Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 A publication of MAF Biosecurity Authority

World class service at animal health reference lab: p6 Also in this issue Hotline service Avian influenza Argali sheep Varroa alert: South Island apiary cleared security Paper wasp and crazy ant Shipping committee meets Forest pest trapping programme New plant pests Air transport standards for animal welfare How to contact us: Everyone listed at the end of an article as a contact point, unless otherwise indicated, is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Contents Biosecurity Authority. All MAF staff can be contacted by e-mail, and the standard format for all addresses is 3 Work still to be done on biosecurity message [email protected] Flowering tribute to animal welfare volunteers For example Ralph Hopcroft would be [email protected] (There are slight 4 Hotline service key to quick response exceptions for people with similar names, but 5 Ferrets are unwanted organisms these addresses are given where necessary.) 6 World standard facilities at reference laboratory PO Box 2526, Wellington 7 International symposium on avian influenza New Zealand Biosecurity strategy: advice on draft (+64) 4 474 4100 (switchboard) 8 Argali sheep semen importation requirements most staff have direct dial lines which Protect New Zealand Week nearly here are listed where available 9 Varroa update: South Island export apiary cleared (+64) 4 474 4133 New food authority set for launch • Animal Biosecurity Group 10 Exotic pests appear to be contained (+64) 4 470 2730 • Biosecurity Policy Biosecurity in the roaring forties Coordination Group 11 Busy programme ahead for shipping committee members • Border Management Group 12 Forest pest trapping programmes completed for season • International Agreements Group 13 Spray programme knocks painted apple moth numbers • Contracts Management Group Moves for industry to provide post-entry quarantine (+64) 4 498 9888 • Group Director and Business 14 Action on new plant pests Services Manager, Biosecurity 15 Booklet raises biosecurity awareness on Chathams Authority 16 Green light for all varieties of Australian tomatoes • Director, Animal Biosecurity Biosecurity people: Esther Maxim, Eleanor Morrison, Sally Griffin • Director, Plants Biosecurity • Director, Forest Biosecurity 17 Transtasman animal welfare dialogue • Director, Biosecurity Coordination 18 Workshops to enhance skills for animal ethics committees • Animal Welfare Group Biosecurity people: Kate Hellstr m (+64) 4 474 4257 19 Animal welfare in airborne Arks • Plants Biosecurity Group (+64) 4 470 2741 • Indigenous Flora and Fauna Group 19 New import health standards • Forest Biosecurity Group 20 Draft guideline for approval of embryo collection centres ASB Bank House, exporting ruminant embryos from New Zealand 101 The Terrace, Wellington Codes of ethical conduct approvals, notifications Biosecurity is published 6-weekly by MAF and revocations since the last issue of Biosecurity Biosecurity Authority. It covers biosecurity 21 Draft code of welfare for layer hens and animal health, animal welfare, plant MAF seeks comments on GM testing for imported seeds health and forest health issues. It is of special International standard for wood packaging interest to all those with a stake in New Draft standard for consultation Zealand’s agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal welfare and environment. Enquiries about specific articles: Refer to Icon Key contact listed at the end of the relevant article. 22 New organism records: 30/03/02 17/05/02 Animal Biosecurity General enquiries (eg, circulation requests or information about MAF's biosecurity work): Biosecurity Magazine Plants Biosecurity MAF Biosecurity Authority PO Box 2526, Wellington Forest Biosecurity Phone: 04 474 4100 Fax: 04 498 9888 Email: [email protected] Animal Welfare Editorial enquiries: Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 Editor: Phil Stewart Phone: 04 384 4688 Email: editor_biosecurity@ maf.govt.nz

ISSN 1174 4618 www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity Work still to be done on biosecurity message by Hon Jim Sutton, Minister for years to strengthen our capability to tightening Biosecurity respond to an increasing number of border Biosecurity is something that most of biosecurity threats in New Zealand. control standards, us are not complacent about any more The focus of that new money will be on screening 100 in New Zealand. increasing risk analysis resource, and percent of all surveillance and pest and disease It’s been almost a year since instant fines postal items response capability. for biosecurity breaches were introduced as well as all at airports. I’d like to think that since The new funding from Budget 2002 will air crew and then, awareness of our country’s go towards laboratory services provided passenger biosecurity rules has increased. by the Ministry of Agriculture and baggage. Certainly, those people hit with a $200 Forestry as well as other biosecurity More staff Hon Jim Sutton. fine as they enter the country are a lot initiatives within MAF, including and detector dogs were hired, soft-tissue more aware of the rules. funding for new research into varroa, x-ray machines purchased for airports increased resources for core activity, However, it concerns me just how many that hadn’t had any sort of screening improved surveillance, and ongoing people are continuing to be hit by these before, and instant fines were support for a biosecurity awareness fines. introduced. programme. Last month, 2.87 fines were issued for A $1 million research project to improve The biosecurity awareness campaign, every 1,000 passengers and crew arriving biosecurity measures for sea freight has Protect New Zealand, has been supported in New Zealand. been commissioned and, when it reports, by a shift to ongoing annual funding of I expect that there will be steps we can Fruit fly host material (in plain language $350,000. – fruit) makes up 48% of the items take to ensure that sea freight is not an appearing on infringement notices; This Government is committed to easy channel for pests and diseases to contaminated goods (mostly footwear improving New Zealand’s biosecurity make their way into our country. and border control measures. and tents), at 9.1%, are the second most If it is possible to tighten border common type of material. From the moment we became controls and enhance New Zealand’s So, for some people, the message has yet Government in 1999, we have biosecurity measures, this Government to get through. demonstrated this commitment by will do it. But we’re all working on that. You have not heard the last of biosecurity or Max the Beagle! Flowering tribute to animal Protect New Zealand will run a week- long promotion of biosecurity next welfare volunteers month, with a wide range of events MAF Director-General, Murray planned up and down the country. It’s Sherwin paid tribute to the pitched at everyone, young and old, and efforts of RNZSPCA volunteers should significantly boost the profile of at the RNZSPCA Annual our border control officers. Hopefully, Conference and AGM held in more people will realise that Wellington on 18 and 19 May. responsibility for New Zealand’s biosecurity rests not just on the Mr Sherwin (left), on behalf of Government, or MAF Quarantine staff, the Minister of Agriculture, but on the shoulders of everyone presented Peter Mason (right), travelling or bringing goods in and out President of the RNZSPCA a of New Zealand. framed camellia – the symbol animal welfare charity and representing the United Nations For its part, the Government is not being acknowledged the vital roles that International Year of Volunteers 2001. complacent about biosecurity either. individual RNZSPCA inspectors and Mr Sherwin said the award recognised Last month’s Budget announced that new volunteers play in the enforcement of the society as New Zealand’s leading operating expenditure of $11.746 million the Animal Welfare Act 1999. is to be spent over the next four financial

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 3 Hotline service key to quick response MAF’s exotic disease and pest This is especially true in instances where, the organism. If practical, the caller will emergency hotline number, 0800 809 as members of the public themselves, be asked to mail the specimen freepost 966 is available to the public 24 hours call centre staff are more inclined to ask to the NCDI for further investigation. a question that a scientist may take for a day, seven days a week. The hotline Calls range from reports of viruses at granted. contact number is listed in the front of one end of the scale to panthers at the all telephone books and is available What happens once a call is other end. Responses to inquiries can through every veterinary clinic. logged? range from immediate action to a ‘slow The National Centre for Disease If hotline staff establish a need for follow burner’ approach where no urgent Investigation (NCDI) is part of MAF’s up, MAF staff are paged. If it is serious action is required. Reference Laboratory network. The the inquiry is referred to a specialist Case determines response MAF staff member or contractor in the NCDI manages MAF’s exotic disease toll “Our range of responses to a call is area. MAF has single point contact with free service and receives notification of determined by the level of threat as well all contractors in their field so there is suspected exotic diseases and pests. The as location,” says NCDI Administration no room for a call to slip through the Exotic Disease Response Centre (EDRC) Team Leader Nicci Rowswell. “Plant system. is part of the facility and manages the inquiries do not usually constitute a investigation, diagnosis, containment, Problems can arise from ambiguous threat requiring immediate attention control and, where required, the information and call centre staff rely while exotic animal and disease inquiries eradication of an exotic animal disease. heavily on the accuracy of the are responded to immediately because of MAF Reference Laboratories Director, informant. This can be especially the ability of the subject to move, escape Dr Hugh Davies, says the exotic disease difficult when dealing with children or again or create harm. The location is and pest emergency hotline received the elderly or someone who may have also significant – a shipping container or 12,000 calls from the public last year. only seen the animal or insect briefly. In recently unpacked box may signal more With increased public awareness of these cases MAF always responds. Few of than one offender while a single plant or biosecurity risks, he expects this number the pests reported are dangerous. dead animal in a driveway would be unlikely to create an emergency.” to increase. The Protect New Zealand website (see Trained operators link at end of this article) is another The other key to MAF’s emergency useful tool which callers can be referred response set-up are the testing The hotline is staffed by trained call to. It contains a full description of most laboratories. centre operators. They are backed up by insects including images that can help specialist MAF staff who are on call Laboratory support identify what the caller may have seen. around the clock. Lindsay Hawke, National Manager of the Strange insects wanted Hotline staff use a ‘decision tree’ National Plant Pest Reference MAF staff examined 17,000 ‘creepy established by MAF when dealing with Laboratory (NPPRL), manages a staff of crawlies’ in the last twelve months and inquiries. Three key questions allow 29 divided between two laboratory sites public calls have led to the discovery of them to quickly ascertain if the call – at Lynfield in Auckland and Lincoln a range of new (to New Zealand) requires further attention. By screening near Christchurch. organisms ranging from insects and calls, the operators allow MAF’s experts lizards to a dead fruit bat found in an The unit employs entomologists, plant to focus their resources on the most imported car. virologists, a nematologist and several important cases. plant pathologists. When members of the public call the Dr Davies says the hotline is very hotline about a strange insect or small “We have one staff member at each site effective as the first point of contact. animal they are encouraged to contain handling all inquiries within normal working hours and the line is frequently busy. When this happens the caller is asked to leave details on an answer phone for attention as soon as possible. Weekend call details are collected by the 0800 call centre staff and information is faxed to the laboratory

