Draft import health standards for importing fresh Citrus fruit for human consumption

Consultation background

From 22 October to 19 December 2021, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invited comment on proposed fresh Citrus import health standards.

• MPI reviewed the pests and measures in existing fresh Citrus for human consumption import health standards and schedules from Australia, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, New Caledonia, Samoa, Spain, USA, and Vanuatu.
• MPI also assessed new market access requests for Citrus from Brazil, China, Cook Islands, Egypt, Fiji, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Caledonia, Peru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Viet Nam.
• Justification for the phytosanitary measures required in the draft standards were in the risk management proposal (RMP).

Full details of the proposed changes were in the consultation documents.

Consultation documents

Draft import health standards

Draft IHS for Importing Fresh Mexican Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) for Human Consumption [PDF, 462 KB]

Draft IHS for Importing Fresh Tahitian Lime (Citrus latifolia) for Human Consumption [PDF, 460 KB]

Draft IHS for Importing Fresh Lemon (Citrus limon) for Human Consumption [PDF, 472 KB]

Draft IHS for Importing Fresh Pomelo (Citrus maxima) for Human Consumption [PDF, 474 KB]

Draft IHS for Importing Fresh Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) for Human Consumption [PDF, 470 KB]

Draft IHS for Importing Fresh Orange (Citrus sinensis) for Human Consumption [PDF, 472 KB]

Draft IHS for Importing Fresh Mandarin, Tangelo and Tangor (Citrus reticulata, Citrus reticulata × Citrus paradisi, and Citrus reticulata × Citrus sinensis) for Human Consumption [PDF, 519 KB]

Risk management proposal

Risk Management Proposal: Fresh citrus fruit (Citrus) for human consumption [PDF, 972 KB]

Pest lists

Draft commodity pest lists: Fresh citrus fruit for human consumption [PDF, 600 KB]

Draft Country commodity pest lists: Fresh citrus fruit for human consumption [PDF, 1.3 MB]

Draft Commodity country pest lists: Fresh citrus fruit for human consumption [PDF, 1.3 MB] 

WTO notifications

NZL 664 - SPS notification - IHS Fresh Grapefruit [PDF, 94 KB]

NZL 665 - SPS notification - IHS Fresh Pomelo [PDF, 94 KB]

NZL 666 - SPS notification - IHS Fresh Mexican Lime [PDF, 94 KB]

NZL 667 - SPS notification - IHS Fresh Lemon [PDF, 94 KB]

NZL 668 - SPS notification - IHS Fresh Mandarin, Tangelo and Tangor [PDF, 95 KB]

NZL 669 - SPS notification - IHS Fresh Orange [PDF, 94 KB]

NZL 670 - SPS notification - IHS Fresh Tahitian Lime [PDF, 94 KB]

Related information

Import Risk Analysis: Citrus fresh fruit for human consumption [PDF, 6.8 MB]

MPI 2021: A novel method of determining a cold treatment for fruit flies associated with Citrus [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Approved Biosecurity Treatments [PDF, 1.1 MB]

ePest: Online pest database for fruit and vegetable importers

ONZPR: Official New Zealand Pest Register

Steps to finalising a new IHS

After consultation on a draft IHS, MPI publishes a provisional IHS.

If you made a submission during the consultation, you have 10 working days to notify the Director-General of MPI that you intend to request an independent review. Reviews are limited to whether specific scientific evidence was given sufficient consideration.

If no review is requested within 10 working days, then the provisional IHS is confirmed and the final IHS is issued.

For more information about reviews refer to Section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 – NZ Legislation

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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) an 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.