Steps to importing nursery stock

Check the Plants Biosecurity Index

The Plants Biosecurity Index (PBI) is a searchable database of over 30,000 plant species. It provides information on whether they can be imported into New Zealand as seeds or nursery stock. You can use this tool to search for the import specifications of any genus or species listed in the database. You'll need to know your plant's scientific name (genus and species) to search.

Search for your plant species in the PBI

How to interpret the search results

The PBI search results state whether a species can be imported as nursery stock. The column "Nursery Stock Import specification" shows the section you need to read in the import health standard (IHS) to find out the entry requirements for that species.

IHS: Importation of Nursery Stock 155-02-06 [PDF, 3.6 MB]

You cannot import the species if it is:

• not listed
• listed as "Entry prohibited"
• listed as "Requires assessment"
• listed as "Suspended".

If your species "requires assessment", you have 2 other options.

1. Check the other column in the PBI to see whether you can instead import this species as seeds.
2. Ask MPI about having the nursery stock assessed for biosecurity risks. Email plantimports@mpi.govt.nz

If the search results show "not listed", check to see if it is listed by another name (synonym). If you know the plant has another name but this name isn't listed in the PBI, you can ask us for a synonym assessment.

If your nursery stock is not listed in the PBI, you can apply to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to determine whether the species is a new organism or not. If the EPA determines the species is not a new organism, it can be added to the PBI as "Requires assessment". MPI will still need to assess the biosecurity risks associated with the species and develop an import specification before it can be imported.

Find out more about importing new species – EPA 

Plants that haven't been imported for a long time

You should check if the plants you want to import are on this list:

• Plant genera with specific import requirements that may require significant review before imports can be permitted [PDF, 407 KB]

If they are on the list, email plantimports@mpi.govt.nz

The document is a list of genera that have not been imported into New Zealand in more than 5 years. This means that the biosecurity requirements may be out of date. MPI will need to reassess potential biosecurity risks which might lead to changes in import requirements. Importers looking to import species on this list should contact us before booking post-entry quarantine, applying for an import permit, or ordering plants.

MPI is unable to advise whether a permit will be issued until after this assessment. Importers should take this into account when planning to import goods. Any financial or other commitments made are at the importer’s own risk.

Internationally protected plants

Check whether your nursery stock is a protected species. Some plants are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). These protected plants cannot be transported between countries or can only be imported with a CITES permit. MPI does not manage these permits.

Check if your plants are on the CITES list – Species+

Find out about getting a CITES permit – Department of Conservation

Check for other import restrictions

Check with the New Zealand Customs Service whether:

• you can import the product without restriction
• the product will be subject to duties or tariffs
• you need a New Zealand Customs permit.

Import entry process – NZ Customs Service

Biosecurity requirements are detailed in documents called import health standards. As the importer, you are responsible for complying with these requirements. This standard is updated frequently. Never rely on a saved version. Always access it from the MPI website. The website always has the most up-to-date version.

Standard 155.02.06: Importation of Nursery Stock [PDF, 3.6 MB]

Kiwifruit (Actinidia), avocado (Persea americana), Citrus, and Prunus nursery stock have their own standards.

See the full list of import health standards

Read the standard for your plant species thoroughly to make sure you can comply with all the requirements.

How to use the standard Importation of Nursery Stock 155-02-06

Read the standard thoroughly to make sure you can comply with all the requirements for the plant species you intend to import.

• Section 1 includes definitions, general information, CITES, and equivalence information.
• Section 2 has information about inspection at the border, entry conditions, import permits, post-entry quarantine, treatments and testing, biosecurity clearance, and conditions (including New Zealand nursery stock returning from overseas).
• Section 3 includes the schedule of special entry conditions for certain species (including post-entry quarantine requirements).

All nursery stock must meet:

• the basic conditions in section 2, and
• any special conditions for the species in section 3.

If you're importing whole plants, cuttings, or dormant bulbs, make sure you also check the pesticide treatments and pest-specific measures (sections 2.2.1.6 to 2.2.1.14).

