Protocols and Quarantine Procedures for Importation and Release of Biological Control Agents

In the early days of weed biological control, up until the 1930s, there were no generally accepted protocols for importing biological control agents into new countries. The introduction of insects and other agents for weed biological control has always been subject to regulation, but these varied greatly from country to country. In the 60 years since then, legislation controlling import and export of live organisms has been passed in many countries, regional quarantine agreements have been drawn up, and there is now a general recognition that it is necessary to have guidelines or protocols covering the deliberate introduction of insects and pathogens into countries as biological control agents.

Legislation and protocols are needed to prevent problems that may arise from uncontrolled release of any live organisms, or biological control agents in particular. The deliberate importation and release of any organism which damages economically important crops, native flora or fauna, or beneficial organisms including other biological control agents should be avoided. Deliberate introduction of a biological control agent with potential for such damage could not only cause economic and environmental harm but also adversely affect the reputation of biological  control and so impede future biological control projects. Conflicts of interest within or between countries concerning the pest status of a weed should be resolved prior to release of a biological control agent for the weed. Proper protocols, with provision for open discussion of the proposed introductions, and consideration of all possible viewpoints, can prevent problems arising from conflicts or at least ensure that all potential problems are considered before decisions about import and release are made.

One aspect that protocols address is the method of host-testing used to determine the potential host-range of biological control agents (See Prioritising Weed Biological Control Agents and Host Specificity Studies).

The other aspect of concern is the importation and subsequent field release of a new organism into a country. Classical biological control depends on the introduction of exotic insects and pathogens and, as such, is subject to these legislative controls. Some countries with a long history of weed biological control such as Australia, Canada, and South Africa, have systems in place which have evolved over the years and are more or less satisfactory.  Other countries, when faced with a request to import an agent for the biological control of a pest, have tended either to permit the import almost without control or else to impose so many conditions and delays that legal importation becomes, in effect, impossible. Internationally accepted guidelines for the importation process can provide the basis for workable protocols in countries without protocols, and in those with highly restrictive protocols.

These issues are dealt with in more detail on the pages to the left.  For more information on procedures in Australia, go to Australian Guidelines for Reviewers of Proposals.