Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
Closing Date:
Contact: Plant imports
Have your say
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking your feedback on the proposed changes to the Import Health Standard (IHS) for Nursery Stock: 155.02.06. The changes are to the import requirements for management of regulated plant mites under ‘Basic conditions’ in part 2.2.1.6(b) of the IHS – pesticide treatments for whole plants and cuttings.
The consultation will run from 28 February to 9 April 2020.
Full details of the proposed changes are in the consultation documents.
Consultation documents
Draft IHS: Import Health Standard for Nursery Stock 155.02.06 [PDF, 7.9 MB]
Draft risk management proposal for the Import Health Standard for Nursery Stock 155.02.06 [PDF, 3.7 MB]
What’s being proposed?
- Changes are proposed for chemical treatment options to manage regulated plant mites on imported whole plants and cuttings under Basic conditions of the current Import Health Standard for Nursery Stock 155.02.06 (part 2.2.1.6b ‘Pesticide treatment for whole plants and cuttings).
- We are proposing multiple treatment options using different chemicals either in combination or as standalone chemical treatment. While various new chemical options are proposed, Abamectin and Dicofol are still remaining.
- MPI proposes to remove specific measures for Tetranychus kanzawai (Kanzawa spider mite) from the following 6 schedules in the current Import Health Standard for Nursery Stock 155.02.06. Those schedules are Calanthe, Dahlia, Tricyrtis, Verbena, Hydrangea and Gentiana.
- Specific measures for Tetranychus kanzawai are no longer required because the proposed measures for a generic treatment (part 2.2.1.6 b ‘Pesticide treatment for whole plants and cuttings) for all regulated plant feeding mites are also effective in managing mites belonging to the genus Tetranychus, the spider mites.
- A new treatment combination (rate/time/temperature) for current Methyl bromide fumigation option to manage plant feeding mites on whole plants and cuttings in the same part of the Import Health Standard for Nursery Stock 155.02.06 is proposed.
Making your submission
Email your feedback on the draft by 5pm on 9 April 2020 to Plantimports@mpi.govt.nz
Make sure you include in your submission:
- the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
- your name and title (if applicable)
- your organisation’s name (if you’re submitting on behalf of an organisation)
- your contact details (for example, phone number, address and email).
While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:
Plant Imports
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.
All submissions received by the closing date will be considered before the amended import health standard (IHS) is issued. MPI may hold late submissions on file for consideration when the issued IHS is next revised or reviewed.
Next steps
After we have considered all submissions there is a 10 day period which provides submitters with the opportunity to examine any changes to the IHS which have resulted from the consultation. An independent review (under section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993) may be requested in this period if a submitter considers scientific evidence they raised during their submission has not received sufficient consideration. If there is no review, the IHS becomes final after 10 days.
Find out more about the process
Submissions are public information
Any submission you make becomes public information. Anyone can ask for copies of all submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the information available unless we have a good reason for withholding it. You can find those grounds in sections 6and 9 of the OIA. Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include, it’s commercially sensitive or it’s personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may require the information is released.
Legal background
MPI must consult with interested parties in accordance with section 23 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and MPI’s consultation policy before issuing or amending (other than of minor or urgent nature) import health standards (IHS) under sections 24A and 24B of the Act.
An IHS specifies import requirements that must be met either in the country of origin or of export, or during transit before biosecurity clearance can be given for the goods to enter New Zealand. MPI must ensure that these requirements are technically justified and provide an appropriate level
of biosecurity protection.
