Proposed new import health standards: Phase 3 mushroom-growing medium and processed animal manure products

Have your say

From 14 December 2016 to 8 February 2017 the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invites feedback on specific phytosanitary and other requirements for the import of:

• phase 3 mushroom-growing medium
• processed animal manure products.

Two new IHS documents have been developed to include specific risk management measures to manage the biosecurity risk associated with these products.

Note: Any imported phase 3 medium will be required to meet all relevant requirements of both Import Health Standards.

Draft IHS for phase 3 mushroom-growing medium

The draft IHS prescribes the use of targeted measures to appropriately manage the biosecurity risks associated with Trichoderma aggressivum and mushroom virus X disease. Import options are either sourcing product from areas free from each pest, or using a systems approach prescribed in an export plan.

In addition, post-clearance conditions will be imposed at the mushroom production facility in New Zealand, including a steam cookout of all growing medium prior to disposal.

The risk management proposal and supporting documents describe the proposed import requirements in detail, along with the technical justification for these changes.

Draft IHS for processed animal manure products

The import health standard (IHS) specifies the minimum requirements that must be met when importing mushroom-growing medium containing horse and chicken manure into New Zealand.

The accompanying guidance document contains information about the acceptable ways of ensuring compliance with the requirements of the IHS. This document also includes a model veterinary certificate.

The risk management proposal:

• describes how options for the management of risk organisms in mushroom-growing medium containing horse and chicken manure have been assessed
• provides recommendations for import requirements.

Consultation documents

• Draft Import Health Standard – Phase 3 mushroom growing medium [PDF, 499 KB]
• Draft Import Health Standard – Processed animal manure products [PDF, 466 KB]
• Risk Management Proposal – Phase 3 mushroom growing medium [PDF, 524 KB]
• Risk Management Proposal – Processed animal manure products [PDF, 291 KB]
• Import risk assessment – Phytosanitary Risks of Importing Phase III Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Compost [PDF, 2.3 MB]
• Rapid Risk Assessment – Mushroom Substrate containing Horse and Poultry Manure [PDF, 401 KB]
• Guidance document – Phase 3 mushroom growing medium [PDF, 398 KB]
• Guidance document – Processed animal manure products [PDF, 573 KB]

Related documents

• WTO notification - IHS for Processed animal manure [PDF, 161 KB] 
• WTO notification - IHS for Phase 3 mushroom growing medium [PDF, 191 KB]
• MPI Discussion Document for the Importation of Fertilisers and Growing Media containing Plant Material [PDF, 79 KB]

Making your submission

Send in your feedback on one or both import health standards. All submissions must be received by 5pm on 8 February 2017. 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).

Email

For the Import Health Standard: Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium, email your submission to plantimports@mpi.govt.nz

For the Import Health Standard: Processed Animal Manure Products, email your submission to animalimports@mpi.govt.nz

In writing

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post. For the Import Health Standard: Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium, write to:

Plant Imports
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

For the Import Health Standard: Processed Animal Manure Products, write to:

Animal Imports
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.

Steps to finalising the new IHS

After we have considered all submissions we publish a provisional IHS for 10 days to give submitters a chance to examine the changes. 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.

The provisional IHS will be published on this consultation page and other relevant pages on this website.

Submissions are public information

Any submissions you make become public information. Anyone can ask for copies of all submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the information available unless we have a good reason for withholding it. You can find those grounds in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA. Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include, it’s commercially sensitive or it’s personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may require the information be released.

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 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

• Read more about importing Fertilisers and Growing Media of Plant Origin