Which vegetables are affected by onion smut?
Onion smut (Urocystis cepulae) is a disease affecting fresh vegetables from the Allium genus. These include:
- onions (Allium cepa)
- shallots (Allium cepa var. aggregatum)
- leeks (Allium porrum)
- chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Garlic (Allium sativum) is affected by onion smut as well but is treated differently for Australia. For garlic requirements, see Australia's Importing Countries Phytosanitary Requirements (ICPRs).
Importing Countries Phytosanitary Requirements (ICPRs)
To stop the spread of onion smut, some overseas markets have extra phytosanitary (plant health) requirements.
These are on top of the steps you need to take to export any fresh vegetables.
What you need to do to export fresh vegetables
Exporting Allium vegetables to Australia
What you need to do depends on:
- which vegetables you're exporting
- where they were grown in New Zealand
- where they're going in Australia
Follow the steps to find out what you need to do.
Step 1: Get an overview of Australia's phytosanitary requirements
Importing Countries Phytosanitary Requirements (ICPRs)
Step 2: Read the requirements for the region you're exporting to
Australian (mainland) Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON)
Plant Biosecurity Manual for Tasmania
Norfolk Island Biosecurity Determination
Step 3: Find out how to meet the requirements
A common requirement is to get a phytosanitary certificate declaring your vegetables were grown in an area or on a site free from onion smut.
Maps of areas free from onion smut
Find out more about exporting Alliums to Australia
What a phytosanitary certificate is and how to get one
Download Allium crops to Australia – Plant Export Requirement [PDF, 180 KB]
Exporting Allium vegetables to markets other than Australia
If you're exporting to an overseas market other than Australia, check the Importing Countries Phytosanitary Requirements (ICPRs) for your market.
The ICPRs tell you any extra steps you need to take to stop the spread of onion smut.
Common extra steps include:
- registering your site or using a registered grower (if the ICPR requires it)
- providing a declaration that confirms the vegetables were grown in an area or production site free from onion smut.
Maps of areas free from onion smut
Use an Independent Verification Agency (IVA)
An Independent Verification Agency (IVA) can help you:
- understand what you need to do
- get the certification you need
- get your site registered.
IVAs usually charge for their services.
Independent Verification Agencies
Find a registered site if your market requires it
Some overseas markets will only accept Allium vegetables grown on sites free from onion smut. These are sites verified by an IVA as being free from onion smut.
Registered sites certified by AsureQuality
Registered sites certified by SGS New Zealand
Areas free from onion smut
Download these maps to see which areas are free from onion smut. The status of areas can change often, so it's important to check the maps regularly.
You can download a map of New Zealand. If you need more detail, download one of the area maps.
New Zealand areas free from onion smut [PDF, 1.7 MB]
North Island
Manawatu, Opiki and Horowhenua areas free from onion smut [PDF, 5.9 MB]
Northland areas free from onion smut [PDF, 3.3 MB]
Waikato and Katikati areas free from onion smut [PDF, 4 MB]
Rangitikei areas free from onion smut [PDF, 2.3 MB]
South Island
Ashburton areas free from onion smut [PDF, 6.5 MB]
Blenheim areas free from onion smut [PDF, 6.1 MB]
Nelson areas free from onion smut [PDF, 6.6 MB]
Onions grown in Hawke's Bay
Onion smut has been found in parts of Hawke's Bay and some export restrictions are in place.
If your site is in one of 3 exclusion zones, you can't export any Allium vegetables to any overseas market.
Hawke's Bay exclusion zone 1 [PDF, 3.3 MB]
Hawke's Bay exclusion zone 2 [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Hawke's Bay exclusion zone 3 [PDF, 3.6 MB]
Overview map of Hawkes Bay Onion Smut Exclusion Zones [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Hawke's Bay areas outside exclusion zones
If your site is in the Hawke's Bay area (see map linked below) and outside the exclusion zones, you might be able to export Allium vegetables. You might need to get a phytosanitary certificate saying your production site is free from onion smut.
Hawke's Bay area map [PDF, 2.9 MB]
Production sites located inside the shaded area and not within an exclusion zone of the Hawke's Bay area map can export Allium vegetables to Australia once they have been surveyed for onion smut and cleared. This is known as production site freedom.
The way we identify which areas and sites are free from onion smut is in the Official Assurance Programme (OAP) document.
Who to contact
If you have questions about the extra requirements for onions, shallots, leeks, chives or garlic, email plantexports@mpi.govt.nz