4 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 for action on the next working day,” dealt with by the Special Investigations explains Lindsay. Unit. Lindsay says the current Biosecurity Special difficulties can arise, especially in Awareness Programme has successfully rural communities, where people are raised public awareness and resulted in reluctant to inform on their neighbours. an increase in calls. However, Earl Culham says making the Animal welfare complaints call is often the very best thing for all hotline parties. MAF’s Special Investigations Group “The stock will be saved from further (SPIG) Animal Welfare Unit also has a distress and the owner will get the help “We prefer to have the name and address toll free number for public use: 0800 327 they need when they are obviously not of the informant so we can advise them 027. The number is used by the public to coping well. The informant’s details are of the outcome. These details remain report incidents where they believe the always treated as highly confidential and confidential to MAF. All calls received welfare of animals is at risk. The unit all calls remain anonymous.” are graded into three response modes comprises eight staff, two in Auckland depending on urgency.” MAF’s 0800 numbers: and five field staff across the country. The support of the public is critical and MAF emergency line 0800 809 966 Earl Culham, MAF Senior Animal MAF Welfare line 0800 327 027 they are encouraged to call sooner rather Welfare Investigator, says his group also than later. The quicker staff can act, the Protect New Zealand website: relies on information received from the more chance there is of saving an animal. public advising the office of animal www.protectnz.org.nz welfare issues. The group also receives While most urban calls are directed to calls from MAF veterinarians based in the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty meat processing plants throughout the to Animals (SPCA) the rural cases, country. involving mainly larger animals, are Ferrets are unwanted organisms Ferrets have been declared unwanted exempted from the ban on organisms under the Biosecurity Act ferrets, but they no longer be 1993. No new pet ferrets can be able to sell ferrets bought, sold or bred and no new ferret domestically. (fitch) farms will be allowed. The popularity of ferrets as In 2001, the Minister of Conservation pets was rising, increasing the asked the Department of Conservation to risk of escape into the wild investigate ways to ban pet ferrets, while that could enlarge the size still allowing people to keep current pets and range of the feral and run existing ferret farms. Ferret population. Earlier this year, farms largely export their animals. for example, people were found exercising ferrets on In February 2002 the chief technical the beach at Great Barrier officer for the Department of Island. This type of behaviour Conservation declared ferrets to be could introduce ferrets to a unwanted organisms under the mustelid-free island and Biosecurity Act. create havoc for wildlife. When the declaration becomes effective In the mid-1980s the fur (when the Biosecurity Amendment Bill trade collapsed. The large- 2001 is passed into law – expected some scale, illegal release of DoC’s mandate is to protect indigenous time this year), owners will be able to unprofitable farmed ferrets which biodiversity and banning pet ferrets is a keep the pet ferrets they currently own followed helped increase the spread of step towards reducing manageable, as existing arrangements are exempted. ferrets throughout New Zealand. As the human-induced threats. Pet ferret owners, however, will not be population of pet ferrets diminishes, so Phil Dawson, Senior Technical too will the risk to biodiversity. The new able to sell, breed, or buy new ferrets or Support Officer, Department give them away. Pet shop owners will no measures to reduce that risk are of Conservation, phone 07 858 0014, longer be able to buy or sell ferrets. intended to prevent a future resurgence fax 07 858 0001, Current ferret farm owners will be of ferrets in the wild. [email protected]

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 5 World standard facilities at reference laboratory The New Zealand Animal Health focus on areas of Reference Laboratory (AHRL), at demand as Wallaceville, near Wellington, is an required. integral part of the MAF Reference Gary Horner, Team Laboratories network. Leader The facility, based at the National Centre Microbiology and for Disease Investigation (NCDI), Joseph O’Keefe, undertakes the laboratory diagnosis of Team Leader exotic diseases of animals, the design Immunology and and implementation of surveillance Molecular Biology surveys, and export/import testing of both manage the animals, birds and fish. laboratory and have a The AHRL employs around 30 staff coordinating role comprising a diverse mixture of NCDI Director, Dr Hugh Davies. within their laboratory veterinarians, scientists and individual teams. technicians operating in the fields of They say the seasonal aspect to their from bovine spongiform encephalopathy virology, bacteriology, immunology, work, especially in the export area, can (BSE). The laboratory completes BSE molecular biology and fish diseases. pose special challenges. testing and carries out surveillance work When there is a requirement for to OIE (World Animal Health For example, Artificial Breeding Centre expertise not available at the laboratory, Organisation) standards. testing happens twice a year. With the NZAHRL has contractual arrangements European Union requiring five semen New methodologies with qualified professionals nationally straws to be tested from each bull, this is Each exotic disease situation also brings and internationally. a particularly busy time for staff. The pet new responses and methodologies. Dr Director, Dr Hugh Davies says there is a passport scheme is another labour Davies says the laboratory will seek to seasonal aspect to the laboratory’s work, intensive area – veterinarians vaccinate validate confirmation tests through particularly in the export area. “We can the animals and take samples that are other new methods e.g. applying be quiet for a number of weeks then a sent to Australia for rabies testing. There molecular diagnostic methods. This huge export consignment is due or there are usually 10 of these tests for would lead to early identification of is an exotic disease response and we completion each week. exotic diseases. suddenly get very busy,” he says. Greater certainty of BSE freedom Early identification enables the timely Multiskilled staff status selection of appropriate control AHRL staff have to be multiskilled in Currently, a trade risk mitigation survey measures which minimises the impact order to adapt to fluctuating demands. is underway. This will provide greater through reduced disease spread, reduced This allows staff to be moved around to certainty of New Zealand’s freedom quarantine zones, faster eradication and early declaration of country freedom with reduced economic consequences.

Having world standard containment facilities here in New Zealand means fewer time delays and a greatly improved service to the country’s animal industries.

Dr Hugh Davies, Director, MAF Reference Laboratories, phone 04 526 5600, fax 04 526 5601, [email protected]

6 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 International symposium Biosecurity on avian influenza strategy: Howard Pharo, National Adviser Risk pathogenic in intensively reared turkeys Analysis, recently participated in the and chickens. It is now almost universally advice 5th International Symposium on Avian accepted that these viruses mutate to Influenza, which was held at the virulence some time after they have been on draft University of Georgia Centre for introduced into intensive poultry flocks. An advisory group has previewed the Continuing Education in Athens, Precursors to virulent viruses Georgia, USA. draft Biosecurity Strategy for New Therefore, there has been increasing Zealand from the wider stakeholder Since the USDA/ARS Southeast Poultry focus in recent years on viruses perspective and suggested Research Laboratory is also located in circulating in poultry flocks. The improvements. Athens, this presented an opportunity to concern is that some of these may be The Strategy Advisory Group (Biosecurity meet a number of United States poultry precursors of virulent viruses, and 31:5) received the strategy text from the experts who have reviewed various MAF several countries have been considering development team by instalment before risk analyses in the past, and to re- whether it might not be prudent to meeting on 31 May 2002. The group establish valuable contacts with them for eradicate low pathogenicity avian members brought to bear the valuable future cooperation. influenza (LPAI) viruses that are perspectives of a wide variety of sectors The major advances in molecular circulating in poultry flocks before they with biosecurity interests: biology in recent years have led to mutate to high pathogenicity avian • science dramatic advances in understanding of influenza (HPAI). • economics the epidemiology of influenza viruses in This is currently the approach being • public health all species. The 1997 outbreaks of avian followed in the United States. A LPAI influenza in Hong Kong which resulted • conservation and environment virus appears to have originated in the in a number of human deaths resulted • primary production live bird markets of northeastern United in a large increase in research on • marine States cities, suggesting that the virus has influenza viruses world-wide. • transport somehow been introduced into • tourism Wild aquatic birds natural hosts Virginian poultry flocks from the live • local government Of particular interest from the New bird markets. • Maori traditional knowledge Zealand perspective was the session on Howard’s paper on assessing the risk of • intellectual property. the global ecology and epidemiology of avian influenza viruses in imported In providing the Biosecurity Council avian influenza. The main natural hosts poultry meat addressed this issue in and the development team with of influenza viruses are wild aquatic discussing the hazard identification step improvements to the draft text, the birds. They are the source of viruses of the risk analysis. While the OIE focus advisory group was building upon the affecting domestic birds. The role of has always been on HPAI, these viruses substantial contributions made earlier migratory waterbirds in disseminating do not appear to persist in poultry by biosecurity stakeholders, the public, influenza viruses throughout the world populations, but as discussed above they the issues groups (Biosecurity 33:16) and has been known for some time, but it arise from time to time by mutation the Maori Focus Group. has recently become clear that mixing of from LPAI viruses. It is logical therefore avian species allows the exchange of viral that the focus of international regulation Subject to approval by the Biosecurity genetic material, resulting in the should be changed from HPAI to those Council at its meeting on 11 June, the development of new viruses. This avian influenza viruses that are draft strategy was to be submitted to the mixing is particularly important in the potentially mutagenic. The best way to Minister for Biosecurity, an ad hoc context of live bird markets, particularly classify that group of viruses may be to group of Ministers with portfolio in the United States, Hong Kong, and consider all viruses of subtypes H5 and interests in biosecurity, and the Cabinet. China. These live bird markets may sell a H7 as potentially pathogenic. If the draft strategy is approved range of birds, such as ducks, geese, promptly, then public consultation Howard Pharo, quail, turkeys, and guineafowl as well as National Adviser Risk Analysis, could proceed in late July/August. chickens, thereby presenting Animal Biosecurity, Malcolm Crawley, Biosecurity Strategy considerable opportunities for viruses to phone 04 474 4100, Development Team, swap genetic fragments, effectively fax 04 474 4133, phone 04 460 8710, breeding with one another. [email protected] fax 04 460 8779, But there is now very strong evidence [email protected] that influenza viruses are only ever www.biostrategy.govt.nz

