ER-AN-O2N-2 Import into containment any new organism that is not 01/08 genetically modified

Application title: Importation of rosaceous into containment

Applicant organisation: Health & Environment Laboratory, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand

Please provide a brief summary of the purpose of the application (255 characters or less, including spaces)

To import into containment new organisms in the family ( family) for research purposes.

PLEASE CONTACT ERMA NEW ZEALAND BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

Please clearly identify any confidential information and attach as a separate appendix.

Please check and complete the following before submitting your application:

All sections completed Yes Appendices enclosed Yes/NA Confidential information identified and enclosed separately Yes/NA Copies of references attached Yes/NA Application signed and dated Yes Electronic copy of application e-mailed to Yes ERMA New Zealand

Signed: Date:

20 Customhouse Quay Cnr Waring Taylor and Customhouse Quay PO Box 131, Wellington Phone: 04 916 2426 Fax: 04 914 0433 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ermanz.govt.nz

ER-AN-O2N-2 01/08: Application to import into containment any new organism that is not genetically modified

Section One – Applicant details Name and details of the organisation making the application: Name: Plant Health & Environment Laboratory Manager Postal Address: PO Box 2095, Auckland 1140 Physical Address: 231 Morrin Road, St Johns, Auckland 1140 Phone: - Fax: - Email: - Name and details of the key contact person (if different from above): Name: Veronica Herrera Postal Address: As above Physical Address: As above Phone: - Fax: - Email: - Name and details of a contact person in New Zealand, if the applicant is overseas: Name: Not applicable Postal Address: Physical Address: Phone: Fax: Email:

Note: The key contact person should have sufficient knowledge of the application to respond to queries from ERMA New Zealand staff.

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Section 2: Purpose of the application

Lay summary of the application (approximately 200 words)

Note: This summary should include a description of the organism(s), the purpose of the application or what you want to do with the organisms(s).

Use simple non-technical language

Since the implementation of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996, any organism (including plants) not present in New Zealand immediately prior to 29 July 1998 requires approval from ERMA before it can be imported. Applying for such a full release can be an expensive and time-consuming process. It would therefore be beneficial to plant-based industries and the economy to import potentially valuable species into a secured containment facility to enable the gathering of New Zealand specific data prior to applying for a full or conditional release. Given the stringent containment requirements and the negligible risk of escape we believe the benefits far outweigh the costs. In the long-term this application if successful will increase the selection of plants available to New Zealanders for amenity, horticultural and industrial use. This outcome is in line with MAF‟s purpose of “Leading the protection and sustainable development of our biological resources for all New Zealanders.”

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Describe the background and aims of the project

Note: This section is intended to put the organism(s) in perspective of the wider project(s) that they will be used in. You may use more technical language but please make sure that any technical words are included in the Glossary.

Since the implementation of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996, any organism (including plants) not present in New Zealand prior to 29 July 1998 requires approval from ERMA before it can be imported. Biosecurity requirements determined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) also need to be met. Applying for a full release and meeting biosecurity requirements can be an expensive and time-consuming process. It would therefore be beneficial to plant-based industries (and in the long-term the economy) if exotic plant species could be imported into containment for research prior to applying for a full or conditional release. MAF‟s Plant Health & Environment Laboratory is responsible for the identification and/or validation of all suspected exotic, new and emerging pests and diseases of plants (including arable, forestry & horticultural crops, and species of amenity and environmental value). In 2005, the government approved a new initiative to facilitate the importation of new plant germplasm. To date much of this funding has been used to develop the capability required for New Zealand to have a fully functioning post-entry quarantine (PEQ) system. However, there a number of additional ways in which this mandate can be fulfilled, e.g. by broadening the range of plant species that can be imported. The importation of new plant species would also broaden the range of species which can be used as indicator plants for diagnosing plant pests and diseases. The purpose of this application is to seek approval for entities such as private importers, crown research institutes, laboratories and universities to import identified exotic species of plants belonging to the family Rosaceae into containment in order for research to be undertaken. All containment facilities will be MAF-registered and will be constructed and operated in accordance with the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand and ERMA New Zealand Standard, Containment Facilities for Plants: 2007. Only species belonging to the family Rosaceae will be imported into containment in New Zealand. The benefits of allowing plants into containment for research far outweigh the costs (e.g. the risk of escaping containment and establishing a self-sustaining population is negligible). In the long-term the approval would increase the selection of plants available to New Zealanders for amenity, horticultural and industrial use.

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Section Three – Identification of the organism(s) to be imported

Complete this section separately for each new organism to be imported.

