Release of a New Organism

 

An application for 'release' must be made to ERMA New Zealand to import a new organism for uncontrolled use in the environment. The uncontrolled use in the environment is essentially anywhere outside a registered containment facility (ie any situation other than zoos, containment laboratories or a contained field test situation). A Committee of the The Authority assesses each application before deciding whether or not to approve the release.

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

Though you may only wish to import a small number of organisms, such as seeds or animals, this is considered to be a 'release'. We need to consider the potential effects of the organism being spread more widely. Note that once one approval has been given - any other person is free to make further imports of the same organism. Therefore, we need to consider the possibility that the organisms may be released throughout the country.

In addition to approval from the Authority, any importation of an organism requires approval by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) Biosecurity Authority. They consider the biosecurity risks associated with any organisms, such as what pests and diseases they may carry into the country. This is a separate process to ours. For more information see MAF's Import Information.

There are two application options available to import a new organism for release:

1) Rapid Assessment for Release

This process does not include public consultation, and is therefore quicker than the standard process. To be accepted under this rapid process, you need to provide sufficient scientific information that the 'release' of the new organism meets low risk criteria in the HSNO Act. For example:

  • the new organism could not establish a self-sustaining population in the field (taking into account ease of eradication);
  • must not be capable of displacing any native species within its natural habitat; or
  • must not be able to breed with any native species.

Application Form:

Other useful information:

2) Standard Assessment for Release

The standard assessment application process includes public consultation. Consultation by the applicant with Māori is likely to be needed in situations where risks of significance to Māori have been identified.

A major difference of the standard assessment process compared with the 'rapid assessment' process, is that risks, costs and benefits of the application are weighed in the decision-making process. Therefore, some level of risk (and cost) may be acceptable as long as the benefits outweigh the risks (and costs). These issues must be addressed in the application.

NewOrganisms@ermanz.govt.nz or


Telephone/Fax ERMA New Zealand Offices at:
Tel: +64 4 916 2426.
Fax: +64 4 914 0433.

Application Forms:

  • Import for Release or Release from Containment any New Organism including a GMO but EXCLUDING Conditional Release and Rapid Assessment (NOR-1) [pdf - 202 kb] or [word - 200 kb].
  • Import for Release or Release from Containment with Controls any New Organism (NO-CR) [pdf - 205 kb] or [word - 406 kb].

Other useful information: