Enabling imports of Prunus cerasus x Prunus canescens plants for planting

Consultation background

From 29 April 2022 to 13 May 2022, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invited comment on proposed changes to the standard Prunus Plants for Planting (MPI.IHS.PRUNUS.PFP).

We asked for your feedback about enabling imports of the hybrid Prunus cerasus x Prunus canescens under the current Prunus plants for planting import requirements.

Full details of the proposed changes are in the consultation document.

Consultation document

Risk management proposal – Enabling imports of Prunus cerasus x Prunus canescens plants for planting [PDF, 645 KB]

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 more about the process on how the standards are developed

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.

Find out more

Steps to importing plants for planting (nursery stock)

Prunus Plants for Planting – Import health standard [PDF, 479 KB]