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Proposed changes to the nursery stock import health standard to amend measures for viruses on Hoya plants for planting

UPDATE – 29 November 2024

Final import health standard issued

The final version of the Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) import health standard has been issued.

The Hoya schedule has been amended with the following changes:

  • Hoya undetermined tobamoviruses have been removed from the schedule’s quarantine pest list. As such, pre-determined testing for these viruses will no longer be required for any commodity type.
  • Two new quarantine pests have been added to the schedule: Alstroemeria necrotic streak virus and Tomato chlorotic spot virus. Measures for these viruses only apply to tissue cultures and include additional declarations or a minimum of 3 months in PEQ (and a permit to import).

Nursery Stock – Import Health Standard [PDF, 3.6 MB]

Consultation background

From 21 June to 20 August 2024, we invited comments on the proposed changes to the importation of nursery stock import health standard (155.02.06). The proposed changes are to manage the risks of viruses on Hoya plants for planting, specifically:

  • the addition of phytosanitary measures for the management of Alstroemeria necrotic streak virus and tomato chlorotic spot virus on Hoya plant hosts, including options for off-shore and on-shore management
  • the removal of the measures for Hoya undetermined tobamoviruses on Hoya plant hosts.

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

Consultation documents

Draft Nursery Stock IHS [PDF, 7.4 MB]

Risk management proposal – Hoya amendments [PDF, 489 KB]

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 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

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.

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

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