The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must consult with interested parties before issuing or amending (other than of a minor nature) import health standards (IHSs) in accordance with Section 23 of the Biosecurity Act (1993).
An IHS specifies phytosanitary requirements that must be carried out, either in the country of origin or of export, during transit, or in quarantine, before biosecurity clearance can be given for the commodity to enter New Zealand. MPI must ensure that these requirements are technically justified and provide an appropriate level of biosecurity risk management.
MPI proposes to amend the IHS for fresh apples from the United States of America (State of California & Washington) to remove additional declarations for Gymnosporangium clavipes and Operophtera brumata.
Information supporting the proposed amendment of this IHS can be found in the Risk Management Proposal [PDF, 347 KB].
Comments on the proposed amendment to the IHS should be forwarded to MPI by close of business on Monday 1 September 2014. MPI encourages respondents to forward comments electronically. Please send submissions to: plantimports@mpi.govt.nz.
However, should you wish to forward submissions in writing, please send them to the following address by close of business on Monday 1 September 2014.
Plant Imports
Plants, Food & Environment
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Please make sure you include the following information in your submission:
- the title of this discussion document;
- your name and title;
- your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation); and
- your contact details (e.g. phone number, address and email).
Submissions received by the closure date will be considered for the final issue of the amended IHS. Submissions received after the closure date may be held on file for consideration when the issued IHS is next revised/reviewed.
Please note that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA. Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as the information is commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld. Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.