If you're importing tissue culture, make sure you also check the specific entry conditions for tissue culture (section 2.2.2). Often you can import tissue culture without an import permit or post-entry quarantine. There are some exceptions. Check the import health standard to make sure.

Ask MPI if you're not sure

If you don't understand the requirements in the standard or the results in the Plants Biosecurity Index, email Plantimports@mpi.govt.nz

Checking that you can comply with the requirements.

Once you understand the import requirements for your plant (listed in the import health standard), check 2 things:

1. That your exporter can meet the requirements before export.
2. That you can meet the conditions for your plants on arrival. These could include treatment, testing, or post-entry quarantine.

Communicate the requirements to your exporter. Make sure your exporter can meet these requirements. If your plants need to be treated before export, check that your exporter can get the required chemicals in their country.

Requesting an assessment under equivalent measures

If your plants can't meet all the requirements in the standard (for example, if the required chemical treatment is not available in the exporting country), you can ask MPI about assessing your plants under equivalent measures. This is known as "equivalence".

You'll need to:

• Propose an alternative measure to manage the risk.
• supply information to show how the risks managed by the requirements you can't comply with will be managed to an equivalent level (for example, by providing information about the chemical treatment you wish to use)
• provide MPI with supporting information, as listed in each import health standard.

MPI will let you know if your request is approved. Fees apply for equivalence assessment.

To ask about equivalence, email plantimports@mpi.govt.nz

What is post-entry quarantine?

During quarantine, nursery stock is actively grown in controlled conditions that allow the plant to show symptoms of particular pests, if it has them, and to contain the pests safely. Your nursery stock will be inspected and may be tested for pests or diseases. Fees apply.

If your nursery stock needs to be held at a post-entry quarantine (PEQ) facility, you will need to find a facility that can hold your plants.

PEQ requirements for tissue culture are in section 2.2.2.6 of the nursery stock import health standard.

PEQ requirements for everything else are in section 2.2.1.14 of the nursery stock import health standard. If your species require specific requirements, they are in section 3.

Contact an MPI-approved facility to discuss a booking. This facility needs to be listed on your import permit application. Any financial commitments made prior to getting your permit are at your own risk.

Find details for the MPI-approved PEQ facilities that take bookings

Find out about MPI's PEQ facility, pricing, and bookings

You need a permit to import nursery stock. There are a few exceptions, which are listed in the import health standard. Check the import permit requirements for your plant species in the standard.

Apply early. We assess permit applications and aim to process them within 30 business days, although complex or incomplete applications may take longer. Permits are valid for 1 year from the date of issue.

One permit can be used for multiple imports, from the same country of export, for species approved for import into New Zealand. You can apply for a single use permit if you would prefer. Fees apply.

MPI is unable to advise whether a permit will be issued until after this assessment. Importers should take this into account when planning to import goods. Any financial or other commitments made prior to MPI issuing a permit are at the importer’s own risk.

Permit to import nursery stock application form (PDF version) [PDF, 237 KB]

Permit to import nursery stock application form (Word version) [DOCX, 105 KB]

All nursery stock must be inspected and certified by the national plant protection organisation (NPPO) before it can be exported. Make arrangements with the exporter to contact the national plant protection organisation (NPPO) for the plants:

• to be inspected
• treated with chemicals (if that is a requirement in the import health standard)
• certified with a phytosanitary certificate.

These arrangements must be done before the plant can be exported.

Find an NPPO – International Plant Protection Convention

Obtaining a treatment certificate

If your nursery stock needs to be treated, ask your exporter or treatment supplier for a treatment certificate. The invoice or batch information should match the treatment certificate details. This treatment certificate is provided to endorse the phytosanitary certificate.

Having made the appropriate arrangements with the national plant protection organisation (NPPO), you will obtain a phytosanitary certificate if all the requirements are met. All imported nursery stock requires a phytosanitary certificate, which is issued in the exporting country.