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 7 Argali sheep semen importation requirements Following the completion of the undertake that a biosecurity Standard for Sheep and Goat disease risk analysis, an import health clearance will not be given for Transitional Facilities. After the standard for Argali sheep (Ovis ammon Argali sheep progeny unless disease requirements of the polii) semen has now been issued. both MAF’s disease sanitary import health standard are Risk analysis requirements are fulfilled and completed, the progeny must an Environmental Risk be held in a containment The disease risk assessment for semen Management Authority facility meeting the MAF from a specific ram in the Singapore (ERMA) release approval is BiosecurityContainment Zoo was completed by a private given. Standard for Field Testing of consultant and notified for public Farm Animals. consultation (Biosecurity 31:16,17). A separate disease risk analysis and import health standard would be For the risk analysis and review of Two submissions addressed disease required before Argali sheep tissues submissions: issues and the following modifications could be used. to the proposed sanitary measures were Martin van Ginkel, Technical Adviser, Risk Analysis, made as a result: Import health requirements Animal Biosecurity, Before the semen is exported to New • the period of quarantine for the first phone 04 470 2781, Zealand, the donor ram shall be tested generation progeny of the scrapie fax 04 4744 133, freedom assurance programme will free of Q fever, maedi-visna, bluetongue [email protected] and enzootic abortion of ewes. The be five years www.maf.govt.nz/argali-semen-ra.pdf semen shall be cultured negative from • all three batches of the Argali ram specified mycoplasmas, Ureaplasma spp. For the import health standard and semen will be cultured for Chlamydia and Acholeplasma spp. (with the facility standards: psittaci exception of A. laidlawii). • all three batches of the Argali ram Kevin Corrin, National Manager, Import Management, semen will be cultured for In New Zealand, the progeny of the Animal Biosecurity, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma and semen must be shown to be free from scrapie, maedi-visna, pulmonary phone 04 4744 136, Acholeplasma species. fax 04 4744 133, adenomatosis and nasal adenocarcinoma Environmental impact issues were raised [email protected] before changing to containment. in three of the submissions received. The www.maf.govt.nz/argsemic.sin.htm submissions indicated that these should During quarantine the animals must be be MAF’s concern. However, this held in a facility meeting the www.maf.govt.nz/154-02-02.htm responsibility is not MAF’s. MAF does requirements of the MAF Biosecurity www.maf.govt.nz/154-03-06.htm Protect New Zealand Week nearly here

Max the Beagle will get a week of high Programme Manager Melissa Wilson profile publicity from 8 – 14 July, during says the amount of interest and support the first-ever Protect New Zealand Week. from partner agencies and industry sectors has been highly encouraging. The week is a major focus for the There will be a nationwide radio blitz of biosecurity awareness programme, short advertisements and interviews launched last September, and is intended during the week, as well as media to highlight the positive side of biosecurity. coverage of selected ‘biosecurity A programme of events was still being advocates’. Real beagles will be seen out finalised as this edition of Biosecurity and about on walks at public parks in went to press, but can be viewed on the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Protect New Zealand website at The biosecurity awareness programme www.protectnz.org.nz will continue beyond the end of the year, Max’s real-life colleagues will be pounding the having received annual funding of streets to raise awareness during Biosecurity Awareness Week. $350,000 in Budget 2002.

8 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 South Island export apiary cleared The UK’s Department for the testing these escort bees, CSL located two provide bees for consignments from this Environment, Food and Rural Affairs varroa mites. As CSL were aware that exporter to the United Kingdom were (DEFRA) has accepted cross-infestation varroa has not been detected in the South also sampled. Sampling was conducted as the reason for detection of varroa Island, they notified MAF. over a week as there were multiple mites on an export consignment of Further queen bee exports from the nucleus hives used for queen-rearing. queen bees from the South Island. A producer were suspended, and MAF’s Opportunity was given to the apiarist to unite these and avoid queen mortalities. comprehensive investigation by New Exotic Disease Response Manager Zealand and UK authorities completed (EDRM) sought more information from Mite infestation did not originate in less than three weeks, concluded the UK to trace the origins of the in NZ the mites were of local UK origin and consignment. Information was gathered The CSL’s records identified the UK not from New Zealand. on the processing of the consignment at importer of the affected consignment. the importers to determine the risk of Significantly, the importer was On Friday 3 May, MAF was advised that cross-infestation. hospitalised around the time the there was a possibility that an imported Suspect hives sampled shipment was received, and other apiary shipment of queen bees from the South Two apiary officers from AgriQuality staff carried out the re-caging of the New Island may contain varroa mites. The Zealand queens. In the opinion of the tests were conducted by Central Science New Zealand were sent to the exporter’s home property to carry out a field importer, there was a possibility of cross- Laboratories (CSL) in the United infestation at this point. Varroa mites Kingdom. investigation. They arrived the day after the original notification, interviewed the were known to have been present in the Two varroa mites detected beekeeper, and identified which apiary importer’s hives, and in wild bees in the area. On 21 May, DEFRA confirmed that Under the UK system for handling live sites the queen bees were likely to have cross-infestation was accepted as the bee imports, the shipment goes direct to originated from. The suspect apiary sites reason for detection of varroa mites on the importer. The importer re-cages the were then sampled using miticide strips New Zealand bees. queens and sends the escort bees (worker and sticky-boards. Paul Bolger, Varroa Programme bees that accompany each caged queen) Examination of records at MAF’s Coordinator, Animal Biosecurity, to CSL for testing. The New Zealand Lynfield laboratory indicated one site phone 04 474 4144, consignment involved 50 queens with six was used for the implicated fax 04 474 4133, [email protected] to ten escort bees for each queen. While consignment. All other sites used to www.maf.govt.nz/varroa New food authority set for launch The New Zealand Food Safety Authority steam ahead to Zealand and in export (NZFSA) is set for launch from 1 July. ensure we are up markets. The NZFSA will replace the existing and running and There are some strong ready to operate food safety regimes currently areas of common on 1 July,” says administered by MAF (MAF Food interest between MAF Sandra Daly, Assurance Authority) and the Ministry Biosecurity and the MAF Food’s of Health. NZFSA, especially in Director areas such as BSE where “We will have a new look and logo, a Business Services. new location to move into and it’s full there are both human and animal Sandra says the NZFSA has plans for an health issues. extensive communication strategy to Sandra says the strong level of introduce the new Authority and to cooperation between the two groups will ensure all groups involved are well continue once the NZFSA is operating. aware of what is happening and what “We will also continue to share the they can expect. principles of risk based management The NZFSA will be responsible for food and setting of acceptable levels of safety assurances both within New protection.”

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 9 Exotic pests appear to be contained Marlborough – an area already plagued However, there is no evidence to suggest transitional facility in Mangere, by wasps with overseas origins – was that these wasps have ever successfully Auckland, as a result of fire ant host to a new species of wasp. established. It is doubtful whether P. surveillance archives. P. longicornis is a Paper wasp olivaceus would survive a winter in cosmopolitan species better known for Picton. There will be further surveillance its status as an urban nuisance pest. A single, adult female yellow oriental in the spring once the weather warms up. paper wasp (Polistes olivaceus) was found Results so far are encouraging. The Crazy ant species found in a residential garden in Picton in early yellow crazy ant nest has been destroyed April. During a follow up search, a The red imported fire ant surveillance and no further specimens have been suspect P. olivaceus nest was also located programme has snared two more exotic found. The P. longicornis infestations have and destroyed. The nest ant species. Two species of also been treated and monitoring will consisted of about seven crazy ants, Anoplolepis continue over the winter to ensure that cells and contained four or gracilipes and Paratrechina treatment has been successful. An five eggs. MAF received 38 longicornis were detected at information notice and letter has been calls to its freephone the port of Auckland in sent to businesses within the Auckland number (0800 809 966) April. port area, and to all transitional facilities in Auckland that are known to receive following a press release Only one nest of the yellow containers from the port. People working asking the public to be on crazy ant (Anoplolepis in these areas have been asked to report the lookout for unusual gracilipes) was found. The any unusual ant activity. There will be looking wasps. To date no yellow crazy ant is well further surveillance for crazy ants once further P. olivaceus known for the devastating temperatures rise again in the spring. specimens have been impact it has had on the found. Paper wasp (Polistes olivaceus). Christmas Island Amelia Pascoe, Programme Co-ordinator, Exotic Animal Response, Native to Asia, P. olivaceus (Australian territory) land crab population. Animal Biosecurity, originates from warmer phone 04 470 2785, climates. During the past Another species of crazy fax 04 474 4133, century this wasp has ant (Paratrechina [email protected] spread to parts of Ethiopia longicornis) appeared to be For more information refer to: and throughout the Pacific. more widely spread within There are several historical the port area. P. longicornis www.maf.govt.nz/crazy-ants and records of P. olivaceus being Crazy ant: two species detected specimens were also www.maf.govt.nz/yellow-oriental-paper- detected in New Zealand. in Auckland. subsequently found at a wasp Biosecurity in the roaring forties The annual conference of the New policy, and the draft Biosecurity Strategy Zealand Biosecurity Institute is being for New Zealand. There will be held in Southland for the first time in workshops, and a guest speaker from the institute’s 52 year history. Perth, Australia, on ways to encourage community action. The organisers are Southern Exposure – The Roaring 40s will hoping the Minister for Biosecurity can be held in Invercargill on 24 – 26 July institute’s mission is: To preserve and be present to open the conference. 2002. The theme reflects an emphasis on protect New Zealand’s natural biosecurity in the southern mainland, The conference will attract delegates resources from the adverse impacts of Stewart Island, and the sub-Antarctic from MAF, Landcare Research, invasive pests. islands. Stewart Island is the destination AgResearch, DoC, National Institute of For conference and institute details: for a field trip on Saturday 27 July that Water and Atmospheric Research, and Keith Crothers, Conference Convenor, will focus on Department of regional councils. The institute and Environment Southland, Conservation (DoC) biosecurity Environment Southland extend an phone 03 215 6197, programmes. invitation to anyone involved in fax 03 215 8081, biosecurity to attend the conference. Papers will be presented on border [email protected] control, pest plants, animal pests, The New Zealand Biosecurity Institute is www.biosecurity.org.nz freshwater and marine pests, insect an incorporated society open to anyone pests, biological control, biosecurity interested in biosecurity issues. The