Identification of the organism to be imported

Latin binomial, including full taxonomic This is an application for the family authority: Rosaceae and therefore the Latin binomial is not applicable.

Common name(s), if any: The family Rosaceae is commonly known as the rose family. Type of organism (eg bacterium, virus, Plant fungus, plant, animal, animal cell): Taxonomic class, order and family: Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: , Family: Rosaceae Strain(s) if relevant: N/A Other information, including presence of We accept that the species to be imported any inseparable or associated organisms may have inseparable organisms, but the and any related organisms present in New biosecurity requirements and containment Zealand: procedures are sufficient to prevent or contain such organisms.

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Section Four – The proposed containment system

Describe the containment facility and the proposed containment system (physical and operational)

Question Answer Which MAF/ERMA Standard is this MAF Biosecurity New Zealand and ERMA New containment facility approved under? Zealand Standard, Containment Facilities for Plants: 2007 (the Standard) What physical containment level (AS/NZS 2243: 2002) is this containment facility registered to (where relevant)? What other physical measures do you The Standard requires stringent physical propose to use to contain this measures to be put in place to prevent the escape organism? of the organisms. These measures are considered sufficient to contain these organisms, except during transport where we have proposed an additional measure. Packaging: Each imported organism will be clearly labelled and packaged so that containment may not be breached accidentally during transit. The packaging and transportation of these organisms from overseas and for transfers from the border and between facilities, will be in accordance with Packaging Instruction No. 650 of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations. What procedural or operational The Standard has stringent requirements that measures do you propose to use to must be met to prevent the escape of these contain this organism? organisms. These requirements are considered sufficient to contain the organism and no additional procedural measures are required. Any other information relevant to the N/A containment of the organism.

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Describe the characteristics of the organism to be imported that may influence its ability; to escape from containment, to form a self sustaining population, or to cause adverse effects. Refer to sample applications for guidance on how to answer these questions.

Question Answer attach copies of the references used in an appendix What are the characteristics of the The Rosaceae family is a large family of flowering organism that may prevent/enable plants consisting of approximately 3,000 species, it to escape from containment? classified into 100 different genera. It is cosmopolitan eg size, spore production, in distribution with the greatest diversification in the infectivity, seed/pollen temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. characteristics etc. This diverse family of plants contains many species of economic importance including the edible fruit crops: almonds, apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, loquats, medlars, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, quinces, raspberries and strawberries. It also includes the ornamental grown commercially as cut-flowers and many other species of amenity value (e.g., cotoneaster, hawthorn, pyracantha, rowan and spiraea). Plants within the Rosaceae family are perennials ranging from small herbs and groundcovers, to shrubs, climbers and trees. The flowers are generally showy with pink, red or white petals that are evolved to attract insect pollinators, mainly bees. However some species from alpine regions have evolved to be pollinated by the wind. The flowers are typically radially symmetrical and almost always hermaphroditic bearing both staminate (male, pollen-producing) and carpellate (female, ovule-producing) floral structures in a single flower. The anthers consist of two chambers called locules, which upon maturation, split lengthwise to release thousands of pollen grains. The diverse array of fruit types produced by successful pollination of the flowers can be classified botanically as achenes, capsules, cynorrhodons, follicles, nuts and pomes with many fruits of the family being edible. Seed ranges in size from a few millimetres to several centimetres. The drupes, such as peaches and apricots and other members of the genus Prunus, consist of a single-seeded, soft, fleshy fruit. Pomes, such as the apple in the genus Malus, consist of the swollen base of the sepals and petals which contains the true fruit – a collection of five carpels each which contains one or more seeds. Achenes are represented by strawberries in

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the genus Fragaria and consist of many small, dry, hard, and single-seeded fruits resting on the bright red swollen floral receptacle. Apart from the sexual reproduction by fruits, many members of the Rosaceae family are also capable of vegetative reproduction via apomixis and this feature is commonly seen in the genera Fragaria, and Sorbus which reproduce by means of runners, suckers, and non-fertilised flowers respectively. Hybrids between the distinct species within genera are common and occur both naturally in the wild and as a result of a long history of cultivation by many human cultures.

