Expressions of interest in booking PEQ space are coming soon
Expressions of interest are being accepted between 25 March and 19 April 2024.
If you are importing plants into New Zealand they may need to be held in post-entry quarantine (PEQ) before being released to you. The Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) provides PEQ for plants.
Expressions of interest are being accepted between 25 March and 19 April 2024.
The Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) has completed the construction of 12 new Level 3B PEQ greenhouses at Mt Albert in Auckland. These new greenhouses are set to open and receive the first plant material in September 2024.
In preparation for the opening of the Mt Albert facility, we reviewed PHEL service costs in 2023. This led to developing new prices and a greenhouse booking policy, on which we sought customer feedback.
We thank everyone who took the time to provide their feedback. After carefully considering the submissions, we are introducing a new Level 3B PEQ greenhouse booking and prioritisation policy and updating prices for L3B PEQ services from 15 March 2024. The new prices for our diagnostic testing services will apply from 1 July 2024.
Changes to PHEL services [PDF, 203 KB]
Customer feedback on proposed changes to PHEL services [PDF, 297 KB]
Level 3B post-entry quarantine greenhouse booking prioritisation policy [PDF, 411 KB]
New prices for PHEL services [PDF, 283 KB]
The expression of interest in booking greenhouse space will open on 25 March.
If you have any questions, email PHELPricing@mpi.govt.nz
The post-entry quarantine (PEQ) requirements for imported plants are described in the import health standards (IHSs) for individual plants. Imported material can generally be given biosecurity clearance after a period of growth and testing in quarantine to check for regulated pests and diseases.
Plant material is held in PEQ for at least the period stated in the import health standard and on the import permit. The quarantine period may be longer if the plants grow slowly or if pests or diseases are detected.
Download the nursery stock IHS [PDF, 3.3 MB]
Download the seeds for sowing IHS [PDF, 1.8 MB]
Find out about importing plants
There are a limited number of Level 3B PEQ units available. We run expression of interest (EOI) rounds to help us prioritise the booking requests. This EOI process is described in our Level 3B Greenhouse Booking and Prioritisation Policy [PDF, 411 KB]
There are 3 PEQ booking types: preferential bookings, ongoing/rolling bookings, and general bookings.
Booking type | Description of booking type | Price per greenhouse unit/ month |
---|---|---|
Preferential |
Preferential bookings are bookings for one PEQ cycle. Customers pay more for a guaranteed booking. We offer L3B PEQ greenhouse units to importers who express interest in preferential bookings before we offer units to importers interested in general bookings. |
$12,500 (excl. GST) |
Ongoing/rolling |
Ongoing/rolling bookings are bookings for two or more PEQ cycles. Customers pay more for a guaranteed booking but receive a discount for buying bookings in bulk. We offer greenhouse units to importers who express interest in ongoing/rolling bookings before we offer units to importers interested in general bookings. |
$9,500 (excl. GST) |
General |
General bookings are cheaper than preferential and ongoing bookings. It is not guaranteed that customers will get a booking. We offer L3B PEQ greenhouse units to importers who express interest in general bookings after we have offered L3B PEQ greenhouse units to all importers who expressed interest in preferential bookings and ongoing/rolling bookings. When allocating general bookings, we follow the Level 3B PEQ Greenhouse Booking and Prioritisation Policy (see section 4). We have the ability to use some discretion when following this framework. |
$6,500 (excl. GST) |
All plants in PEQ need regular testing, as stated in the import health standards. For prices for tests, see the price list at the link below. To get an estimate of testing charges specific to your import, email PEQtesting@mpi.govt.nz
We’re inviting importers and PEQ brokers to express interest in booking space in PEQ. We have 15 L3B PEQ greenhouse units, scheduled to be available from September 2024.
Complete and submit an EOI using our online form if you would like to be considered for a booking. We allocate greenhouse units for preferential and rolling/ongoing bookings first. Any remaining units will be allocated to general bookings.
Check our document that has answers to common questions.
Frequently asked questions document [PDF, 340 KB]
To ask about PEQ bookings and facilities:
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