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Proposed changes to the seeds for sowing import health standard

Update – 17 March 2025

Updated import health standard

Following the consultation that closed on 31 January 2025, the following pests (and related measures for these pests) have been removed from the standard:

  • Pseudomonas syringae pv. cannabina and Xanthomonas campestris pv. cannabis from the Cannabis sativa schedule
  • Strawberry latent ringspot virus (strains not in New Zealand) from the Fragaria schedule
  • Septoria helianthi from the Helianthus schedule
  • Coniothyrium lavandulae and Phoma lavandulae from the Lavandula schedule (and removal of this schedule from the standard)
  • Plum pox virus from the Prunus schedule
  • Tarsonemus granarius from the Triticum schedule
  • High plains virus from the Zea schedule.

The following pests have been removed from the standard as a minor amendment:

  • Tobacco ringspot virus from the Solanum tuberosum schedule
  • Penicillium brevicompactum from the Pinus schedule
  • Prune dwarf virus (strains not in New Zealand) from the Prunus schedule.

Seeds for Sowing – Import Health Standard [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Consultation background

From 25 November 2024 to 31 January 2025, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invited comments on proposed changes to the seeds for sowing import health standard (155.02.05).

The changes remove some pests from pest lists in the standard (and related measures for these pests). That's because they are not a risk for New Zealand on the seed pathway, based on current scientific evidence:

  • Pseudomonas syringae pv. cannabina and Xanthomonas campestris pv. cannabis from the Cannabis sativa schedule
  • Strawberry latent ringspot virus (strains not in New Zealand) from the Fragaria schedule
  • Septoria helianthi from the Helianthus schedule
  • Coniothyrium lavandulae and Phoma lavandulae from the Lavandula schedule
  • Plum pox virus from the Prunus schedule
  • Tarsonemus granarius from the Triticum schedule
  • High plains virus from the Zea schedule.

Consultation documents

Risk management proposal: Amendments to the Import Health Standard Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05) [PDF, 490 KB]

Draft import health standard: Seeds for Sowing [PDF, 3 MB]

Related document

NZL 776 - SPS Notification - Proposed amendments to IHS 155.02.05 Seeds for sowing - WTO notification [PDF, 118 KB]

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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