Importing Live Organisms to HawaiiProcedures and Permitting |
Importing living organisms to Hawaii presents many opportunities to diversify the state's agricultural base, increase recreational activities, provide research opportunities, and more effectively manage our environment. It is important, however, that the importation of each species be carefully evaluated to minimize environmental risks and to ensure that the potential benefits warrant the minor risk associated with any introduction. The benefits derived from an imported species can be fully realized only if it is accomplished without compromising native species and ecosystems.
The importation of all living organisms to Hawaii is regulated by the Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB) of the State Department of Agriculture (DOA), which maintains lists of approved, restricted, or prohibited species. If a particular species is listed and has been imported previously, and the proposed importation is for a similar purpose, then a two-page Import Permit Application (IPA) can be completed. This application requests information on the importer and specific purpose of the importation, the quantity and species to be imported, approximate date of shipment, supplier, and method of shipping. These applications are typically processed by the PQB within two weeks, and an import permit is issued.
If the importation is of a new species or for a novel purpose, the species must first be placed on a designated list, which is initiated when the IPA and complete species profile are submitted to the PQB and designated committees who are responsible for reviewing IPAs. The IPA submission, comments from the review committees, and the PQB recommendations are their presented to the Board of Agriculture, which approves or denies each request. Based on this decision, and following public hearings, the PQB places the species on one of four lists designated: prohibited, restricted part A or B, or conditionally approved.
There are separate lists for animals, plants, and microorganisms. If the species is placed on the approved or restricted lists, an import permit can be issued. This process of evaluation, listing, and public hearing typically takes three to twelve months.
The specific legal requirements pertaining to importation of animals on specific lists are established in Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Requirements in this chapter are implemented under Hawaii Administrative rules Title 4, Subtitle 61 Chapter 71.
Organisms on the prohibited list are not allowed to enter the State and are perceived to:
Species on prohibited lists are not permitted entry into the state.
Restricted organisms require a permit for both import and possession. The restricted Part A list includes species used primarily for research or display by recognized government institutions or agencies. In addition to purposes allowed in Part A, species on Part B of the restricted list can also be imported for private and commercial use including individual possession, zoological parks, and aquaculture production. All restricted species are monitored within the state after arrival and require notification to the PQB prior to transfer.
The conditionally approved list is reserved for organisms perceived to present little risk in the event of escape. These species require an import permit but are not monitored after arrival. Liberation of conditionally approved species is prohibited except under permit by the Board of Agriculture.
In order to import a living organism to Hawaii, an individual must submit an import permit application to the Plant Quarantine Branch Subject Matter Specialist located at 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813-5524. There are subject matter specialists for
The application form, available at the PQB, requires the species, number, import dates, supplier, and responsible person. As mentioned before, if the species has previously been imported and is listed on the restricted or conditionally approved list, then the IPA is processed by the subject matter specialist and a permit is issued via the Plant Quarantine Branch Manager, usually within two weeks. If the species has not been imported previously for a similar purpose, it must first be placed on a list, and the application must contain complete documentation on the species as well as a description of the holding site, facilities and safeguards, methods of disposition, and any other pertinent information. The following section describes the information required by review committees to evaluate an IPA for a new species.
An important component of an IPA for a new species or use, is a species profile that must provide enough information to allow reviewers to make a responsible, informed decision on the potential risks and benefits of the introduction. The species profile provides information on the natural history and environmental requirements of the species. The following is a list of topics that should be covered in the species profile. This list was evaluated by the Technical Advisory Review Subcommittee, and each topic was considered to be very important by a vast majority of the members.
The completed import permit application is submitted and then compiled by the PQB subject matter specialist and forwarded via the Oahu County Supervisor and Plant Quarantine Branch Manager to the Technical Advisory Review Subcommittee for review. This subcommittee, composed of researchers and other technical experts, makes recommendations that are compiled by PQB staff and forwarded via the Oahu County Supervisor and the Plant Quarantine Branch Manager to the Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals. This committee is composed of individuals from the agricultural and business communities at large. The original application, comments from the Technical Advisory Review Subcommittee, the Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals, and recommendations of the PQB Subject Matter Specialist are forwarded via the Oahu County Supervisor and Plant Quarantine Branch Manager to the Board of Agriculture (BOA) for consideration at regularly scheduled monthly meetings. The Board votes to approve or deny each import permit application. Based on the Board decision, the species is then recommended for inclusion on a designated species list.
Following the BOA vote, the species lists, which now include any species proposed for importation, are placed on the agenda for public hearings. These hearings are scheduled annually or semi-annually in each county. Public input at these hearings is compiled by the PQB Specialist, and the amended species lists are forwarded with recommendations via the Oahu County Supervisor and the Plant Quarantine Branch Manager for the Governor's signature. The species proposed for importation are then legally on a designated. list and the IPA is again heard by the Board of Agriculture who may attach specific conditions to the importation. The import permit, with any conditions, can then be issued via the Plant Quarantine Branch Manager. The entire procedure typically takes from six to twelve months, depending largely on how efficiently it flows through the process with regard to scheduled BOA meetings and public hearings. The subcommittee and committee reviews, along with compilations by PQB staff, normally require less than six months.
The import permit procedure is designed to regulate entry of living organisms into Hawaii to protect resident populations from unwanted competition and pathogens. The permit application review accomplishes this, while at the same time allowing for the importation of species that have research, display, or commercial potential and present minimal environmental risk.
Financial support for this work was provided by the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA grant # 90-38500-5045).
Financial support for this work was also provided by the Aquaculture Development Program, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (contract #34096).
This paper was funded in part by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, project #A/AS-1, which is sponsored by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (SOEST), under Institutional Grant No. NA36RO507.
The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CTSA, USDA, NOAA, or any of their subagencies. This is Sea Grant publication UNIHI-SEAGRANT-FS-94-01.
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