Department of Agriculture

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is proposing to amend the list placement of a fungus,Beauveria bassiana GHA, from the List of Restricted Microorganisms (Part A) to the List of Nonrestricted Microorganisms under HDOA’s Microorganism Import Rules, chapter 4-71A, Hawaii Administrative Rules (Rules), which will facilitate import for purposes such as microbial product registration intended for sale and distribution in Hawaii. 

B. bassiana GHA is currently placed on the List of Restricted Microorganisms (Part A) by genus and, by virtue of that placement, is classified as a high-risk microorganism which may be imported by permit for purposes approved by the Board of Agriculture (Board.)  Based on scientific research that concluded with reasonable certainty that B. bassiana GHA probably presents a minimal risk to the environment, HDOA recently reassessed the risk level of B. bassiana GHA and concluded that it should appropriately be classified as a nonrestricted microorganism.  The proposed amendment to (1) delete the fungus, B. bassiana GHA, from the Beauveria genus listing on the List of Restricted Microorganisms (Part A) and (2) add the fungus, Beauveria bassiana GHA, to the List of Nonrestricted Microorganisms under HDOA’s Rules, will allow B. bassiana GHA, contained in pesticides, Mycotrol^®O and Botanigard^®ES, registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to be imported without permit but through product registration to allow sale and distribution in Hawaii, as authorized under the Microorganism Import Rules.

 Mycotrol^®O is a biopesticide listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), a nonprofit organization that reviews and determines products allowed for use in organic production, processing and handling.  Products listed by OMRI may be used on operations that are certified organic under the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program.  Mycotrol^®O and Botanigard^®ES are the only apparent chemical control options for coffee farms in the Kona district of Hawaii island that are infested with Coffee Berry Borer, a serious pest of coffee. 

These proposed import list amendments will proceed through an expedited amendment process which provides for adoption of amendments through order proposed by the Board subsequent to public notification and opportunity for input through press release and publication in the Office of Environmental Quality Control Bulletin, mailed notice to persons who make timely written request of advance notice of rulemaking proceedings, as well as through public meetings of the Board and its Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals.  This expedited process provides for adoption of amendments through Board order and approval by the Governor.  Approved amendments will be published in a daily or weekly publication(s) of statewide circulation and will go into effect 10 days following publication.

The proposed exact changes and the order proposed by the Board if the requested changes are adopted may be viewed at the Department of Agriculture’s website at: https://hawaii.gov/hdoa/Info/proposedrules/proposed-administrative-rules.  A copy of the proposed order and the proposed exact changes will be mailed to any interested person who requests a copy upon payment in advance of costs for photocopying, preparing, and mailing the copy.  A copy of the proposed order and proposed exact changes may be obtained for inspection or, alternatively, for pick-up after payment in full of costs for photocopying and preparing the copy at the following Plant Quarantine Offices:

Oahu:      1849 Auiki Street, Honolulu, HI 96819;  PH: (808) 832-0566

Kauai:      4398A Pua Loke Street, Lihue, HI 96766;  PH: (808) 274-3071

Maui:       635 Mua Street, Kahului, HI 96732;  PH: (808) 873-3556

Hawaii:     16E Lanikaula Street, Hilo, HI 96720;  PH: (808) 974-4141  

The Department of Agriculture is soliciting comments regarding the above-referenced proposed changes during the next thirty days.  Oral or written comments may be communicated to the Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB) at the Oahu address or phone number shown above, or by fax to (808) 832-0584, or e-mail to [email protected].  Interested persons are also encouraged to attend the public meetings of the Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals, as well as the Board, on the proposed changes and should contact PQB at (808) 832-0566 for projected meeting dates and times.  Notice of the Advisory Committee and Board meetings is posted at www.ehawaiigov.org/calendar at least six days in advance of the meetings.

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