10 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 Busy programme ahead for shipping committee members A number of actions arising from the Use of methyl bromide as a soil truck operators, customs agents, freight recent meeting of the Shipping sterilising agent will be phased out by forwarders, and the Road Transport Biosecurity Consultative Committee will 2005 (Biosecurity 34:18). Forum, ensuring the campaign gains a keep members busy until they meet Submissions on cost regulations wide profile. again in September. Ten submissions were received on the Standard on places of first arrival The committee provides a forum by proposed Biosecurity Costs Regulations. During May, MAF will visit ports which MAF Biosecurity and the MAF These regulations cover biosecurity around the country to discuss the Quarantine Service can consult with services including border inspections, revised standard for ports to be places of seaport-based shipping, cargo handling treatment or destruction of risk goods, first arrival under the Biosecurity Act. and the importing industry on issues applications for import permits and These standards have not been revised arising from the management of New supervision of transitional facilities. They since 1997 and will clarify who is Zealand’s biosecurity programme. These have not been reviewed since they were responsible to control uncleared goods. ‘on the ground’ representatives provide introduced in 1993 and are considerably Container cleaning costs valuable advice in ensuring the effective out of date as they were based on earlier The committee also considered ways of and efficient implementation of the calculations. It is expected the minimising container contamination. programme. regulations will be enacted by July 2001. The cost of unpacking and cleaning a Email list In their submission, the shipping contaminated container is about $700 – Early notification of changes to border industry raised the issue of why empty $800 and is the responsibility of the standards and procedures is vital to the containers are being charged at the same importer. Unfortunately, the importer smooth running of our port operations. rate as full containers. MAF’s position is has no control over how a container will To assist this, the committee will that this charge is the average for all types be packed overseas and cannot predict establish an email subscription list for of containers, not just full containers. the state in which it will arrive in New interested parties to receive up-to-date Protect New Zealand update Zealand. notice of any changes. Currently there Options for raising awareness of New are about 20 notifications every six Guest speaker Melissa Wilson, project manager for the Protect New Zealand Zealand requirements for shipping weeks. The list will be available on the containers included producing a MAF Biosecurity website. campaign, provided an update on the Cargo Logistics Biosecurity Awareness pamphlet that will be distributed to Methyl bromide under scrutiny Campaign. The campaign will kick off in offshore suppliers, and website based Methyl bromide for quarantine and pre- the second week of July as part of the information. shipment use continues to come under Protect New Zealand week. A variety of The committee will meet again in scrutiny. Already progress has been promotional vehicles including posters, Wellington on 5 September. made in negotiations with Australia on pamphlets and presentations have been Ken Glassey, Programme Coordinator lowering the fumigation rate for proposed to ensure the campaign has a (Border Management), exported sawn timber to nearly half the high profile. These will be distributed phone 04 498 9610, 025 249 2318, current rate depending on temperature. through operation rooms, cafeterias, [email protected]

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 11 Forest pest trapping programmes completed for season AgriQuality New Zealand Ltd has Many of the species Gypsy moth completed its seasonal forest pest in this group are trapping trapping programmes for MAF Forest capable of attacking Gypsy moth traps Biosecurity, and the analysis is and killing pines, placed over the pleasing on all counts. Results indicate threatening the summer period that New Zealand remains gypsy moth- forestry economy. returned nil free and we have no new beetle New Zealand’s forest Left: Gypsy moth larvae. captures. species to worry about. industry is Right: Dendroctonus frontalis adult. dominated by The gypsy moth is The first season of high-density beetle plantings of exotic conifer species, such a major forest pest for many of New trapping was undertaken within New as Pinus radiata. At present, our forests Zealand’s trading partners, including Zealand in 2001/02. Some 380 traps are relatively free of the destructive bark China, Russia, Korea, Japan and the were deployed at ports and selected beetles and wood borers that are United States. The caterpillars are timber processing yards and, out of a associated with exotic conifers in their known to defoliate over 500 plant total of 19,801 trapped insects, no new native habitats. species, with oak, willow and birch the to New Zealand insects were identified. favoured hosts. Gypsy moth is not Captured specimens included Hylurgus Nature’s role for bark beetles and wood present in New Zealand. ligniperda, Hylastes ater and Arhopalus borers is to give ecological succession a A pheromone trapping system for gypsy tristis, all known to already be helping hand by selectively removing moth was implemented in New Zealand established in the country. mature, senescent, stressed or damaged pines from the forest. However, Mother in 1993. Trade and travel practices allow Insect traps baited with chemical Nature didn’t equip the insects with the the pest to hitchhike to the border, and attractants allow baseline data to be intelligence to distinguish between such gypsy moth egg masses and larvae have collected. Through trapping, experts can trees and those in commercial forests, been intercepted at New Zealand’s ports determine the presence of any new timber yards and much-loved gardens. on shipping containers, ship’s structures beetle species that has established in Beetle attacks can cause serious and (more recently) on used cars New Zealand. Information from problems for forest industry managers, imported from Japan. At no stage have trapping acts as an early warning of an park staff and homeowners, and any moths been found in traps. incursion, and allows MAF to facilitate outbreaks can be extremely disruptive to any eradication actions. Traps are deployed in early November forest management practices aimed at and removed at the end of the following With the inaugural round proving so wood and fibre production. April, following the expected flight successful, a further trapping Symptoms of attack periods (if populations were present in programme is planned for the summer The first recognised sign of beetle attack New Zealand). Traps are located in high- of 2002/03. on trees is often yellowing or reddening risk sites such as ports, container Insects’ niche threatens forestry tree crowns. Unfortunately, these devanning sites and imported car storage Bark beetles and wood borers are a large symptoms are not usually evident until yards, and are checked fortnightly. and diverse group of insects that shelter, long after the attacks have begun and the Although no gypsy moths have ever feed and reproduce within the inner trees may be already dead. Retribution is been found within New Zealand’s bark and outer sapwood tissues of living limited as, by the time that the crown border, trapping will continue as an trees, logs, stumps and branches. As well changes colour, most of the bark beetles early-warning monitoring device. As as the damage caused by feeding, some have completed their life cycle and have well as reassuring New Zealanders that bark beetles carry fungi on their bodies emerged from the tree. we remain gypsy moth-free, the negative which spread diseases, such as Dutch Earlier, less prominent symptoms of trap results provide a positive indication elm disease or pine pitch canker, from attack can include white, sawdust-like to our trading partners that the pest is tree to tree. ‘boring dust’ at the base of trees, or not present here. The insects prefer to feed on recently ‘pitch tubes’ projecting from the bark. Mark Ross, National Adviser, felled trees and logging debris, but they These tubes consist of a combination of Forest Pest Surveillance and will infest and destroy healthy trees bark particles, wood and sap which the Response, MAF Forest Biosecurity, when beetle populations are high. Trees insects expel from their galleries. Upon phone 04 498 9611, that are damaged (e.g. by lightning close observation, the small central hole fax 04 498 9888, strike, wind, logging operations or where the beetles enter or exit the tree [email protected] drought) are vulnerable to attack. may be identified. www.maf.govt.nz/gypsy-moth

12 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 Spray programme knocks painted apple moth numbers Male painted apple moth numbers the helicopter. This allows the operation In early July the Government will decide continue to decline as the sixth aerial to be finished more quickly. on the future of the programme. spraying operation is completed. The Options include extending the spray A telephone survey of 800 residents in cooler weather may have contributed, areas, going into a control programme April/May found that 77 percent but there is no doubt the spray without an aerial operation or stopping believed that the eradication attempt programme is having an effect. activity completely. was important. And, perhaps Numbers are about 15 percent of those surprisingly, since the spraying began Ian Gear, Acting Director that would be expected without the MAF Forest Biosecurity, there has been a seven percent increase spraying programme. phone 04 474 4100, in the number of people agreeing with fax 04 498 9888, From the sixth spray, a fixed wing targeted aerial spraying – 69 percent [email protected] aircraft has been used to complement now support it. www.maf.govt.nz/painted-apple-moth Moves for industry to provide post-entry quarantine

A MAF-industry meeting was held on provision of greenhouse and diagnostic developments since the meeting. 25 March, with the purpose of capacity by industry, or an industry- Riversun Nurseries in Gisborne has reviewing existing post-entry MAF partnership by which industry announced a decision to establish a quarantine arrangements for high value could provide greenhouse capacity and quarantine service for grapevine crops and to explore future alternatives administration/management of the propagation material. HortResearch in for service provision. facility and MAF could provide Havelock North has also announced its diagnostic services under a full cost- plan to develop such a facility. This is The meeting was well attended by recovery system. conditional on obtaining adequate representatives of most horticultural commitment from industry groups (e.g. industries. MAF re-emphasised that An industry working group was stonefruit, pipfruit, grapevine, berries). provision of plant quarantine by established during the meeting to government is not within the framework explore the alternatives in more detail. Veronica Herrera, Team Manager of current policy and that industry must The group agreed to report progress to Plant Imports, phone 04 470 2767, fax 04 474 4257, work together to find possible solutions. MAF which has still to receive direct [email protected] Such solutions could involve the feedback. However there have been

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 13 Action on new plant pests A recent spate of exotic plant and Eastern flower thrip has has informed VegFed insect notifications has kept MAF had an economic effect and grower Plants Biosecurity staff busy. Listings on strawberry crops in representatives who will are provided in the Directory of new Italy and the United make their own organism records in this issue of Kingdom, lucerne crops recommendations to Biosecurity (see page 23). in Czechoslovakia and growers.” nectarines in Greece. Notifications requiring significant input Aphids can reproduce They cause direct were: both sexually and damage by feeding, e.g. asexually on different • two new to New Zealand insects: skin ‘russeting’ of hosts. Over-wintering eastern flower thrips (Frankliniella nectarines, diminished eggs hatch on Ribes intonsa) and lettuce aphid seed set in lucerne, and hosts and after a period, (Nasonovia ribisnigri) distorted fruiting in winged forms disperse • two notifiable aquatic weeds: salvinia strawberry crops. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). to lettuce crops where (Salvinia molesta) and water hyacinth George says MAF has informed industry they reproduce asexually. In autumn the (Eichhornia crassipes); and that it is not possible to eradicate this aphid again returns to the Ribes host • kudzu vine (Pueraria montana var. pest, and the only feasible way to plants where they reproduce sexually lobata). manage it will be to apply commercially and lay eggs on buds and stems. In Eastern flower thrips; based pest management practices. This warm climates the aphid can remain in a horticulture pest discovery should have a limited effect on the sexual form over winter on lettuce. international trade because the species is George Gill, Technical Adviser Plants The aphids have a very short life cycle already well established world-wide. Pest Management – Plants Biosecurity which enables populations to build up says MAF was informed of the detection Lettuce aphid established very rapidly and they can disperse of eastern flower thrips after an in Canterbury extremely efficiently in the wind. They Australian interception of this species on The lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri), are inevitably well established, making New Zealand capsicum from south of was detected on lettuce at Marshlands, eradication unfeasible. Auckland, earlier this year. Christchurch on 2 April 2002 and new Salvinia and water hyacinth Further samples of eastern flower thrips infestations have been detected in MAF was also were submitted to MAF on strawberries Canterbury at Woodend, Harewood, notified of a salvinia from Coatesville and dahlia, sunflower Lincoln, Irwell, Prebbleton, Courtenay infestation and capsicum plants from Clevedon. and the Horotane Valley. On 7 May MAF discovered by two was informed of the presence of lettuce “We are working with the Department weed scientists who aphid in south Auckland. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – noticed the plant “MAF has informed the Vegetable floating in the Salvinia (Salvinia Australia,” George says. “We have molesta). requested the Australian samples for Growers Federation (VegFed) and a Kaituna River in the examination by National Plant Pest representative of the currant industry of Bay of Plenty. Laboratory (NPPRL) entomologists here the presence of this aphid and advised A sample was in New Zealand. Although these thrips them that given the aphid’s distribution confirmed as are distributed throughout the world, and biology, eradication is not feasible. salvinia and MAF and are believed to be the most common VegFed has agreed to contact lettuce instigated an Salvinia (Salvinia thrips infecting flowers, they had not growers in other areas such as Pukekohe investigation molesta) weedmat. previously been recorded in either and Gisborne to determine if the aphid through AgriQuality Australia or New Zealand. has been noticed in these regions,” New Zealand. The source was established George says. “We are currently searching our own as a 50 square metre pond on private collections for specimens that may have “MAF has been unable to determine property, covered in salvinia to a depth been misidentified as the related species how the aphid arrived here as it is not of 30cm. Frankliniella occidentalis.” known to occur in Australia so can not George says the pond flowed into a two have blown here. The only known kilometre drain, also heavily infested, He says it is not known how the insect importations of Ribes plant material and from there the drain fed directly got here and, because the New Zealand (since1998) have been into approved into the Kaituna River. sites are widely distributed and the facilities in February 2002. thrips are possibly distributed “Environment Bay of Plenty (BOP) staff throughout most of Auckland, “Overseas results have shown there are immediately organised spraying of the eradication is not possible or feasible. ways of controlling the aphid and MAF infestation and traced the origins back

14 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 to a property where salvinia and water hyacinth as a problem failed to establish sufficiently as the they found another and consequently new detections have summer weather was too dry. The two pots containing probably not been reported. However, original sites have been examined and salvinia, and another MAF has funded an official national found to be free of the vine. pest – water Water hyacinth programme to eliminate salvinia and (Eichhornia Kudzu vine is a deciduous plant capable hyacinth.” water hyacinth from all known infested crassipes). of smothering other plants and trees sites and new sites as they are detected. The samples were under a solid blanket of leaves. The bagged and “Consequently MAF sees an urgent need supporting stems can get quite large and destroyed – the to review the status of this programme will break branches and uproot entire owners of the as well as programmes for the trees through sheer force of weight. The Water hyacinth notification of two other notifiable property had also (Eichhornia root system can weigh up to 200kg and weeds – Johnson grass and the Cape taken these plants to crassipes) on lake. as many as 30 vines can grow from a tulip. We will be reviewing the future a new property and single root crown. Kudzu requires high direction of these programmes in these were located and destroyed. levels of rainfall and consistent summer relation to existing legislative tools and temperatures in excess of 27˚C to Other discoveries of salvinia and water other alternative approaches.” flourish. Winter frosts can cause the vine hyacinth infestations in pots and ponds Tree-smothering vine found in the Waikato have been bagged and to die back to the root. Kudzu vine has been discovered growing destroyed by an Environment Waikato George Gill says the Northland Regional at three sites in the Bay of Plenty. A contractor – the plants are dug out, Council and Environment Bay of Plenty single specimen of the plant was also dried and incinerated. are already taking action against vines detected in Northland at Mangawhai they know of and, after a publicity George says AgriQuality New Zealand is and a single potted specimen was still investigating further potential sites discovered and destroyed in the Waikato. campaign, have received no further and will maintain surveillance of the The infestations in the Bay of Plenty notifications of the plant. Kaituna River and environs. As salvinia covered areas up to 3000 square metres, MAF is currently in the process of is a sub-tropical species, growth is while the Northland plant covered about declaring kudzu an unwanted organism severely restricted over the winter. 30 square metres. under the Biosecurity Act. The vine is not a new to New Zealand MAF’s National Adviser of Plant Pest George Gill, Technical Adviser, Surveillance and Response, Barney species, having been introduced in 1944 Pest Management, MAF Plants Stephenson says that in recent years by the then Public Works Department Biosecurity, phone 04 470 2742, there has been little public awareness of for erosion control. However, kudzu fax 04 474 4257, [email protected] Booklet raises biosecurity awareness on Chathams The Chatham Islands Conservation This threat was highlighted Board in conjunction with the recently with the sinking of the Department of Conservation has Seafresh 1 in Hanson Bay when released a colour booklet: Unwanted the Asian seaweed, Undaria was Pests: Biosecurity threats to the detected on its hull. This seaweed Chatham Islands. poses a significant threat to the Chathams’ inshore fisheries and The booklet, designed to raise awareness it has substantially changed the amongst Chatham Islanders about the biosecurity threat to the islands of some natural character of many areas mainland New Zealand plants and where it has been found in New animals, has been supplied free to all Zealand (see Biosecurity 21:23, 34:4). residents. Community Relations officer Alex McKillop holds a copy of the colour booklet that the Department of The publication outlines several species Because of the positive response Conservation has released in the Chatham Islands to of plants and animals with the potential received for this booklet, and an raise awareness of the threat to the Islands from unwanted pest animals and plants. to have severe detrimental effects on the earlier Chatham Islands booklet Adrian Couchman, Area Manager Chathams. This threat is not only to on endemic plants, there are plans to (Chatham Islands) release further publications on Chatham terrestrial conservation values but also Dept of Conservation to agricultural production and to the Islands birds and another on the islands’ phone 03 305 0098 marine environment. plants. [email protected]

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 15 Green light for all varieties of Australian tomatoes After a decade’s negotiation, New proposals and, if technically Zealand has approved access to all justified, implement them as varieties of Australian tomatoes. appropriate,” he says. The amendment to the current import The proposed system includes all health standard (IHS) for the the current phytosanitary import importation of Australian tomatoes into requirements, including post New Zealand was signed on Monday 27 harvest chemical dipping, for the May by MAF’s Director of Plants five varieties of tomatoes covered Biosecurity, Richard Ivess. by the present IHS, as well as Richard says the agreement is the result additional measures to take of considerable effort on behalf of the account of any perceived Department of Agriculture, Fisheries differences with the additional only product imported into New and Forestry – Australia (AFFA) to varieties. Zealand on an individual variety basis. ensure that effective treatment systems AFFA will be accountable to New All other produce requiring treatment is were in place to protect New Zealand Zealand MAF for the entire programme imported on a product basis – paw paws from Queensland fruit fly. including documentation, grower or mangoes for example. “We needed clear assurances that the registration, chemical treatment, field Richard says the greatest risk for pest Australian proposal to extend the IHS treatment, audit for efficacy of field incursion actually exists with passengers from the current five approved varieties treatment, post treatment security and arriving at the border – not with of tomatoes did not in anyway AFFA inspection and audit compliance. imported produce. This risk has been jeopardise New Zealand’s biosecurity. Additionally, the bulk of exports to New substantially reduced by the introduction at the border of x-ray “I am more than satisfied that the Zealand would be during the winter machines, beagle detector dogs and the treatment system approach advocated by when the climatic conditions would not implementation of the instant fine AFFA meets all our requirements for be conducive for the establishment of scheme. preventing the establishment of Queensland fruit fly. Matthew Spence, National Adviser Queensland fruit fly in New Zealand. Over the past eight years, there have International Operations Imports, “We have obligations under the WTO been 160 million tomatoes imported Plants Biosecurity, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) into New Zealand without any phone 04 498 9852, Agreement and the International Plant indication of Queensland fruit fly fax 04 474 4257, Protection Convention to consider new eggs/larvae. Australian tomatoes are the [email protected]

Esther Maxim was previously worked as she also assisted the appointed as an administration Imports and Exports Administration officer at Computer teams. Before coming Assistant, Plant Systems to MAF, Sally was the Import Team, for Implementation manager of a Plants Biosecurity in Limited. Eleanor community centre and May. Esther has began her working life has depth of Sally Griffin. recently been working Esther Maxim. as a horticulturist for Eleanor Morrison. experience in for Credit Suisse First Boston. She began the Dunedin City Council and has management and administration her career as a primary school teacher maintained a strong interest in the field. through that and other positions. At the but moved into administration on her Sally Griffin was appointed Executive end of this year she will graduate from return from overseas. Coordinator for the Plants Group in Massey University (where she has been Eleanor Morrison joined the Plants Pest March. She previously worked in the studying extramurally) with a Bachelor Management team as an administration group as Administration Assistant for of Business Studies majoring in Human assistant at the end of April. She the Pest Management team. In that role Resource Management.

