Have your say

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) wants your feedback on the addition of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for the management of fruit flies on strawberry, scallopini, melon, and zucchini imported from Australia.

The proposed changes are to:

• Import Health Standard 152.02: Importation and clearance of fresh fruit and vegetables into New Zealand
• Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Melon (Cucumis melo) from Australia
• Import Health Standard Commodity sub-class: Fresh fruit/vegetables Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) from Australia

The consultation opens on 16 February and closes on 29 March 2021.

Consultation documents

Draft import health standard 152.02: Importation and clearance of fresh fruit and vegetables into New Zealand [PDF, 6.3 MB]

Draft import health standard commodity sub-class: Fresh fruit/vegetables – Melon, Cucumis melo from Australia [PDF, 402 KB]

Draft import health standard commodity sub-class: Fresh fruit/vegetables – Zucchini, Cucurbita pepo from Australia [PDF, 429 KB]

Risk management proposal [PDF, 331 KB]

Making your submission

Email your feedback on the draft documents by 6pm on 29 March 2021 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:

Animal and Plant Health Directorate
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.

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

Submissions are public information

Any submission you make becomes 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 (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.