ERMA New Zealand defines an incident as an event involving a new organism or hazardous substance that may or may not involve non-compliance with regulatory requirements and/or cause adverse effects to human health and safety, or the environment.
Incidents can be identified by ERMA New Zealand through our monitoring of compliance or reported to us by enforcement agencies, identified through media monitoring or otherwise advised to us e.g. by a member of the public.
ERMA New Zealand registers incidents in order to monitor the effectiveness of the regulatory system and the appropriateness of controls.Incidents 2007 - 2008
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Incident |
Investigation by MAF into incorrectly labelled baby European eels (Anguilla anguilla) being imported and sold by aquarium trade stores. The eels were not approved for release under the HSNO Act. |
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Date reported |
July 2007 |
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Source of report |
MAF |
|
Location |
Post Border |
|
Effects on environment and/or health and safety |
None identified. The baby eels were considered to be low risk due to their tropical origin, the low number sold and juvenile status. |
|
Incident management |
A high proportion of the baby eels were traced and destroyed. |
|
Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand |
No inquiry conducted |
|
Incident |
Auckland Zoo had no registered operator due to a gap between the departure of the existing operator and a new operator commencing employment at the zoo. |
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Date reported |
August 2007 |
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Source of report |
MAF |
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Location |
Containment |
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Effects on environment and/or health and safety |
None identified |
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Incident management |
A temporary replacement was appointed in the interim. |
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Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand |
No inquiry conducted |
|
Incident |
Invitrogen, a provider of biotech products, imported and transferred low risk GMOs without MAF approval. |
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Date reported |
August 2007 |
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Source of report |
MAF |
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Location |
Containment |
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Effects on environment and/or health and safety |
None identified |
|
Incident management |
Invitrogen was required to review their inventory of GMOs and import permit processes.. |
|
Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand |
No inquiry conducted |
|
Incident |
Unapproved import and sale of Mexican Sour Gherkin (Melothria scabra) seeds under a false name by King Seeds Ltd and its director. |
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Date reported |
April 2007 |
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Source of report |
MAF |
|
Location |
Post Border |
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Effects on environment and/or health and safety |
None identified |
|
Incident management |
MAF prosecuted the importer under the HSNO and Biosecurity Acts for knowingly importing and possessing a new organism and selling unauthorised goods. The company and its director entered guilty pleas and were convicted and fined in total $26,000, court costs of $520, and solicitor costs of $600. |
|
Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand |
ERMA New Zealand received an application |
| Incident | Three Sitatunga antelope (Tragelaphus spekii ) at Hamilton Zoo escaped when the perimeter fence of the zoo was being replaced, and the security of their enclosure was inadvertently compromised. |
|---|---|
| Date reported | December 2007 |
| Source of report | MAF |
| Location | Containment |
| Effects on environment and/or health and safety | None identified |
| Incident management | Two animals within the zoo and one animal found at a neighbouring property were recaptured the following morning. The fence was repaired. The zoo amended their procedures for when remedial work is undertaken on enclosures. |
| Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand | No inquiry conducted |
| Incident | The fence at the Scion GM pine field test was breached and 17 GM and 2 non GM trees were cut down on the site. |
|---|---|
| Date reported | January 2008 |
| Source of report | Scion |
| Location | Containment |
| Effects on environment and/or health and safety | None identified |
| Incident management | The fence was repaired the following day and additional security measures were put in place. The Police investigated the incident however those responsible for the breach were not identified. |
| Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand | No inquiry conducted |
| Incident | A researcher at the University of Auckland transferred low risk GMOs without MAF approval. |
|---|---|
| Date reported | February 2008 |
| Source of report | MAF |
| Location | Containment |
| Effects on environment and/or health and safety | None identified |
| Incident management | The university has processes in place for staff training. The researcher at the university submitted a letter of admission of action and apology to MAF. |
| Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand | No inquiry conducted |
| Incident | Landcare Research notified MAF that due to an oversight one of several items exported to Australia, a low risk GMO, had required MAF approval prior to transfer. |
|---|---|
| Date reported | March 2008 |
| Source of report | MAF |
| Location | Containment |
| Effects on environment and/or health and safety | None identified |
| Incident management | The facility implemented staff training and amended dispatch procedures. |
| Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand | No inquiry conducted |
| Incident | Invitrogen, a provider of biotech products, failed to meet MAF requirements for the importation and transfer of low risk GMOs. |
|---|---|
| Date reported | April 2008 |
| Source of report | MAF |
| Location | Containment |
| Effects on environment and/or health and safety | None identified |
| Incident management | Invitrogen was required to undertake training to assist staff to identify new catalogue products and in ordering/ dispatching procedures. The company will submit a new import permit application to MAF to cover all their GMO imports. |
| Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand | No inquiry conducted |
| Incident | A 16 month old lion cub bit the hand of a volunteer tour guide at Zion Wildlife Gardens. The tour guide failed to observe procedures and had entered the encounter area and touched the lion cub without permission. |
|---|---|
| Date reported | April 2008 |
| Source of report | MAF |
| Location | Zion Wildlife Gardens, Whangarei |
| Effects on environment and/or health and safety | Minor adverse effect on the health and safety of people. The tour guide received antibiotics and minor wounds were dressed at the local hospital. |
| Incident management | A rope safety barrier has been replaced by steel gates. Zoo staff and tour guides met to review health and safety procedures. |
| Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand | No inquiry conducted |
|
Incident |
An otter escaped from its enclosure at Auckland Zoo and was recaptured inside the zoo the following day. A maintenance inspection identified that the bottom wire of the electric fence was loose which may have assisted in allowing the otter to crawl under the fence and up the perimeter of the enclosure. |
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Date reported |
May 2008 |
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Source of report |
MAF |
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Location |
Containment |
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Effects on environment and/or health and safety |
None identified. |
|
Incident management |
The zoo tightened the wire, and electrified all 10 wires of the electric fence rather than alternate wires; raised the height of the non-climbable ply on the enclosure wall; and removed all stumps and rocks from the perimeter fence area. |
|
Follow-up action by ERMA New Zealand |
No inquiry conducted |