16 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 What price cheap food? Most people, if asked, would consider environment, animal welfare, food safety impetus must come from outside the cheaper food prices to be a good thing. and the sustainability of farming farm gate. However, the premise of a recent communities (within the first and third Policy options discussed to address this United Kingdom meeting, organised by worlds). Participants were asked to issue included government funding consider whether our society could and the British Society of Animal Science assistance to cover capital costs of should pay more for food. Dr Mike and the Scottish Centre for Animal moving to animal welfare friendly Appleby from the Humane Society of the Welfare Sciences, questioned the price housing systems. This is currently being United States argued that most, but not society is willing to pay for cheap food. applied in the European Union to all, people could sustain moderate facilitate the move from stalls to group Participants considered trends in food increased costs and many, even low wage housing for dry sows. prices. Today, people generally have earners, are already paying significantly access to a better range of quality foods more for convenience and pre-packaged Speakers at the meeting were drawn at lower prices than ever before. The food. Other niche markets for higher from the Humane Society of the United drive for cheap food has come from priced organic, GM free and animal States, the UK National Farmers’ Union, policy makers, consumers and from welfare friendly goods have developed the fair trade group Traidcraft Exchange, competition between producers and for those demonstrably willing and able and the Macaulay Institute. The retailers. But the question was raised to pay more. meeting, held on 8 April 2002, was whether the time has come to stop attended by about 80 people including Another key message from the meeting pushing forever towards increased food animal welfare representatives, scientists, was recognition that the incentive for production at lower prices. It was academics and students. Two New change can not be placed solely upon suggested that food pricing policies Zealand MAF officials were present. the shoulders of the producer. Many should take into account other, non- farmers, including those within the Kate Horrey, monetary factors. United Kingdom, are struggling to UK Home Office, The negative effects of cheap food survive. If society wants safe, phone 0044 20 7273 3296, production were discussed. These environmentally and animal welfare fax 0044 20 7273 2029, include adverse effects on the friendly, low cost food then the [email protected] Transtasman animal welfare dialogue

The sixth meeting of the transtasman of animal welfare standards and of sessions between meetings and by Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) was legislation; teleconferences. Topics discussed at the held in Queensland on 21 and 22 4. to identify areas of need and advise March meeting included: March. An earlier committee, the strategic areas for research on animal • role of the Vertebrate Pest Control Subcommittee on Animal Welfare welfare; Committee (SCAW), was established in 1980, but, 5. to respond to issues of animal • poultry welfare standards following a review of committees in welfare brought to its attention; • egg labelling standards 1996, AWC was formed with these 6. to provide an annual report • tail docking of dogs terms of reference: including a workplan for the coming • laparoscopic artificial insemination 1. to advise and recommend policy, as year as well as details of of sheep necessary, on all issues relating to outcomes/achievement from the animal welfare as these affect preceding year. • religious slaughter agricultural industries; • progress with eight model codes of AWC includes representatives from all practice. 2. to identify emerging animal welfare the Australian states and territories, the issues of strategic importance for federal government and the CSIRO David Bayvel, policy development in consultation (Commonwealth Scientific and Director Animal Welfare, with industry and other Industrial Research Organisation), in phone 04 474 4251, stakeholders; addition to New Zealand. The fax 04 498 9888, 3. to facilitate the development, committee meets once a year, with as [email protected] implementation and harmonisation much business as possible dealt with out

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 17 Workshops to enhance skills for animal ethics committees

The National Animal Ethics Advisory • scientists Committee (NAEAC), in conjunction • animal with MAF, last month held a series of technicians one-day workshops entitled ‘Expanding • animal ethics Horizons for AECs’. The workshops committee were for members of animal ethics secretaries. committees, and in particular for the Topics covered external members. included: Held in Auckland, Hamilton, • the Three Rs Palmerston North, Wellington and and humane A mock Animal Ethics Committee deliberating at the Wellington workshop. Christchurch, the workshops were science organised to provide an opportunity for • protocol approval and a culture of at a workshop, this was the time they animal ethics committee members to: care had to work! This involved forming • review the legislation governing their • what sort of questions to ask in three mock animal ethics committees to role reviewing a protocol consider a series of hypothetical • network and share experiences • lay member support applications to the animal ethics committee generously provided by the • enhance their skills and explore • technicians’ role prestigious ‘University of Norfolk Island’. challenging questions regarding • the value of animal models There was enthusiastic participation by animal welfare in the research, • duties and responsibilities. testing and teaching environment. attendees, who appreciated the NAEAC members and MAF staff made opportunity to attend and found it to be A total of about 125 people from a variety presentations, including time for a worthwhile experience. of backgrounds took part, including: question and answer sessions. However, Linda Carsons, Senior Policy Adviser, •lay people the highlight of the workshops was the Animal Welfare, • animal welfare organisation session where presenter and former phone 04 470 2746, nominees NAEAC member, Dr John Schofield, fax 04 498 9888, • veterinarians advised participants that since they were [email protected]

Membership of AECs

All projects involving the use of live animals in research, testing or teaching must be approved by an Kate Hellström has Committee (NAEAC) and the National animal ethics committee. been appointed as a Animal Welfare Advisory Committee Membership of animal ethics policy adviser for the (NAWAC). committees is regulated by the Animal Welfare Group. Animal Welfare Act 1999. There She holds a Bachelor of Science in The Animal Welfare must be at least one senior member Zoology, and a First Class Masters in Group promotes policies of staff from the organisation plus Resource and Environmental Science. appropriate to society’s three external members. One of these After graduating from Massey, Kate expectations for the spent some time working at the is a nominee of an animal welfare Kate Hellström. organisation approved for the humane treatment of Veterinary Council of New Zealand, purposes of the Act, such as the animals and maintains a central before heading overseas for more than Royal New Zealand Society for the position in the ongoing animal welfare two years. During this time, she worked Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The debate. Kate will be providing advice on in London for the Law Society for second is a veterinarian nominated animal welfare issues, including animal England and Wales, where she assisted by the New Zealand Veterinary ethics, to the Director Animal Welfare, in the implementation of a large IT Association and the third is a lay Group Director Biosecurity Authority project. She also travelled extensively person, not affiliated with either the and the Minister of Agriculture. through Europe, Asia and Africa. scientific community or an animal Kate will also be providing secretarial Kate succeeds Kathryn McKinnon who welfare agency, nominated by a and administrative support to both the recently transferred to a position with territorial authority or regional National Animal Ethics Advisory MAF’s Legal Section. council.

18 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 Animal welfare in airborne Arks From wetas to whales, most animals are accorded observer status, with equal transported in compliance with these can now be transported by air. Many speaking rights but no ability to vote. regulations. animals being taken to or from New The New Zealand Ministry of Observers come from a wide range of Zealand are transported by air, either Agriculture and Forestry was agencies including the Department of the in the holds of passenger aircraft, or in represented for the first time at a recent Environment, Food and Rural Affairs dedicated freighter aircraft that IATA meeting in Montreal, Canada. (formerly UK MAFF), United States Fish resemble modern day Noah’s Arks. and Wildlife Service, United States A major function of IATA is to produce Department of Agriculture, CITES and Like people, animals travel well by air, the Live Animal Regulations which are the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In and for geographically isolated countries updated annually and which establish addition, expert advice is provided by the like ours, air travel is usually the minimum standards and newly formed animal care group, which preferred means of transporting animals recommendations for a large number of has representation from the fields of into or out of New Zealand. animal species transported by air. These veterinary science and animal behaviour. Ensuring the welfare of animals during literally range from insects to elephants. air transport is of the utmost The regulations address both generic New Zealand is a smaller player in the importance, both from the animals’ issues such as container design, the international transport of animals. viewpoint and from the owners’ or provision of food and water, ventilation, However, welfare during transport is a buyers’ desire to ensure that animals and stocking densities, and also country- high profile issue here because of our arrive fit and healthy. The rules and specific requirements. geographical isolation and the long regulations governing the welfare of distances animals often have to travel to or The Live Animal Regulations are animals during air transport are set by from here. Our high animal welfare status, binding on all airline members and in the International Air Transport both from a legislative and experiential addition they are adopted by the Office Association (IATA). perspective, means that we have much to International des Epizooties (OIE), the offer; participation provides an IATA’s principal role is the development European Union, Council of Europe, opportunity for New Zealand to provide of standards and procedures to facilitate Convention on International Trade in input into the setting of welfare standards the safe international air transport of Endangered Species (CITES), and a which have world-wide application. animals. Most of the world’s airlines are large number of countries as the basis IATA members and over 80 percent of of guidelines, regulations and Wayne Ricketts, National Adviser, Animal Welfare, phone 04 474 4726, the freight transported by air is carried legislation for the transport of animals. fax 04 474 4133, by IATA member airlines. Membership In New Zealand, they are recognised [email protected] of the IATA Board is confined to through the Animal Welfare Act 1999; www.iata.org representatives of airlines. However all animals (unless exempted) that are www.cites.org representatives from other organisations transported by air must be a www.oie.int

products are commercially packaged and sealed within the original packaging. • Clarification has been made regarding imports of prepared (made-up) bottles of milk based food for infants. The New import health standards following note has been added to clause 8.12 relating to private consignments of milk based foods for infants: Frozen Argali (ovis ammon polii) semen into New Zealand from the Singapore zoo NB: up to three made-up milk based food in bottles may accompany an infant. This is a new standard based on the risk analysis “The Use in New Zealand of Imported Reproductive Material Derived from This is to allow time for parents to get to a store and purchase an Argali Sheep”, dated 22 May 2001. The standard is dated baby food once they arrive in New Zealand. 6 May 2002. This standard is now dated 18 April 2002 and replaces the one Specified products for human consumption containing dairy dated 25 January 2002. products, eggs or meat Specified pig meat products for human consumption from Italy The following amendments have been made: This is a new standard based on the import risk analysis: • This standard has been amended to include MILO Importation into New Zealand of Meat and Meat Products manufactured by Nestl Foods (Malaysia). Private dated consignments of dairy products originating from Australia March 1991. An assessment of porcine reproductive and and New Zealand may be imported provided that the respiratory syndrome (PRRS) was also carried out. The relevant

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 19 parties, including the PIB and pork importers, have been Jessie Chan, Technical Adviser, International Animal Trade, consulted. This standard is dated 1 May 2002. phone 04 498 9897, fax 04 474 4133, [email protected] Scoured animal fibre from the United Kingdom Draft guideline for approval of embryo These changes have been made in accordance with the Risk collection centres exporting ruminant Analysis for Unprocessed Fibre of sheep and goats (1998) and embryos from New Zealand the following amendments have been made: • The previous standard required the that products be derived This document sets out proposed guidelines to be used by from animals resident in a zone in which no case of foot official veterinarians when inspecting embryo collection centres and mouth disease has occurred within a 10 km radius wishing to be registered to export ruminant embryos. within the last 30 days, and from holdings that have been In order for ruminant embryos to be eligible for export from New free from foot and mouth disease for the previous 3 months. Zealand: • Another option has been added to allow imports of scoured • they must have been collected, processed and stored in a fibre from the United Kingdom that may have been derived registered embryo collection centre; and from animals prior to 24 January 2002, as this fibre would not comply with the foot and mouth disease freedom • They must be accompanied by an export certificate in the statements. The new option added is as follows: form agreed between MAF and the importing country. • The importer must provide documentary evidence that the Comment is sought on this document from interested parties, fibre has been at least 4 weeks in transit to New Zealand or including exporters of ruminant embryos, team veterinarians and the fibre must be stored in an approved transitional facility official veterinarians. for 4 weeks after arrival in New Zealand before being The deadline for submissions is 1 August 2002. eligible for biosecurity clearance. • The clause certifying that that the fibre was derived from Jennie Brunton, Technical Adviser, live animals resident in the United Kingdom or from International Animal Trade, animals which had been slaughtered in the United Kingdom phone 04 474 4116, fax 04 474 4227, to produce meat for human consumption (clause 10.8), has [email protected] been moved from the veterinary certificate to the www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/consultation.htm manufacturer’s declaration. This condition would be difficult for the official veterinarian to certify. Codes of ethical conduct – approvals, • The following condition has been added (clause 10.9) to notifications and revocations since the veterinary certificate from the UK: the last issue of Biosecurity The fibre was derived from areas where anthrax was not prevalent at the time of collection. All organisations involved in the use of live animals for research,

