4 March 1997
Barry O'Neil
Chief Veterinary Officer
MAF Regulatory Authority
PO Box 2526
WELLINGTON
Tenä Koe Barry
APPLICATION TO IMPORT RABBIT CALICIVIRUS DISEASE INTO NEW ZEALAND: PEER REVIEW
- Please find enclosed the Ministry of Mäori Development's final peer review comment on the application to import Rabbit Calicivirus Disease into New
- In our preliminary report of 10 January 1997, we indicated that no new significant matters relating to those issues and aspects that are exclusively of interest to Mäori had been identified through the RCD submission process. We also indicated in that report that the risk of a mutation sufficient to result in host switching or the likelihood of the virus's host range to be not confined to the European rabbit ought to be stated as a probability.
- In a letter dated 31 January, the Chief Veterinary Officer stated that "after careful consideration we find that none of the issues that have been raised are new significant issues that require the Importation Impact Assessment to be amended and subject to another round of consultation". With regard to the Ministry of Mäori Development's concern about the probability of unintended consequences following introduction of the virus, the Chief Veterinary Officer also stated that it "had assumed that this issue will be adequately covered in reviewer's reports". He specifically invited comment from virologists on this matter.
- We are satisfied that a range of opinions about the safety of the RCD virus will be available to the decision maker and for public submission if virologists comment on probabilities of wider host range and of host switching, as invited by Barry O'Neil in the letter of 31 January 1997. However, we consider that an attempt to resolve a single figure or a probability range amongst experts would be the best method for addressing the range of expert opinion that seems to exist regarding issues of host range and host switching. We still consider that without attempting to distil the range of expert opinion that seems to exist regarding this matter in a scientifically defensible way, the application is incomplete.
- Please note that although this Ministry submitted a single submission on the application, approximately 70 people of Mäori descent representing iwi and landholder interests attended hui and voiced their opinions about the application to introduce RCD. A large number of these people expressed concern that the RCD virus could threaten the health of people and native fauna.
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
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