What this import process covers
On this page, we outline the steps you need to follow to bring in research samples.
This process covers a wide variety of items – plant cells, tissue cultures, seeds, fruits, vegetables, cuttings, bulbs, flowers, tubers, foliage, wood, pulp, and timber and organic elements like soil. It also covers inert materials such as water. For import purposes, plant-derived samples are any material derived from Plantae, Mycenae, Protista, and Cyanobacteria.
If you are importing animal-derived samples, email animalimports@mpi.govt.nz
Activities that are considered research
'Research' covers activities involving:
- testing
- analysis
- evaluation
- teaching.
We know that the importing process can be difficult, and we’ve done our best to streamline it. Part of this has been to ensure that how we define research is consistent with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Consequently, the guidance on this page applies to any Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act approvals that allow for plant or microbial research.
About importing research samples
You can often import the materials, samples, and goods for research under more than one import health standard (not just the Research Samples Import Health Standard). This means that if you can meet the requirements listed in the standard and provide the required documentation, goods can be imported under regulations that are not specific to research. For example, water samples are generally easier to import under the import health standard for soil, rock, sand, clay, and water.
Import Health Standard: Soil, Rock, Sand, Clay, and Water [PDF, 351 KB]
However, we are aware that as a researcher, this is not always possible. You may be sourcing unusual materials or find it difficult to gain access to official documentation such as a phytosanitary certificate or to follow the suggested treatments. If this is you, we have designed our regulations to make importing research samples easier.
Import Health Standard: Research Samples (excluding animal samples) [PDF, 312 KB]
