Regulations which make it lawful to possess and spread material containing rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD) are now in effect.

The rabbit killing virus is now widespread in the South Island and the Government says banning it is pointless.

Biosecurity Minister, Simon Upton, says the effect of the Biosecurity (Rabbit Calicivirus) Regulations 1997, which took effect yesterday, is to deem that from 24 September 1997 RCD is established in New Zealand and the offence of possessing material containing the virus no longer applies.

The Regulations will not provide a retrospective immunity to those who have acted in breach of section 21 of the Animals Act. The Ministry of Agriculture still intends to prosecute those responsible for introducing the virus into New Zealand and those involved in the initial spreading of it. Investigations in this area are continuing.

The Minister said the Government had also introduced legislation into the House today so as to give Parliament the opportunity to consider the matter fully

Mr Upton said MAF's Chief Veterinary Officer would now consider whether the status of the RCD virus as an "unwanted" organism should be retained. "Given that the Biosecurity Amendment Bill Number 4, which is due to become law, would introduce an offence of spreading an unwanted organism, it seems inconsistent for RCD to retain its unwanted organism status in light of the Government's decision that it should be made legal," the Minister said.

(25.9.97)


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