Regulatory challenges for biological control

Abstract

Much has been published internationally about the challenges and even frustrations that appli- cants often face when trying to obtain approval to introduce a new biological control agent. Barratt et al. (2010) described the intense controversy surrounding the biosafety of biological control, an issue that was hotly debated during the 1980s and 1990s. The situation finally eased once funding was made available to conduct research in this area, and as regulatory standards for biological control introductions were being developed and implemented. The challenge then transitioned from a question of whether risk assessment was necessary at all, to one of how biosafety can be demonstrated to regulators, and how long it would take to obtain an approval.