This condition brings the IHS in line with the risk analysis, testing or teaching are required to adhere to an approved code which concluded that anthrax is an important zoonosis. of ethical conduct. This standard is now dated 7 May 2002 and replaces the one Codes of ethical conduct approved dated 30 April 2002. • PharmVet Solutions Please see Biosecurity 8:4, notifying the public consultation, Notifications to MAF of minor amendments to codes of ethical conduct Nil and in Biosecurity 14:10, notifying completion of the risk analysis. Notifications to MAF of arrangements to use an existing code of ethical conduct www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/pests- • Ward, Christopher G (to use Waikato Institute of diseases/animals/risk/index.htm#fibre-skins Technology’s code) Equipment used with animals Codes of ethical conduct revoked or arrangements Amendments have been made to clarify clause 7.3 relating to terminated used saddles, harnesses and other animal equipment from all • Feilding Agricultural High School (to use Massey University’s countries. The amendment was made to prevent code) misinterpretation of the statement: • Parnell Laboratories NZ Ltd (to use Lincoln University’s code for South Island projects) “Halters and lead ropes may be released without inspection and treatment provided the animal meets the conditions of • PharmVet Solutions (to use South Greta Farms’ code) importation.” Approvals by the Director-General of MAF for the use of non- human hominids Nil This clarifies that halters and lead ropes may be released Approvals by the Minister of Agriculture of research or without further requirements but covers and boots must be testing in the national interest Nil inspected for ticks and other external parasites. This standard is now dated 19 April 2002 and replaces the one Linda Carsons, Senior Policy Adviser, Animal Welfare, dated 26 June 2001. phone 04 470 2746, fax 04 498 9888, [email protected]

20 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 Draft code of welfare for layer hens International standard for wood packaging The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) wishes to advise that a code of welfare for layer hens has been The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) drafted to replace the Code of Recommendations and Minimum publication 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Standards for Layer Hens, which was deemed as a code of Material in International Trade was adopted at a meeting of the welfare under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. The draft code will Fourth Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) be released for public consultation during the second half of in Rome, 11-15 March 2002. June and the consultation period will extend for 30 working The adoption of an international standard for wood packaging was days from the date of notification in the public notices column considered an important step in harmonising global application of of major daily newspapers. phytosanitary measures for wood packaging (Biosecurity 29:12). Wayne Ricketts, National Adviser Animal Welfare, The ICPM’s adoption of this standard opens the way for a world- phone 04 474 4276, fax 04 474 4133, wide reduction in the biosecurity risk of wood packaging [email protected] materials used in international trade. www.maf.govt.nz/animal-welfare The ICPM has approved two treatments for use on wood MAF seeks comments on GM testing packaging material: a heat treatment (HT) that requires heating for imported seeds the core of the wood packaging to 56 C for more than 30 minutes; or a 16 hour methyl bromide (MB) fumigation treatment MAF has released a discussion paper looking at ways to ensure at temperature-dependent dosage rates. Appropriately treated that genetically modified (GM) seeds are not released into the wood packaging material will have to be marked with the symbols New Zealand environment through seeds imported for sowing. corresponding to the country of origin, treatment used and the No GM crops are grown commercially in New Zealand and no producer of the wood packaging material. GM seeds have been approved for release. The way forward The paper Border control for genetically modified (GM) seeds It is anticipated that most of New Zealand’s major trading proposes protocols to test imported Zea mays seeds (maize, partners will take more than 18 months to align and implement sweet corn and popcorn) and Brassica napus var. oleifera seeds their own standards with the ISPM for wood packaging. The (canola and oilseed rape) for the presence of GM seeds. These alignment of New Zealand’s import requirements with the ISPM protocols are available from Gerard Clover at the address below. will depend on the outcome of an import risk analysis on wood The main proposals in the paper are: packaging material arriving in New Zealand. • No GM testing or auditing requirements for seed imported For New Zealand wood packaging mavnufacturers wishing to from countries that do not produce GM varieties (MAF would comply with the ISPM for wood packaging, contact: seek declaration from the appropriate regulatory authority); and Mark Self, National Adviser, Forest Product Export Standards, • Auditing to ensure that every third consignment of seed phone 04 498 9612, imported from other countries is tested for GM seeds [email protected] (testing can be performed offshore or at the New Zealand The ISPM and meeting report is available at: border). www.ippc.int MAF has drafted similar protocols for soybean (Glycine max) Dr Mike Ormsby, National Adviser Import Health Standards, and crook-neck squash/zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) and is seeking MAF Forest Biosecurity, phone 04 498 9630, further information to decide whether these are necessary. fax 04 470 2741, [email protected] MAF is seeking feedback about these proposals and would like to receive comments from people who are interested in or Draft standard for consultation affected by them. The deadline for comments is close of The following draft standard is available for public consultation. business, Friday 28 June 2002. The discussion paper is The draft standard is based on a review of MAFRA 152.04.03F, available from MAF directly, or on the MAF website (below). Holding and Processing Transitional Facilities. David Wansbrough, Senior Policy Analyst, phone 04 470 2768 fax 04 473 0118, BMG-STD-TFGEN, Requirements for Transitional Facilities [email protected] and Operators: Holding and Inspection of Risk Goods. Gerard Clover, National Adviser, Brendan McDonald, Programme Coordinator, Genetically Modified Organisms Plants, Border Management Group, phone 04 474 4204, phone 04 470 2743, fax 04 470 4257, fax 04 470 2730, [email protected] [email protected] www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/consultation.htm www.maf.govt.nz/gmseeds Submissions must be received by 1 August 2002.

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 21 New organism records: 30/03/02 – 17/05/02

Biosecurity is about managing risks protecting the New Zealand environment and economy from exotic pests and diseases. MAF Bi osecurity Authority devotes much of its time to ensuring that new organism records come to its attention, to follow up as appropriate. The tables below list new organisms that have become established, new hosts for existing pests and extension to distribution for existing pests. The information was collated by MAF Forest Biosecurity and MAF Plants Biosecurity during 30/03/02 17/05/02, and held in the Plant Pest Information Network (PPIN) database. Wherever possible, comm on names have been included. PLANTS BIOSECURITY RECORDS 30/03/02 – 17/05/02 Validated new to New Zealand reports: Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Cercospora alchemillicola Alchemilla mollis (lady’s Auckland NPPRL This is a newly described fungus known only from Auckland. (cercospora leaf spot) mantle) Entylomella geranii Geranium sp. Auckland NPPRL This is a newly described fungus known only from Auckland. (no common name) (no common name) Gonatophragmium obscurum Psidium guajava Auckland NPPRL This is a newly described fungus known only from Auckland. (no common name) (yellow guava) Pseudocercospora Cymbidium sp. Auckland NPPRL This fungus is newly described, but has been present in New Zealand cymbidiicola (cymbidium orchid) for more than 20 years. (Pseudocercospora leaf spot) Frankliniella intonsa Fragaria x ananassa Auckland NPPRL This thrips is widely distributed throughout the world, and has been (Eastern flower thrips) (strawberry) recorded from over 150 plant species. It is known to be transported by the cut flower trade. Pseudocercospora Camellia sp. Auckland NPPRL This fungus has been recorded from Hong Kong, Malawi, Mauritius camelliicola (camellia) and Nepal. It produces a leaf spot and is of little significance. (Pseudocercospora leaf spot) Aphodius fimetarius cattle dung Mid Canterbury AgResearch This dung beetle is associated with cattle dung and was detected over a (dung beetle) large area of the Port Hills. It is also known from Great Barrier Island. Nasonovia ribisnigri Lactuca sativum (lettuce) Mid Canterbury Crop and Food This aphid over-winters on currants, and is found in Canterbury between (lettuce aphid) Research the Ashley River in the north and the Waimakariri River in the south. Albugo bliti Amaranthus lividus Auckland NPPRL This fungus produces white pustules on the leaves of a common weed (no common name) (purple amaranth) species. Pseudocercospora Geum sp. Auckland NPPRL This fungus is of minor importance on its host, producing a leaf spot. geicola (Avens) Its current distribution includes the USA, Europe and China. (no common name) New host reports Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Rosellinia necatrix Olea europaea Auckland NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include grape, Prunus spp., apple, kiwifruit, blueberry (white root rot) (olive) and Narcissus sp. Frankliniella intonsa Capsicum annuum Auckland NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include Fragaria x ananassa. (Eastern flower thrips) (capsicum), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Dahlia coccinea (dahlia).

