Alien Species.vp - IUCN

Paula Warren
behaviour of decision-makers and resource managers. For example, the Minister of
Conservation and her department are advised by a New Zealand Conservation Authority and 17
local Conservation Boards appointed by the Minister. They are expected to provide a voice for
public opinion on conservation matters, including decisions on pest control work.
Public processes can be costly, and can slow decision-making. New Zealand legislation
often allows minor or urgent decisions to be exempt from public process requirements in order
to reduce unnecessary costs. For example, in the case of new organism importations, organisms
which meet the requirements to be considered “low risk” organisms are approved through a
process that does not involve public submissions and hearings.
Cost-benefit analysis
Choices are essentially the result of considering the balance between costs and benefits of an
action. New Zealand’s biosecurity system deals with costs and benefits in several ways. Certain
costs associated with the arrival of new alien species are judged by Parliament to be
unacceptable. Decisions cannot be made which would allow those costs to be accepted, no
matter how high the benefits might be. For example, the Hazardous Substances and New
Organisms Act 1996 states that certain organisms are prohibited from New Zealand. They
cannot be imported, nor can they be trans-shipped through New Zealand. Currently 43
organisms, genera, families or classes of organisms (e.g. all snakes) are prohibited. Additional
organisms can be added to the list by Order-in-Council (a process involving the executive body
of the Government plus the Head of State).
The Act also sets minimum standards for imported species. If a species does not comply with
the minimum standards (which cover risks to biodiversity and human health), it cannot be
approved even when supported by evidence of high benefits from importation. For intentional
new organism importations, if these minimum standards are met, a cost-benefit analysis is then
undertaken. Essentially, the legislation allows the importation if the positive benefits outweigh
the adverse effects.
The Biosecurity Act 1993 is based on the presumption that risks of unintentional
introduction of alien species associated with the importation of goods or organisms must be
controlled to an acceptable level. The cost of achieving that level of risk is considered, but this
only operates at the margins. Essentially, the benefits of importation are not a relevant matter in
deciding what level of risk will be accepted. But equally, without evidence of risk, the good
may be imported even without evidence of benefits from the importation.
For control of already-established pests, a cost-benefit analysis is also undertaken. This will
consider the benefits of the proposed control and the costs (direct and indirect) of undertaking
that control.
What costs and benefits are relevant?
The legislation controlling the consideration of new organism importations clearly addresses
this matter. It defines “effect” to include:
1. Any potential or probable effect;
2. Any positive or adverse effect;
3. Any temporary or permanent effect;
4. Any past, present, or future effects;
5. Any acute or chronic effect; and
6. Any cumulative effect which arises over time or in combination with other effects.
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