How could this organism escape Escape of organisms during transport to from containment? containment facilities

It is proposed that each imported organism will be clearly labelled and packaged so that containment may not be breached accidentally during transit. The packaging and transportation of these organisms from overseas and for transfers from the border and between facilities, will be in accordance with Packaging Instruction No. 650 of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations. This proposed containment system adequately reduces the risk of escape during transport. Escape due to a breach of containment barriers. The Standard requires that the facility be designed to prevent the escape of the organism. For example, an organism which can become airborne and escape may require the use of mesh filters placed on all air vents. Such measures are highly effective and for higher levels of security these measures can be overlapped meaning that there is more than one barrier between the organism and the New Zealand environment. Accidental/unintentional removal by authorised personal The Standard requires measures to be put in place to prevent the accidental/ unintentional removal of organisms. For example, the Standard only allows authorised persons who have received training be permitted entry. Deliberate removal by unauthorised personnel The Standard requires measures to be put in place to prevent the intentional removal of organisms by unauthorised personnel. For example, the Standard

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requires security measures to be put in place that mitigate the risk of unauthorised personal gaining access to the facility. Escape from contaminated laboratory equipment and waste. The Standard requires measures to be put in place to prevent the escape of organisms through contaminated equipment. For example the standard requires sterilisation of all waste and equipment before it leaves the facility. Escape from containment following natural disaster The Standard requires measures to be put in place to prevent the escape of organisms following a natural disaster. For example the standard requires a fire contingency plan be lodged with the local fire brigade listing how to deal with a disaster so as to prevent or minimise the chance of the organism(s) escaping. If it were to escape, could this The ability of organisms to establish a self-sustaining organism establish a population population in the unlikely event of an escape from outside of containment in New containment would depend on the nature of the Zealand? organism to survive in the environment.

The likelihood of establishment of a self-sustaining population is dependent on the organism finding suitable environmental conditions. Species adapted to temperate climates are more likely to find suitable environmental conditions in New Zealand than those from tropical climates. For example, Prunus serotina is an invasive species in Europe which was introduced from North America and has become common in Denmark, Germany and Poland. This species reduces biodiversity by outshading ground vegetation and may affect succession by reducing establishment of native tree species. P. serotina is present in New Zealand but has a restricted distribution.

If a population did establish could Any self-sustaining population that did become it be eradicated? How? Would it established would be likely to be noticed very quickly be noticed immediately? How after its establishment. This is because plants are non- would such a population be mobile, and easily seen and recognised by people. identified? Any population would reproduce and spread slowly and could easily be controlled by herbicide application. Additional information No additional information.

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Section Five – Identification and assessment of effects Identify and assess the effects of the organism. Look primarily at the effects if the organism remains in containment, but also consider what might happen if the organism were to escape. If the organism were to escape think about what additional things would need to occur for these effects to be realised. What are the beneficial effects of the organism(s) and the application? These benefits must be relevant to the purpose and scope of the application Economic and environmental benefits are identified from this application arising from the research this application will allow: Conservation of endangered flora; Opportunity to assess potential economic value of a new plant species (e.g. yield, disease resistance, etc.) prior to applying to ERMA for a full release; Opportunity to collect risk analysis data (e.g. potential for „weediness‟, environmental requirements, etc.) of a new plant species prior to applying to ERMA for a full release; Opportunity to assess characteristics of a new plant species, e.g. disease susceptibility that will underpin a MAF risk analysis when developing an import health standard; Breeding of new plant for potential export; Opportunity to increase scientific knowledge, job satisfaction and New Zealand science capability by research into plant biochemistry, physiology, production/quality and , e.g. extraction of plant-derived compounds for industrial use; Opportunity for diagnosticians to use new plant species as indicators for diagnosing plant pests and diseases; Sustainability of New Zealand agriculture. What adverse effects could this organism have on the environment? For all stages of the life cycle No potential adverse effects on the environment, in particular on ecosystems and their constituent parts are identified in this application provided the conditions of containment are followed. However, in the unlikely event that an organism escapes containment the following potential adverse effects on the environment, in particular on ecosystems and their constituent parts may arise: Loss of amenities; and Loss of natural habitats from competition with introduced species. The Global Invasive Species Database (http://www.issg.org) identifies 14 species in the Rosaceae that are considered invasive weeds. Eight are already present in New Zealand (Duchesnea indica, Eriobotrya japonica, Fragaria vesca, Pyrus calleryana, Rosa multiflora, Rubus discolor, Rubus rosifolius and Spiraea japonica); the remainder are new organisms (Rosa bracteata, Rubus alceifolius, Rubus ellipticus, Rubus moluccanus, Rubus niveus and Rubus pinnatus). In the unlikely event that an invasive plant such as Rubus ellipticus escaped containment and found suitable environmental conditions in New Zealand to establish it could have significant effects on horticultural and native species (including natural habitats). This in the long-term could lead to a decrease in the value of amenity areas such as recreational

Page 10 of 14 ER-AN-O2N-2 01/08: Application to import into containment any new organism that is not genetically modified parks. R. ellipticus is an evergreen thorny shrub that originates from southern Asia. The plant grows approximately 4-5 metres tall and forms impenetrable thickets. It has been introduced to Europe and the southern USA and has become a major pest in , where it has displaced native plant species such as Rubus hawaiiensis. The ability of this plant to thrive in diverse habitat types makes it a particularly threatening. R. ellipticus spreads rapidly by root suckers from the perennial rootstock and will regenerate from underground shoots after fire or cutting. As with other Rubus species the seeds are dispersed by fruit-eating birds and mammals. What adverse effects could this organism have on public health? For all stages of the life cycle Allergic reaction to pollen or plants with barbs or spines (e.g. some Rubus spp.) are potential adverse effects on public health (including occupational exposure) identified in this application. If pollen-producing species were to escape containment and form a self-sustaining population the wider community could be affected. For public health to be adversely affected a large quantity of pollen would have to be released into the environment, and given the amount of pollen already present in the air we believe this impact will be negligible. We do not see barbed species having an impact on public health given that many species are already present in New Zealand without any large noticeable impact on public health. What adverse effects could this organism have on the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu, valued flora and fauna and other taonga (taking into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi)? There are no potential adverse effects on the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu, valued flora and fauna or other taonga identified in this application.

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Are there any other potential adverse effects (including effects on New Zealand‟s international obligations, society and community or the market economy)? No other potential adverse effects (such as New Zealand‟s international obligations, social or economic adverse effects, ethical issues) are identified in this application provided the conditions of containment are followed. However, in the unlikely event that an organism escapes containment the following potential adverse effects may arise: Loss of horticultural and pastoral crops through competing with weedy species leading to reduced yield; and Toxicity to livestock. In the unlikely event that an invasive species such as Rubus ellipticus escaped containment and formed a self-sustaining population it could compete with arable, horticultural and pastoral crops in New Zealand and consequently decrease yield. R. ellipticus is an evergreen thorny shrub that originates from southern Asia; the plant grows approximately 4-5 metres tall and forms impenetrable thickets. The ability of this plant to thrive in diverse habitat types makes it a particularly threatening. R. ellipticus spreads rapidly by root suckers from the perennial rootstock and will regenerate from underground shoots after fire or cutting. In common with other species in the genus the seeds are dispersed by fruit-eating birds and mammals. It is most likely that R. ellipticus would reduce the yield of pastoral systems by shading herbaceous species and making areas inaccessible to grazing animals, in a similar way to species such as Ulex europaeus (gorse). The agricultural industry may be adversely affected if in the unlikely event that plants toxic to livestock escaped containment and established in the environment. For example, the foliage of P. serotina contains cyanogenic glycosides which convert to hydrogen cyanide if eaten by animals and can be fatal if eaten in sufficient quantity. Are there any ethical considerations associated with the organism(s) to be imported or the proposed research? There are no ethical considerations to be taken into account.

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Section Six – Additional information Additional Information Y/N If yes, explain Do any of the organism(s) need Y Biosecurity requirements administered by approvals under any other New MAF under the Biosecurity Act, 1993 may Zealand legislation? also need to be met. Depending on the species and potentially associated pests and diseases, imported plants may be authorised to move from the border to a containment facility (e.g. many seeds) or may require a period of quarantine (in a facility registered as a containment and transitional facility). At all times plant material will be held in a containment facility that will operate at a PC 1 level or above in accordance with the Standard and AS/NZS 2243.3:2002. There is one species in the Rosaceae in the CITES database, Prunus africana. Approval from both the importing and exporting countries would be required prior to importation. Does New Zealand have any N international obligations relating to (any of) the organism(s)? Have any of the new organism(s) in N this application previously been considered in New Zealand or elsewhere? What was the outcome? Is there any additional information Y The following applications of a similar that you consider relevant to this nature have been approved by ERMA: application that has not already been The Kiwi Seed Company Limited has included? approval to import Biserrula pelecinus seeds prior to use in field tests (ERMA application NOC06012); AgResearch Limited has approval to import grassland seed species from 71 families into containment at the Margot Forde Forage Germplasm Centre (ERMA application NOC05010); and Landcare Research has approval to import into containment dried herbarium specimens of Kingdoms Plantae, Mycenae, Protista and Cyanobacteria (including seeds, pollen and spores) (ERMA application NOC04018).

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Provide a glossary of scientific and technical terms used in the application: None identified. List of appendices: None identified. List of references: None identified.

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