Import a New Organism into Containment

Applications may be submitted, to ERMA New Zealand, to import a new organism (including a genetically modified organism) into containment for a variety of purposes (eg research, conservation, production of biopharmaceuticals or display). A Committee of the Authority assesses each application before deciding whether or not to approve it.

The Authority has discretion to notify the public of receipt of applications to import new organisms into containment. The default position is that receipt of such applications will not be publicly notified, unless there is likely to be significant public interest. Therefore, such applications may be processed either by the notified or non-notified paths, depending on the nature of the application. If the application is publicly notified, then it is subject to a public consultation process.

Under the HSNO Act, containment facilities are defined as those which are registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) under the Biosecurity Act (1993). A key element in containment applications is the provision of information on how the applicant proposes for the organism to be contained. In making its decision, the Authority will look closely at the containment regime proposed by the applicant. Any approval will have a set of formal containment requirements that must be met by any user of an approval.

Note that, unless an approval states otherwise, an approval to import a new organism into containment may be used by any person (not just the applicant), provided that all the controls are adhered to.

Note that all organism imports are subject to MAF's biosecurity requirements. Therefore you should also contact MAF http://www.maf.govt.nz if you wish to import a new organism.

Application Forms:

Sample Application Forms

 

User Guides:

Other useful information:

For more information about pdf documents see About pdfs.