Your consignment needs to meet all the requirements for a phytosanitary certificate (including additional declarations) before it is exported. Make sure your exporter obtains a phytosanitary certificate that has the exact wording of the additional declarations in the import health standard. If the wording is not the same, there could be delays at the border while MPI assesses the risk of your product.

The exporting country's NPPO will issue a phytosanitary certificate when they are confident that the requirements of New Zealand's import health standard have been met.

The NPPO must confirm any treatments that have been applied by recording this in the "Disinfestation and/or Disinfection Treatment" section of the phytosanitary certificate.

Some countries use an electronic system to send MPI the certificates in a secure way. Other countries issue paper certificates. If you’re getting a paper certificate, the original phytosanitary certificate must be included with your consignment.

This is not a requirement, however some services provided by New Zealand Customs can only be accessed by registered customs brokers. A customs broker will help you get import entry clearance.

Many freight and transport companies employ their own brokers.

Find a customs broker – Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation

Customs brokers have experience using Trade Single Window, which is a joint initiative between the New Zealand Customs Service and the Ministry for Primary Industries. This site enables importers, exporters, freight forwarders, shipping lines, agents and others to:

• securely submit online craft and cargo information required by Customs, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Maritime New Zealand and the Ministry of Health
• receive responses from those agencies
• register to get client codes required by the agencies.

If you do not wish to use a customs broker, you will need to apply to become a registered user (declarant) of TSW and for a declarant code. You will need to complete NZQA standards, training through Customs and/or a competency assessment by a Customs officer.

Find out more about Trade Single Window

MPI approves transitional facilities to hold and manage imported goods that might have a biosecurity risk. MPI staff need to inspect nursery stock at a transitional facility before they can clear it.

Sometimes your goods may need to be treated at the facility too.

All air and sea containers arriving in New Zealand need to be taken to a transitional facility and unpacked there.

You or your customs broker need to arrange for your goods or container to be transferred to a transitional facility when they arrive. You should make these arrangements before your goods are shipped to New Zealand.

Only a few facilities take nursery stock. For all consignments that are not arriving on a direct airway bill to the Air New Zealand cargo terminal, you can choose one of the facilities listed on this web page:

• Finding a transitional facility

All treatments must be carried out at an approved transitional facility and be done by an approved treatment provider. You are liable for any costs associated with treatments and any contamination.

Search for an approved treatment provider [PDF, 223 KB]

Prior to shipping, make sure your nursery stock is correctly labelled and packaged. Correct labelling and packaging prevent your plants getting damaged in transit and will prevent delays at the border.

Labelling

Before your consignment is packed, make sure everything is labelled and that the wording is the same as the wording used on all your other documents.

• Each type of plant species must be labelled with its scientific name (genus and species).
• Each unit or line of nursery stock must be labelled.
• For multiple varieties, each variety may have a unique identifier – cultivar name, line ID, variety name or code.
• The outside of the box must say "Contains live plant material".

Make sure the exporter inserts a copy of the phytosanitary certificate and import permit (if required) in an envelope, addressed to "MPI doc", and attaches the envelope securely to the outside of the package so it can be easily seen.

If your consignment is arriving by mail (not seafreight or airfreight), make sure the number of the MPI account you want the inspection charged to is printed on your parcel, as well as your contact details.

If you do not have an account with MPI and wish to set one up, complete a credit application form.

Application for credit account [PDF, 300 KB]

Email your completed form to accountsreceivable@mpi.govt.nz

Packaging

The package must be clean and free from soil, pests, and other contaminants. Inner and outer packaging should be in a secure rigid container, such as a robust box, crate or cooler box.

When packing tissue culture:

• ensure that the tissue culture is produced in a facility under conditions that prevent contamination with regulated pests
• keep it in the vessel in which it was grown
• use a tissue culture vessel that is pest-proof and transparent
• ensure that the tissue culture medium is free from fungicides and antibiotics.

Packaging material should be inert (non-living) or synthetic.

