FORM NOR Application for approval to IMPORT FOR RELEASE OR RELEASE FROM CONTAINMENT ANY NEW ORGANISM INCLUDING A GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM BUT EXCLUDING CONDITIONAL RELEASE AND RAPID ASSESSMENT [Short title is: New Organism Unconditional Release] under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Application Title: Release of a leaf weevil for biological control of buddleia Applicant Organisation: Forest Research ERMA Office use only Application Code: Formally received:____/____/____ ERMA NZ Contact: Initial Fee Paid: $ Application Status: Application for approval to import for release or release FORM NOR from containment any new organism including a genetically modified organism but excluding conditional Page 1 release and rapid assessment, under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 IMPORTANT 1. An associated User Guide is not yet fully developed. If you need guidance in completing this form please contact ERMA New Zealand. 2. This application form covers importation for release or release from containment of any new organism (i.e. full or unconditional release) including genetically modified organisms but excluding conditional release and rapid assessment, under section 34 of the Act 3. If you are making an application to import for release or release from containment any new organism with controls (i.e. conditional release) use Form NOCR. If you are making an application to import for release a new organism that is not a genetically modified organism by rapid assessment use Form NORA. If you are making an application to field test any new organism use Form NO4. 4. You should periodically check with ERMA New Zealand or on the ERMA New Zealand web site for new versions of this form. 5. You can talk to an Applications Advisor at ERMA New Zealand who can help you scope and prepare your application. We need all relevant information early on in the application process. Quality information up front will speed up the process and help reduce costs. 6. This application form may be used to seek approvals for importing more than one new organism where the organisms are of a similar nature. 7. Any extra material that does not fit in the application form must be clearly labelled, cross-referenced, and included as appendices to the application form. 8. Commercially sensitive information must be collated in a separate appendix. You need to justify why you consider the material commercially sensitive, and make sure it is clearly labelled as such. 9. Applicants must sign the form and enclose the correct application fee (plus GST). The initial application fee can be found in our published Schedule of Fees and Charges. Please check with ERMA New Zealand staff or the ERMA New Zealand website for the latest schedule of fees. We are unable to process applications that do not contain the correct initial application fee. 10. Unless otherwise indicated, all sections of this form must be completed for the application to be progressed. 11. Please provide an electronic version of the completed application form, as well as sending a signed hard copy. 12. Note: Applications for full (unconditional) releases (this form) shall be publicly notified by the Authority under section 53(1)(b) and may go to a hearing pursuant to section 60 of the Act. You can get more information by contacting us. One of our staff members will be able to help you. ERMA New Zealand 20 Customhouse Quay, PO Box 131 Wellington, NEW ZEALAND Telephone: 64-4-916 2426 Facsimile: 64-4-914-0433 E-mail: [email protected] www.ermanz.govt.nz 20 Customhouse Quay, Cnr Waring Taylor & Customhouse Quay PO Box 131, Wellington Phone: 04-916 2426 Fax: 04-914 0433 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ermanz.govt.nz Application for approval to import for release or release FORM NOR from containment any new organism including a genetically modified organism but excluding conditional Page 2 release and rapid assessment, under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Section One – Applicant Details 1.1 Name and postal address in New Zealand of the organisation or individual making the application: Name >Forest Research (attention: Nod Kay) Postal Address >Private Bag 3020, Rotorua Physical Address >Sala St., Rotorua Phone > (07) 343 5899 Fax > (07) 348 0952 E-mail >[email protected] 1.2 If application is made by an organisation, provide name and contact details of a key contact person at that organisation This person should have sufficient knowledge to respond to queries and have the authority to make decisions that relate to processing of the application. Name >Dr Richard Hill Position >Consultant entomologist to Forest Research for the purpose of this application. Address >Richard Hill & Associates, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch 20 Customhouse Quay, Cnr Waring Taylor & Customhouse Quay PO Box 131, Wellington Phone: 04-916 2426 Fax: 04-914 0433 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ermanz.govt.nz Application for approval to import for release or release FORM NOR from containment any new organism including a genetically modified organism but excluding conditional Page 3 release and rapid assessment, under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Phone >03 325 6400 or 03 332 2543 Fax >03 325 2074 E-mail >[email protected] 1.3 If the applicant is an organisation or individual situated overseas, provide name and contact details of the agent authorised to transact the applicant’s affairs in relation to the application This person should have sufficient knowledge to respond to queries and have the authority to make decisions that relate to processing of the application. Name > N/A Position > Address > Phone > Fax > E-mail > 20 Customhouse Quay, Cnr Waring Taylor & Customhouse Quay PO Box 131, Wellington Phone: 04-916 2426 Fax: 04-914 0433 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ermanz.govt.nz Application for approval to import for release or release FORM NOR from containment any new organism including a genetically modified organism but excluding conditional Page 4 release and rapid assessment, under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Section Two – Purpose of the Application and Reasons for Requesting a Full (Unconditional) Release This form is to be used for a standard (publicly notified) application (i.e. other than by rapid assessment), to import for release, or release from containment, any new organism (including a genetically modified organism). It is not intended to cover conditional releases. 2.1 Give a short summary statement of the purpose of this application to be used on ERMA New Zealand’s public register – Maximum 255 characters (including spaces and punctuation) Briefly describe the organism(s) to be imported for release or released from containment and the purpose(s) for which you wish to release the organism(s). Note: An organism is „released‟ when it is not required to be held in a containment facility registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Once released it is no longer considered a new organism. >Approval is sought by Forest Research to release the new organism Cleopus japonicus Wingelmüller (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from containment. This leaf-feeding weevil has been identified as one of several insect species that show promise as biological control agents for the increasingly serious weed buddleia (Buddleja davidii). 2.2 Provide a brief description of the background and aims of the proposal suitable for lay readers Describe in less than one page the rationale for the proposal to release these organisms, including the potential use for the organism(s), so that people not directly connected with the application can understand the reasons for the release. >Buddleia (scientific name Buddleja davidii Franchet) is a garden escape that is spreading in New Zealand, and is an environmental and economic threat. It is the most serious weed of new pine plantations in eastern central North Island, and its impact is likely to spread. It germinates and grows better on gravely areas than any of its native competitors. As a result, it is pushing out the flora and fauna of stream beds and margins in places such as Te Urewera National Park, and even threatens iconic lakeside and river landscapes around Queenstown. In most places buddleia is too far out of control for conventional control measures to be practical on their own. The leaf-feeding weevil Cleopus japonicus has been identified as the most promising of several insect species that could help to suppress damage from the weed biologically. The weevil is from China, where buddleia is its natural host plant. Buddleia leaf weevil was imported from China into containment at Rotorua in 1993, and its suitability for release has been under evaluation since then. All risks posed by the proposed release of the buddleia leaf weevil, including those of particular importance to Māori, have been identified and assessed. Experiments have been carried out in China and New Zealand to 20 Customhouse Quay, Cnr Waring Taylor & Customhouse Quay PO Box 131, Wellington Phone: 04-916 2426 Fax: 04-914 0433 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ermanz.govt.nz Application for approval to import for release or release FORM NOR from containment any new organism including a genetically modified organism but excluding conditional Page 5 release and rapid assessment, under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 estimate the range of plants on which this weevil can feed and lay eggs. These experiments showed that the weevil could attack other Buddleja species in New Zealand, but not B. salvifolia, a useful plant for bees. The studies also conclude that the risk to other environmentally and economically important plants in New Zealand from introducing the weevil is low.