Download Psittaciformes - Draft import risk analysis (December 2012)

Live psittacine imports from Australia and England have previously been permitted into New Zealand. In 1997 these imports ceased although aviculturists and individual pet owners have continued to submit requests for psittacine imports and bird smuggling remains an ongoing concern. Illegal importations have no sanitary controls and therefore represent an unmanaged biosecurity risk to New Zealand.

Historically, large numbers of exotic birds have been imported into New Zealand with little consideration of biosecurity issues. These importations have resulted in the establishment of free-living populations, as well as many other species kept in captivity. This import risk analysis examines the biosecurity risks posed by infectious or parasitic agents when importing live psittacine birds from any country. Consideration of a list of 194 preliminary hazards has identified 24 organisms or diseases of concern which require further consideration. Of these, 16 have been identified as potential hazards and subject to a risk assessment. As a result of this, a non-negligible risk is identified with Newcastle disease virus and avian paramyxoviruses 2 and 5, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, psittacine herpesvirus, psittacinepox virus, avian reovirus, West Nile virus, avian bornavirus, Bordetella avium, Coxiella burnetii, Salmonella Gallinarum-Pullorum and S. arizonae, Plasmodium spp. and Leukocytozoon spp., helminths, and ectoparasites

Options are presented for effective management of risk including country or flock of origin freedom, isolation in quarantine for suitable periods, testing for disease agents or for antibodies to the agents, and treatment for internal and external parasites.