EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Amendment of the List of Specimens Taken to be Suitable for Live Import
in accordance with section 303EC (1) (e)
(Issued under Authority of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage)
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), in general terms, a live specimen is allowed to be imported only if it is included on the list of specimens suitable for live import.
The list was established in accordance with s303EB of the EPBC Act and has two parts. Part 1 comprises species exempt from the need for an import permit under the EPBC Act. Part 2 comprises species that can be imported with a permit under the EPBC Act.
Ceriodaphnia dubia is a species of Crustacean that is found all over the earth in temperate areas where there is a suitable supply of fresh water. C. dubia is commonly used in freshwater toxicology across the world and is listed and recommended in many freshwater guidelines for toxicity testing. Curtin University wish to amend the list to include this species to allow specimens to be imported as dormant eggs, and then incubate and hatch the specimens so they will be of a uniform age, which provides greater accuracy in test results.
The effect of this instrument is to add C. dubia to Part 2 of the list of specimens suitable for live import, for research purposes, and only to be held in a Quarantine Approved Premise. Specimens will be destroyed on completion of the research.
Adding C. dubia to Part 2 will allow this species to be imported for non-commercial purposes. The conditions attached to this species will mean that import can only occur if the specimens are for eligible non-commercial purposes (excluding household pets and travelling exhibition) and the specimens must be held Quarantine Approved Premises.
In determining whether to amend the list of specimens suitable for live import to include C. dubia on Part 2, the Minister considered the outcomes of an assessment report prepared in accordance with s303EF of the EPBC Act. Copies of the assessment report are available at the following website:
http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/publicnotices/archive/draft-report/water-flea.html
The assessment report was published on the Department of the Environment and Heritage website and comments sought. The Qld Minister for Environment and two public comments received opposed the import of C. dubia. The issues of concern raised were that the species could be sourced within Australia using existing protocols for toxicity testing for such organisms. In addition it was stated that there is uncertainty relating to the taxonomy of the species and it is possible that the species being imported is a genetically distinct to that found in Australian waters. If the imported C. dubia is accidentally released or escapes it may compete with native species. Concern was also raised regarding the fact that the no consideration was given by the applicant as to the method of disposal of the species once the research is completed. This is, however, addressed by the requirements of a Quarantine Approved Premise.
A decision to amend the live import list was made on the basis that the security provisions in place to prevent release and/or escape outweighed the potential risks associated with this species.