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Proposed changes to the Seeds for Sowing import health standard

Update – 6 August 2024

Provisional import health standard and review of submissions

Following the consultation, MPI has released the provisional import health standard along with the review of submissions.

Provisional IHS: Seeds for Sowing [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Review of Submissions  [PDF, 5 MB]

Consultation background

From 15 May 2024 to 17 June 2024 the Ministry for Primary Industries invited comments on proposed changes to the import health standard for seeds for sowing.

The changes included:

  • adding an option for seeds to be produced in an area where a pest is "absent" according to ISPM 8, for pests that already have "pest free area" as a measure.
  • changing the wording for additional declarations for pests from "not known to occur" to "the seeds are produced in an area where a [pest] is absent".
  • changing the requirements for importing seeds of New Zealand origin
  • removing some pests from the standard
  • changing the seed testing requirements in the standard
  • adding a species (Rumex sanguineus) to the MPI Plants Biosecurity Index
  • removing the requirement for an importer declaration for Beta vulgaris seeds.

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

Consultation documents

Related documents

Seeds for sowing import health standard [PDF, 1.9 MB]  (the current IHS)

WTO notification - IHS: Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05) [PDF, 132 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 to 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

Our privacy commitment

The Privacy Act 2020 applies to all submissions. Any personal information you provide will be used only for the purpose of informing this consultation. All submissions will be read by MPI staff. MPI may also use artificial intelligence (AI) to summarise content and identify key themes. All AI outputs will be subject to human review.

To find out about the personal information we collect, our approach to privacy and security, and your rights, refer to this web page: Privacy and security

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