Pseudomonas fluorescens Lycopersicon esculentum North NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include capsicum, garden pea, potato, onion, (no common name) (tomato) Canterbury primrose, black passionfruit, tamarillo, carrot, poplar, calla lily, yam, and black currant. Pythium sp. Buxus sp. Mid Canterbury NPPRL This fungus has a wide host range and geographic distribution. (pythium root rot) (box)

Nectria haematococca Sandersonia aurantiaca Mid Canterbury NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include: kiwifruit, onion, asparagus, capsicum, (dry rot, root rot, stem rot) (Chinese lantern lily, Citrus sp., Iris sp., cucurbits, cabbage tree, cymbidium orchid, Chinese lanterns) tamarillo, carrot, persimmon, kaka beak, carnation, strawberry, rose, tomato, Narcissus sp., olive, peony, passionfruit, avocado, parsley, runner bean, pea, yucca, Prunus sp., pear, eggplant, pepino, potato, spinach, wheat, tulip, blueberry, bean, Vitis spp., and calla lily.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. Hydrangea sp. (hydrangea), Mid Canterbury NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include: kiwifruit, Citrus spp., apple, olive, feijoa, syringae (bacterial blast, Cucurbita moschata cucurbits, persimmon, tomato, avocado, dwarf bean, garden pea, brown spot) (butternut squash) Prunus spp., pear, nashi, rose and grape. Pleospora tarda Paeonia sp. (peony rose), North NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include: asparagus, echium, feijoa, oriental lily, broad (sooty mould) Cichorium intybus (chicory) Canterbury bean, tomato, parsley, passionfruit and nectarine. Nectria tawa Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Nelson NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include Lilium sp., peony and rhododendron. (no common name) Noir Clone 115 Potato spindle tuber viroid Capsicum sp. Auckland NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include: tomato. (capsicum, pepper) Colletotrichum acutatum Olea europaea Hawke’s Bay NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include kiwifruit, camellia, Capsicum spp., (anthracnose) (olive) watermelon, Citrus spp., pumpkin, cymbidium orchid, tamarillo, carnation, persimmon, loquat, feijoa, strawberry, winter rose, tomato, macadamia, apple, oleander, passionfruit, avocado, peach, Japanese plum, pear, nashi, azalea, blueberry, broad bean and grape. Fusarium culmorum Helleborus orientalis Dunedin NPPRL Other PPIN Hosts include: kiwifruit, onion, asparagus, oats, cauliflower, (fusarium leaf spot) (hellebore, winter rose) capsicum, rose, chrysanthemum, cucurbits, Cymbidium sp., tamarillo, carrot, carnation, strawberry, barley, tomato, apple, lucerne, peony, passionfruit, dwarf bean, garden pea, Prunus spp., potato, spinach, wheat, maize, grape, blueberry, and calla lily.

22 Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 PLANTS BIOSECURITY RECORDS 30/03/02 – 17/05/02 continued New host reports Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Coscinoptycha improbana Psidium guajava (tropical Northland NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include: mandarin, loquat, macadamia and (guava moth) guava), Citrus limon European plum. (lemon), Feijoa sellowiana (feijoa), Prunus persica (peach), Pyrus pyrifolia (nashi) Pseudocercospora Solanum chenopodioides Waikato NPPRL No other hosts recorded in PPIN. atromarginalis (velvety nightshade) (pseudocercosporella leaf mould) Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi Salvia lyrata (lyre-leaf sage), Auckland NPPRL This nematode has a wide geographical distribution and host range. (chrysanthemum foliar Ligularia tussilaginea nematode) (leopard plant), Eryngium tricuspidatum Aphelenchoides fragariae Petasites fragrans (winter Auckland NPPRL This nematode has a wide geographic distribution and host range. (foliar nematode) heliotrope), Potentilla sp. (cinquefoil), Diospyros kaki (persimmon) Botryotinia fuckeliana Bupleurum sp. Wellington NPPRL This fungus has a wide host range and geographic distribution. (bunch rot, stem blight) (hare’s ear) Gibberella pulicaris Clianthus puniceus Wellington NPPRL Other PPIN hosts include: tomato, cucumber, garden pea, carnation, (no common name) (kaka beak) grape, perennial ryegrass, garlic, potato, feijoa, nectarine, persimmon, avocado, kiwifruit, passionfruit, tamarillo strawberry and asparagus. Extension to distribution reports Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Atrichonotus sordidus Medicago sativa Mid Canterbury AgResearch No other distributions recorded in PPIN. (Flores weevil) (lucerne) Atrichonotus taeniatulus Medicago sativa Mid Canterbury AgResearch No other distributions recorded in PPIN. (Little fringed weevil) (lucerne) Melampsora ricini Ricinus communis Bay of Plenty NPPRL Other distributions recorded in PPIN include Auckland. (rust of castor oil plant) (castor oil plant) Gibberella pulicaris Clianthus puniceus (kaka Mid NPPRL Other distributions recorded in PPIN include Northland, Auckland, Bay (no common name) beak, parrots beak, red Canterbury of Plenty, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, kowhai) North Canterbury, South Canterbury and Dunedin.

Plants records: George Gill, Technical Adviser, Pest Management, MAF Plants Biosecurity, phone 04 470 2742, fax 04 474 4257, [email protected] ANIMAL BIOSECURITY RECORDS 30/03/02 – 17/05/02 Validated new to New Zealand reports: Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Polistes olivaceus Centaurea sp. Marlborough National Plant Pest A single, adult female and a suspect nest were found in a residential (Oriental paper wasp, (Knapweed) Sounds Reference Laboratory garden in Picton. No further specimens have been found, depite a Pacific Island hornet) search of the property and a community alert. Surveillance will resume in the spring. It is doubtful whether P.olivaceus would survive a winter in Picton. Amelia Pascoe, Programme Co-ordinator, Exotic Animal Response, Animal Biosecurity, phone 04 470 2785, fax 04 474 4133, [email protected] FOREST BIOSECURITY RECORDS 30/03/02 – 17/05/02 Validated new to New Zealand reports: Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Cercospora nogalesii Chamaecytisus Auckland Forest Research (cercospora leaf spot) palmensis (tree lucerne)

Pseudocercosporella myopori Myoporum laetum Auckland National Plant (no common name) (ngaio) Pest Reference * This was incorrectly recorded as Laboratory Pseudocercospora myopori in the last publication New host reports Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment

Gastrosarus nigricollis Agonis flexuosa Auckland Forest Research No other hosts recorded in PPIN. (no common name) (peppermint tree) Acrocercops laciniella Eucalyptus obliqua Auckland Forest Research Other PPIN hosts include: Eucalyptus. bridgesiana, yellow box, (black butt leaf miner) (messmate, messmate shining gum, red flowering gum, red ironbark, Sydney blue gum, stringy bark) blackbutt, Tasmanian blue gum, white peppermint, red gum, tallow wood, and brush box.

Acrocercops laciniella Eucalyptus Taupo Forest Research Other PPIN hosts include: Eucalyptus. bridgesiana, yellow box, (black butt leaf miner) delegatensis shining gum, red flowering gum, red ironbark, Sydney blue gum, (alpine ash) blackbutt, Tasmanian blue gum, white peppermint, red gum, tallow wood, and brush box.

Continued on back cover

Biosecurity Issue 36 • 15 June 2002 23 Continued from inside back cover

FOREST BIOSECURITY RECORDS 30/03/02 – 17/05/02 New host reports Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Phytophthora cactorum Alnus cordata Mid Canterbury National Plant Pest Other PPIN Hosts include: strawberry, chestnut, feijoa, white clematis, (leather rot, (Italian alder) Reference Laboratory apple, pear, apricot, peach, plum cherry, nashi, pansy, nectarine, phytophthora collar rot, Gypsophila sp., Rosa sp. and Trifoliata rootstock, phytophthora crown rot, phytophthora root rot)

Phyllosticta spinarum Cupressus Auckland Forest Research Other PPIN hosts include: Lawson’s cypress, kaikawaka and Californian (no common name) sempervirens redwood. (Mediterranean cypress, Swane’s golden pencil pine)

Quadraspidiotus Acmena smithii Waikato Forest Research Other PPIN hosts include grape, apple, kiwifruit, monkey apple, Citrus perniciosus (Acmena, lilly-pilly, grandis hybrid, tangelo, orange, Prunus sp., plum, Japanese plum, peach, (San Jose scale) monkey apple, white nectarine, pear and nashi. monkey apple) Coniothyrium ovatum Eucalyptus leucoxylon Wellington Forest Research No other hosts recorded in PPIN. (no common name) ssp. megalocarpa (no common name)

Colletotrichum Castanea sativa Bay of Plenty National Plant Pest Other PPIN hosts include kiwifruit, crow garlic, camellia, Capsicum spp., acutatum (Chestnut) Reference Laboratory mountain pawpaw, babaco, white sapote, watermelon, Citrus spp., pumpkin, (anthracnose, bitter rot) quince, cymbidium orchid, tamarillo, casana, turutu, carnation, persimmon, loquat, eucalypt, feijoa, strawberry, winter rose, day lily, tomato, macadamia, apple, oleander, passionfruit, Pelargonium sp., avocado, peach, Japanese plum, pear, nashi, azalea, rhododendron, chinese toon tree, blue- berry, broad bean and grape.

Strepsicrates Melaleuca fulgens Wellington Forest Research Other PPIN hosts include silver dollar tree, white ash, narrow leaved black macropetana (fiery bottlebrush, peppermint, mountain ash, Eucalyptus sp., and feijoa (casual relationship). (Eucalyptus leaf roller) scarlet honey myrtle)

Pseudocercosporella Myoporum insulare Auckland National Plant Pest Other PPIN hosts include: Ngaio. myopori x laetum Reference Laboratory (no common name) (no common name) * This was first reported on 28/03/2002 as Pseudocercospora myopori and has now been corrected to Pseudocercosporella myopori Extension to distribution reports Organism Host Location Submitted by Comment Pleistodontes froggatti Ficus macrophylla Taranaki Forest Research No other distributions recorded in PPIN. (Moreton Bay Fig wasp) (Moreton Bay fig) Nematus oligospilus Salix sp. Dunedin National Plant Pest Other distributions in PPIN include: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, (European sawfly, (willow) Reference Laboratory Mid Canterbury and Waikato. willow sawfly)

Acrocercops laciniella Eucalyptus Taupo Forest Research Other distributions in PPIN include: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, (black butt leaf miner) delegatensis Coromandel, Hawkes’ Bay, Northland and Waikato. (alpine ash)

Pseudocercosporella Myoporum laetum Wellington Forest Research Other distributions in PPIN include: Auckland. myopori (Ngaio) (no common name)

Pseudocercosporella Myoporum laetum Bay of Plenty Forest Research Other distributions in PPIN include: Auckland. myopori (Ngaio) (no common name) Forest records: Ian Gear, Acting Director MAF Forest Biosecurity, phone 04 474 4100, fax 04 498 9888, [email protected]

Exotic disease and pest emergency hotline: 0800 809 966 Animal welfare complaint hotline: 0800 327 027 www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity