June 23, 2000
A tiny wasp that attacks greenhouse thrips in citrus and avocado orchards has been approved for importation and release into New Zealand following a hearing by the Environmental Risk Management Authority. It is the first biological control agent to be approved under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act which came into effect in 1998 and the first new organism of any type to be approved under the full notification process. (ERMA New Zealand is responsible for controlling the introduction of new organisms and genetically modified organisms into New Zealand and the importation and manufacture of hazardous substances.)
Industry sources say that the greenhouse thrips cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to crops annually and at present can only be controlled by powerful insecticides.
The parasitoid wasp Thripobius semiluteus, which is about the size of a pin head, lays its eggs in the larval greenhouse thrips, and the developing parasitoid eventually kills the larvae of the thrips. The application to import the biological control agent was lodged by the New Zealand Citrus Growers Inc and the Avocado Industry Council. The application was supported at the hearing by Hort Research and opposed by the Department of Conservation and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
The Chief Executive of ERMA New Zealand Dr Bas Walker said that in addition to the data supplied by the applicants, ERMA New Zealand obtained independent expert advice on a number of key issues relating to any risk that the parasitoid might pose to native insect species
Dr Walker said this included determining whether the tiny wasp would attack native insects, displace other insects, interbreed with them or cause damage to native ecosystems. He said the Authority also wanted to be satisfied that Thripobius semiluteus would be an effective biological control agent and would not attack other biological control insects such as the gorse thrips.
Dr Walker said the process of assessing the risks of allowing the importation and release of this parasitoid was extremely rigorous, with the application being thoroughly checked by ERMA New Zealand staff before publicly notified and submissions invited from the public. He said a public hearing was held at which evidence was presented and this was further evaluated by the expert committee as well as by independent external experts. As a result of carefully studying the evidence, the Committee was satisfied that any risks resulting from approving such an importation and release were minimal. The Authority said also said it was extremely unlikely that the tiny wasp could pose a threat to humans.
While assessing the risks to native insect species and flora and fauna were the key issues for the Authority, they also evaluated other benefits resulting from the introduction of a biological control agent. These included the reduced use of an insecticide, which will benefit human health, especially to spray operators, orchard workers and others in the vicinity of an orchard being sprayed. Sprays can also kill populations of other beneficial insects
The Authority also noted that the introduction of the parasitoid will have a monetary benefit to both the Avocado and Citrus industries in the form or reduced costs of sprays, less fruit damaged, the opportunity to expand organic production and to gain high value premiums for fruit.
Dr Walker said that this particular application was an important one for ERMA New Zealand because it was the first one of its kind to come before the Authority and consequently a great deal of time and effort was put into assessing and evaluating the risks involved. He said that as a result of this effort by both staff and the Authority, the public can feel confident about the thoroughness of the process and the resulting decision
The full text of this decision is available.
For further information contact:
| Bas Walker Chief Executive Ph (04) 473-8426 |
Peter Burke Public Awareness Advisor Ph (04) 473-8426 or 025 2242184 (mob) |