If your plants are coming in packaging such as wood crates or peat, the packaging needs to comply with its own import requirements to ensure there are no hidden pests or diseases.

Find out more

Importing wood packaging

Fertilisers and growing media of plant origin: Import Health Standard [PDF, 371 KB]

You can now arrange for your plants to be shipped and apply for a biosecurity authority/clearance certificate (BACC).

Airfreight

If your plants are coming by air, your broker can book an inspection before your goods are shipped (before you have the BACC). For sea freight and express freight, wait until Step 11 (after you have the BACC).

To book an inspection, your customs broker will need:

• the airway bill
• importer and exporter details, including country of origin
• the nature of goods – tissue culture or plants
• the number of lines and packages.

Contact your local border clearance office to book an inspection.

List of border clearance offices

Choose a time that is between 12 and 24 hours after the estimated arrival time of the flight. Track the shipment, stay on top of flight delays, and update your booking via phone accordingly. For inspections at the Air New Zealand cargo terminal, contact the cargo terminal directly.

Biosecurity authority / clearance certificate (BACC)

Your nursery stock needs a biosecurity authority / clearance certificate (BACC). The name of this certificate is somewhat misleading. Having a certificate does not mean your goods are cleared to enter New Zealand. Instead, the certificate is a legal direction that says what your goods are authorised to do next.

Ask your customs broker to apply for a BACC as soon as you have all the documents you need. Your broker will apply for this using an online portal called Trade Single Window

To avoid delays, your broker should apply for your BACC early so that your consignment does not have to wait at the border while MPI processes your application.

Give your broker all the relevant documents as soon as you have them. For example, give them your:

• phytosanitary certificate
• import permit
• bill of lading or air waybill
• invoice
• packing list
• chemical labels for any treatments.

Make sure your broker tells MPI which approved transitional facility your consignment is going to and whether you have booked an inspection.

Your BACC application may be eligible for urgent processing. If your goods have unexpectedly arrived or you are importing live plants, ask your customs broker to let us know and to request urgent processing by email manifest@mpi.govt.nz

Your broker should include your Trade Single Window (TSW) number in the email and mention that the consignment contains live plants.

Trade Single Window

What happens in the on-arrival document check

An MPI inspector will check the documents your customs broker has sent. They only review paperwork. They do not look at your goods in person.

MPI aims to process your BACC application within 3 business hours for airfreight and within 21 business hours for sea freight. The MPI inspector will issue a BACC with the next steps for your consignment. The inspector checks that all required documents are present and in the correct format.

If the documents are not correct or show that the consignment does not meet requirements, the MPI inspector may issue a BACC requiring:

• documents to be corrected
• the consignment to be held while waiting for assessment
• the consignment to be treated after inspection
• the importer to decide whether they want the consignment reshipped or destroyed.

If the BACC requires you to make a decision, your customs broker will let you know.

Most of the time, this step will be done by your customs broker. If the MPI inspectors are happy with your documents, they will direct your goods for physical inspection. Your goods are then sent to the transitional facility (TF) you named on your Biosecurity Authority/ Clearance Certificate (BACC) application. Your broker will now need to book a time for an MPI inspector to go to the transitional facility to inspect your consignment.

Contact your local border clearance office to book an inspection.

List of border clearance offices

Airfreight

If your plants are coming by air, you can book your inspection before you have the BACC and even before shipping – see Step 10.

If your plants are imported with a passenger, you should provide MPI Border Clearance (at the airport of arrival) advanced notice of your arrival (ideally 48 hours). The advanced notice will be achieved by obtaining a BACC (this will also allow for time to properly screen import documents for perishable nursery stock).

If inspection cannot be carried out at the port of entry due to lack of notification, the importer/permit holder must have prior arrangements with an approved transitional facility where the goods will go to for inspection prior to PEQ.

Seafreight

If your plants are coming by sea, you can book the inspection as soon as you have the BACC.

Seafreight is held at the port of arrival or at the initial unpack transitional facility until your application has been processed.

