCD VIRUS)
AS A BIOCONTROL AGENT
| Statutory Authority |
|
| 1 |
Authorization of importation of RCD virus requires the
written permission of the Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture in accordance
with the provisions of section 169 of the Biosecurity Act 1993. This section maintains the
provisions of section 21 of the Animals Act 1967. |
|
| 2 |
The Director-General has delegated his powers under section
169 of the Biosecurity Act to the Deputy Director-General (the
"decision-maker"). |
|
|
| Regional Pest Management Strategy(ies) |
|
| 3 |
If the introduction of RCD virus into New Zealand is
permitted it is likely that a carefully planned programme will be necessary to optimise
its biocontrol benefits. However, the requirement for a new biocontrol tool for the rabbit
is not universal. The greatest need for the tool is in the drier parts of New Zealand
where the environment favours rabbit numbers which are significant in terms of their
negative impact on the local environment. |
|
| 4 |
Part V of the Biosecurity Act 1993 provides the statutory
mechanisms for the control of pests such as the rabbit through pest management strategies.
Section 179 of the Act provides for transitional statutory powers until replaced by a pest
management strategy or until 30 June 1996. It is anticipated that any proposal to use RCD
virus as a biocontrol tool will reference these statutory provisions. |
|
Matters to be Considered for Decision-Making
| 5 |
In the absence of any express criteria specified in the
legislation, the decision-maker intends to evaluate an application by considering (but not
being limited to) the following matters: |
|
| 5.1 |
the rabbit as a pest in New Zealand; its present status
including: |
|
- a measure of the severity and distribution of the impacts on pastoral agriculture.
|
|
- a measure of the severity and distribution of the impacts on environmental values.
|
|
- a measure of the severity and distribution of the impacts on other economic values.
|
|
- a measure of the severity and distribution of the impacts on social values.
|
|
- a measure of the severity and distribution of the of the impacts on Maori values.
|
|
|
| 5.2 |
assessment of current control measures including: |
|
- effectiveness and cost of current control measures in achieving stated
pastoral/environmental goals.
|
|
|
|
- severity and distribution of any impact on native flora and fauna.
|
|
|
|
- the health and social wellbeing of people.
|
|
|
|
| 5.3 |
the effectiveness and suitability of RCD virus as a
biocontrol agent in New Zealand including: |
|
- assessment of the likely success of RCD virus in achieving the stated
pastoral/environmental goal, with and without conventional control.
|
|
- assessment of the ability of RCD virus to maintain the stated pastoral/environmental
goal over time.
|
|
|
|
| 5.4 |
- the intended programme in which RCD virus is proposed to be used:
|
|
|
|
- programme management agencies.
|
|
- details of how RCD virus will be deployed.
|
|
- the technical and financial underpinning of the programme.
|
|
- integration of RCD virus with other control measures.
|
|
- limitations on the control of RCD virus in a programme.
|
|
- how the short and long term effectiveness of the programme will be monitored.
|
|
|
| 5.5 |
the effects, positive and negative, of RCD virus on: |
|
|
|
|
|
- indigenous flora and fauna and natural communities.
|
|
- the integrity of indigenous ecosystems.
|
|
- valued introduced flora and fauna.
|
|
- intrinsic value of ecosystems and ecosystem stability.
|
|
- the health and social well being of people.
|
|
- the relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with ancestral lands, water,
sites waahi tapu, valued flora and fauna and other taonga.
|
|
- the use and enjoyment of the public of lands and waters to which they have right of
access.
|
|
- domestic rabbits including laboratory colonies.
|
|
- people and enterprises based on controlling wild rabbits.
|
|
- people and enterprises based on harvesting wild rabbits.
|
|
|
|
- international standing or mana in relation to clean green image.
|
|
|
| 5.6 |
the likely success and costs of measures which can be
employed to ameliorate negative impacts such as those on: |
|
- indigenous species due to changes in predator/prey relationships.
|
|
|
|
|
|
- induced predator/ prey imbalances.
|
|
| 5.7 |
characteristics of the virus itself and its method of
production and dispersion, including: |
|
|
|
- stability of the host relationship.
|
|
- clinical and pathological effects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
- method for multiplication and deployment.
|
|
| 5.8 |
any other relevant matter. |
Information Required by the Decision-maker
6 Characteristics of the Biocontrol Agent
| 6.1 |
The Rabbit Calicivirus |
|
- description, classification, strains.
|
|
- history of the virus, its possible origin (in terms of location and biological entity).
|
|
|
|
- propensity for mutation, antigenic drift, changes in virulence, changes in host range.
|
|
- survivability, tolerance to heat, cold, desiccation, disinfectants.
|
|
- comparisons with other viruses of same family (i.e. caliciviruses) in terms of the
characteristics above.
|
|
|
| 6.2 |
Virus Host Range |
|
|
|
- laboratory studies of host range (include lab. test criteria e.g. dose, routes of
inoculation, nature of response - clinical, immunological, virus replication).
|
|
|
| 6.3 |
Immunogenicity |
|
- nature of host immune response.
|
|
- tests for presence of virus/ antigen in host tissues (e.g. PCR).
|
|
- test for host immune response.
|
|
- antigen(s) available for immunisation.
|
|
- effectiveness of antigen immunogenicity - duration, level, age effects, influence of
passive immunity).
|
|
|
| 6.4 |
Effects in Host Species |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- variations in susceptibility (e.g. age, sex).
|
|
- time to death, average and range.
|
|
| 6.5 |
Epidemiology |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- behaviour of disease in other countries.
|
|
- factors which may/do influence expressions/ pattern of disease.
|
|
- conditions for optimum spread.
|
|
- condition for minimum spread.
|
|
- expected behaviour of disease in New Zealand.
|
|
|
| 6.6 |
Control/ Eradication/ Containment Methods (if required) |
|
|
|
|
|
- estimated cost of measure(s).
|
|
| 6.7 |
Risk to Human Health. |
|
|
| 6.8 |
Source of Virus Material |
|
- requirements of supplier.
|
|
- requirements of virus material (purity, proof of purity, packaging, etc).
|
|
|
| 6.9 |
Recipient/ Distribution Facility |
|
- post-entry handling, storage, distribution.
|
|
- authorization of facility(-ies) and handlers.
|
|
|
| 6.10 |
Multiplication Facility |
|
- requirements of facility.
|
|
- requirements of personnel.
|
|
- methods of multiplication, harvest, storage, distribution.
|
|
| 7 |
Benefits, Costs and Risks of a Biocontrol Programme |
|
| 7.1 |
Definition of the problem for which the biocontrol measure is
intended. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- deficiencies of current control measures.
|
|
|
| 7.2 |
Intended Use of Biocontrol Agent |
|
- intended statutory authority for use.
|
|
- description of the intended management programme.
|
|
- description of management agency(-ies).
|
|
- description of the methodology and resourcing mechanisms to measure the effects of RCD
virus after release
|
|
- strategic goal/ target e.g. eradication or control.
|
|
|
[NB: |
eradication |
= |
kill last breeding pair |
|
|
|
control |
= |
number maintained at a predetermined level] |
|
- time required to meet target.
|
|
- method(s) to spread RCD virus.
|
|
- method(s) to optimise the biocontrol benefit.
|
|
- methods to manage/ control the distribution of inoculum material.
|
|
- description of the methodology and resourcing mechanisms to check the virus for changes
in virulence and host range.
|
|
- reaction (if any) to accidental/ deliberate spread of infection by third parties.
|
|
- measures (if any) to contain infection in target area.
|
|
- integration of RCD virus with other control measures.
|
|
- replacement of existing control measures by RCD virus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7.3 |
Expected Epidemiological Pattern of RCD virus
Infection: |
|
|
|
|
|
- role of humans, other animals.
|
|
- persistence of infection in populations.
|
|
- influence, positive and negative of natural spread and spread by vectors and other
agents on:
|
|
|
- the intended control programme.
|
|
|
- areas outside the control area.
|
|
|
|
| 7.4. |
Expected effects, positive and negative, on the stated goals
for the pastoral ecosystem which the control programme employing RCD virus is designed to
protect/ improve/ render sustainable. |
|
| 7.5. |
Expected effects, positive and negative, on natural
ecosystems. |
|
- effects on native and valued introduced flora and fauna including weeds and
invertebrates.
|
|
- effects on predator/ prey balance.
|
|
- potential for prey switching by predators.
|
|
- protected species populations vulnerable to the direct effects of RCD virus or indirect
effects of predators.
|
|
- measures to protect vulnerable populations.
|
|
| 7.6 |
Expected effects positive and negative on the relationship of
Maori and their culture and tradition with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi
tapu, valued flora and fauna, and other taonga. |
|
|
| 7.7 |
Risks to: |
|
- owners of domestic rabbits - pet owners, fanciers, growers.
|
|
- harvesters of and processors of feral rabbits.
|
|
- owners of laboratory rabbit colonies.
|
|
Measures to ameliorate risks to these categories of owners
including effectiveness of RCD virus vaccines. |
|
Identification of responsibility for liability and
compensation provisions for loss or damage to these categories of owners. |
|
|
| 7.8 |
Benefits and cost analysis of RCD virus as a rabbit
biocontrol compared with current measures. Include commentary on how benefits and costs
may be distributed. |
|
| 7.9 |
Public perception |
|
- biocontrol of vertebrates generally.
|
|
- need for control of rabbits.
|
|
- animal welfare/ animal rights concerns.
|
|
- concern for endangered populations.
|
|
- concerns re food chain effects.
|
|
|
| 7.10 |
International perceptions of the use of RCD virus as a
biocontrol agent: |
|
- impact on tourism and effect on "clean green" image.
|
Contact for Enquiries
Manager, Strategic Science Team
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0115
Fax: +64 4 894 0731
Contact this person
