A project seeking registration for a new-to-New Zealand bioinsecticide has received approval under the Hazardous Substances and New Organism Act (HSNO) to import the granulovirus product for testing in a secure containment facility.
A Lighter Touch, together with Vegetables New Zealand and Key Industries Ltd, is taking the bioinsecticide for the control of diamondback moth (DBM) through the regulatory pathway with the goal of mapping the complexity of biopesticide regulations.
An additional benefit of providing growers with another crop protection option for DBM, a priority pest in brassica crops, is the reduction in pesticide resistance risk that a new mode of action option will bring to the market.
The HSNO approval allows the biological active ingredient in the biopesticide to be imported as a “New Organism” under containment for host range testing against DBM and other possible hosts in New Zealand. This work will be done in a secure, purpose-built facility by Bioeconomy Science Institute, Plant & Food Research group.
A diamondback moth caterpillar.
The HSNO approval was necessary because laboratory testing of DBM larvae collected in New Zealand has failed so far to detect the presence of the virus which is the active ingredient in the bioinsecticide.
The HSNO decision stated that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) committee assessing the application considered that conducting testing of the virus in containment may lead to moderate to high benefits on the economy and the environment.
“In evaluating all the potential effects of the new organism and all the measures available for risk management, the committee concluded that the potential beneficial effects outweigh the potential adverse effects,” the decision read.
DBM is a priority pest in brassica crops.
As part of the regulatory approval process, the project team consulted with tangata whenua. Information relating to ecotoxicity and human health considerations was requested and provided to the Ngāi Tahu HSNO Komiti so they could make a risk assessment against their cultural values. The Komiti provided a position statement concluding the bioinsecticide would be of low risk.
This position statement has been shared with other iwi and Māori horticulture businesses with an interest in the project, and also with Tāhuri Whenua, the National Māori Vegetable Growers Collective.
As part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI) containment work, approval under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act (ACVM) is required. This is achieved through BSI’s ACVM operating plan which is under revision by MPI allowing work on new organisms to be in scope.
Learn more about this project here.