Express freight (goods delivered via courier service)

There are currently no express freight companies with facilities that are approved for MPI inspections of nursery stock. Arrange for your nursery stock to go to a transitional facility that is approved for MPI inspections before your goods arrive (see Step 8).

You can book the inspection as soon as you have the BACC.

At some transitional facilities, you may be asked to help. It’s a good idea to do this if you can.

How the inspector takes samples of your plants

Inspectors take samples to inspect based a homogeneous lot at a species level. This means MPI treats several varieties that are all the same species as one lot. The inspector will randomly select a sample from all varieties and all packages of that species.

The inspector must inspect at least 600 units per lot (section 2.1 of the import health standard). If there are less than 600 units in the lot, the inspector will inspect every unit.

What happens during inspection

If your plants needed to be accompanied by the original phytosanitary certificate, the inspector will retrieve this from the package.

The inspector will check that:

• the consignment is as described
• everything is correctly labelled
• the consignment and packaging are free from contaminants (soil, insects, seeds).

They will also inspect your plants for any presence of pests or diseases.

If your consignment doesn't comply on arrival

There are several ways your consignment can fail inspection – missing paperwork, damage, or contamination.

Missing paperwork

If the original phytosanitary certificate was lost, the inspector may wait to receive advice from another part of MPI. Your plants may be able to go to PEQ while waiting for the advice.

Contaminated or damaged containers

Give your broker a "standing order" as to how they should respond in this situation to speed up the process. Most importers choose to have damaged containers disposed of, along with the plants or tissue cultures that are in them.

Contaminated packaging or nursery stock

If the inspector finds contamination in the packaging or on your nursery stock, they will tell you the options for the consignment. Depending on the type of pest or disease found, you may choose to:

• have your plants treated (for example, using insecticides/miticides)
• have the organism identified at a lab (and treat the plants if it's a regulated pest)
• have your plants shipped to another destination country (reshipped)
• have your plants destroyed.

All treatments must be done at an MPI approved transitional facility and by an approved treatment provider. For some pests, lab identification is mandatory. You must pay any costs associated with non-compliance or contamination.

Approved treatment providers [PDF, 223 KB]

MPI-approved pest identification services [PDF, 418 KB]

Search for a pest name in the Official New Zealand Pest Register (ONZPR)

After the inspection

The inspector will issue a new Biosecurity Authority/ Clearance Certificate (BACC) that contains the instructions for your consignment. Possible instructions are:

• Release the goods.
• Move the goods to a post-entry quarantine facility.
• Hold the goods to wait for documents or a decision from the importer on whether to treat, reship or destroy.
• Hold the goods and wait for the organism to be identified.
• The goods are authorised to be treated.
• A non-compliance report (NCR) has been issued.
• Reship the goods.
• Destroy the goods.

If you need to make a decision, your customs broker will let you know.

Transferring your plants to post-entry quarantine (PEQ)

Your customs broker will now have an updated BACC authorising your nursery stock to be transferred to Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ), if required. The nursery stock cannot be transported to PEQ before it has a BACC that authorises it to go there.

For nursery stock imported with a passenger, the plant material may only be transported to the PEQ facility by:

• the importer (the contact person listed on the import permit, or a person with a letter of authorisation from the contact person)
• the operator of the PEQ facility (the operator of the facility listed on the import permit, or a person with a letter of authorisation from the operator)
• a 'track and trace' parcel courier.

To obtain biosecurity clearance, all entry conditions listed in the import health standard for your plant species must be met.

Your nursery stock will be cleared for release into New Zealand when an MPI inspector is satisfied that all the requirements have been met, including the time your plants need to stay in Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ). They will check that:

• the documentation is official and has all the information MPI needs
• all required treatments have been applied
• the nursery stock is not infected or showing signs of infection with a regulated pest
• plants that were actively grown in the PEQ facility have been inspected
• plants that were tested were found to be free of specified organisms.

If the plants still cannot be given biosecurity clearance, you will be given the option to have your plants reshipped or destroyed.