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A new import health standard for importing fresh cut flowers and foliage for decorative purposes

UPDATES

3 December 2024 – Online information sessions

We would like to meet with you to discuss the proposed IHS, hear your thoughts on the risk management proposal, and to answer questions you may have.

See the online sessions

27 November 2024 – Draft IHS minor omissions corrected

The Draft IHS has been updated to fix these omissions:

  1. Thailand was omitted as an approved country in the Dracaena and Oncidium commodity schedules.
  2. Some of the Pest Plants from table 6 of the RMP, were omitted from the commodity schedules of the draft IHS.

See the consultation documents

Background to this consultation

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is proposing a new Import Health Standard: Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage for Decorative Purposes.

The new standard will replace these 3 existing import health standards for cut flowers and foliage:

  • Cut Flowers and Foliage
  • Cut Flowers and Branches Cordyline and Dracaena Species from All Countries
  • Oncidium Cut Flowers.

All 3 standards are frequently used to enable imports but have not been updated for several years. We needed to review the biosecurity risks of importing cut flowers and foliage to ensure these risks are still being effectively managed.

We also wanted to fulfil requests to add new countries and new genera of cut flowers and foliage. This involved assessing the biosecurity risks and identifying suitable ways to manage them.

Have your say

We are proposing several key changes, as listed in section 1.6 of the RMP:

  • The genera available to import.
  • The countries available to import from.
  • A bilateral arrangement (export plan) between MPI and the exporting country’s NPPO may be required.
  • We are providing additional ways to safely import cut flowers and foliage.
  • No longer requiring a treatment to devitalise cut flowers and foliage.

From 19 November 2024 to 7 February 2025, you're invited to give us feedback about the proposed new standard and the RMP.

Details of the rationale for the new standard and its requirements are in the risk management proposal (RMP).

Consultation documents

Draft IHS for Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage for Decorative Purposes [PDF, 890 KB]

RMP for Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage for Decorative Purposes [PDF, 755 KB]

Related document

NZL 775 – SPS Notification – Amendment IHS – Cut Flowers and Foliage for decorative purposes [PDF, 93 KB]

Making your submission

Email your feedback on the consultation documents by 5pm on 7 February 2025 to PlantImports@mpi.govt.nz

Make sure you include in your submission:

  • the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
  • your name and title (if applicable)
  • your organisation's name (if you're submitting on behalf of an organisation)
  • your contact details (for example, phone number, address, and email).

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

Plant Products Team
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

All submissions received by the closing date will be considered before the amended IHS is issued.  MPI may hold late submissions on file for consideration when the issued IHS is next revised or reviewed.

Questions and answers sessions

If you would like to attend an informal session with us, let us know which of these times you would like to attend by emailing plantimports@mpi.govt.nz

Date and time of the sessions

  • Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 9am to 11am
  • Thursday, 12 December 2024, 1pm to 3pm.

Send questions through before the meeting, as this helps us prepare.

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 how we develop and change import health standards

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

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.

MPI business units