EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import Amendment
(Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi) Instrument 2018
Instrument under subparagraph 303EC (1)(a)(i)
Issued under authority of the Minister for the Environment
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), a live specimen is allowed to be imported only if it is included on the List of Specimens Taken to be Suitable for Live Import (Live Import List).
The Live Import List was established under section 303EB of the EPBC Act and has two Parts. Part 1 comprises of unregulated specimens exempt from the requirement for an import permit under the EPBC Act. Part 2 comprises allowable regulated specimens that can be imported with a permit under the EPBC Act.
The effect of this instrument is to:
- amend the Live Import List to include Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi (a freshwater snail) in Part 2 with the conditions: ‘Research only. High security facilities only’.
- relist six species of Oyster (Crassostrea gigas, Crassostrea sikamea, Crassostrea virginica, Ostrea edulis, Ostrea conchaphila and Ostrea lurida) as individual listings. Due a formatting error during the initial listing of the oysters, they appear as a single entry. As a consequence any changes to one species would require approval to amend the listing of all six species.
Amendments to the Live Import List can be made either on the initiative of the Minister or by application. This amendment to add Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi was initiated by an application made to the Minister under section 303EE of the EPBC Act.
In accordance with subsection 303EF(2) of the EPBC Act, the draft risk assessment report was published on the Department of the Environment and Energy’s website and public comments sought between 26 October and 22 November 2017. One response was received seeking further clarification on minor aspects of the biology of the snails. The applicant provided a response to these questions to the Department’s satisfaction. The applicant’s additional information was considered in the Department’s final assessment
Consultation was carried out also in accordance with subsection 303EC (3) of the EPBC Act. In this case, the Department of the Environment and Energy consulted with relevant Commonwealth, state and territory agencies for the environment, conservation and agriculture. The comments received were considered in the Department’s final assessment. Two states/territories responded, both supported amending the Live Import List to include Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi.
The final report was provided to the Minister. In accordance with paragraph 303EC(5)(a) of the EPBC Act, the Minister considered the report before deciding to amend the list to include Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi in Part 2 of the Live Import List.
On 28 March 2018, the Minister added six species of oysters to the Live Import list. This amendment for individual listing has no effect on the listing conditions, other than to allow each species to be managed separately rather than as a group, in the event that a species’ taxonomic name changes or the listing conditions for one species are altered by the Minister.
This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003. It commences the day after registration.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import Amendment
(Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi) Instrument 2018
This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or
declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Legislative Instrument
The purpose of this instrument is to amend Part 2 of the List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import to include Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi (a freshwater snail) and to relist six species of Oysters individually rather than as a single entry.
Human rights implications
This Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.
The Hon Melissa Price MP
Minister for the Environment