Skip to main content

Proposed amendments to the Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels and supporting documents

UPDATE – 13 October 2023

The Craft Risk Management Standard for Vessels has been issued.

Following the consultation that closed on 29 August 2022, MPI has released the final CRMS: Vessels along with the review of submissions.

At this stage the Operational Code: Vessel Biofouling Inspection Provider Scheme (the Code) will not be issued with the CRMS: Vessels. We are currently in the process of assessing the operational aspects of this scheme and will keep industry updated. This will not impact the operation of the CRMS: Vessels as the new minimum evidence requirements will not be enforced until March 2025, and the Code should be issued by then.

Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels [PDF, 1 MB]

Review of submissions [PDF, 1 MB]                                                                                                           

Submissions received [PDF, 1 MB]

Consultation background

From 30 June to 29 August 2022 the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invited comments on proposed amendments to the draft Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels and supporting documents.

MPI merged and reviewed the requirements of the:

  • Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels (2018), and
  • Craft Risk Management Standard: Biofouling on Vessels Arriving to New Zealand (2018).

Biosecurity requirements for all arriving international vessels were collectively included in the proposed Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels.

A summary and justification of the changes were in the Risk management proposal for the Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels.

MPI also sought feedback on a guidance document to allow ease of access to the vessel biofouling inspection requirements of the Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels. This applied to vessel operators, but also may need to be understood by third-party vessel biofouling inspection providers. We wanted your comments on what:

  • format you may prefer to see the information in
  • further resources you may like to see in the document
  • further guidance you may like to see in the document.

Full details of the proposed amendments were in the consultation documents.

Consultation documents

Draft Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels [PDF, 578 KB]

Risk Management Proposal for the Craft Risk Management Standard: Vessels [PDF, 725 KB]

Draft Operational Code: Vessel Biofouling Inspection Provider Approval Scheme [PDF, 1.3 MB]

Discussion document for the Operational Code: Vessel Biofouling Inspection Provider Approval Scheme [PDF, 340 KB]

Guidance document: Vessel biofouling inspections [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Related document

WTO SPS Notification – NZL 692 Craft Risk Management Standard for Vessels [PDF, 98 KB]

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