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Why we have Post‑Entry Quarantine (PEQ)
When plants are brought into New Zealand from other countries, they may carry pests and diseases that could harm our environment and primary industries. To protect New Zealand, some imported plants must spend time in post‑entry quarantine (PEQ). This is a safe, controlled space where plants are grown and monitored until they are shown to be free from regulated pests and diseases.
The Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI's) Plant Health and Environment Laboratory provide these specialised quarantine facilities.
During the quarantine period, highly trained MPI staff:
- inspect plants for signs of pests and diseases
-
carry out testing in a specialist laboratory
- monitor plant health and growth
- facilitate the approval process for their release once all biosecurity requirements are met.
Plants can only leave quarantine facility once they have passed all required checks in accordance with the relevant import health standard (IHS).
Import health standards specify PEQ requirements for imported plants
PEQ requirements for imported plants are set out in the relevant import health standard, like the ones for plants for planting or seeds for sowing. 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 extended if the plants grow slowly or if pests and diseases are detected.
Download the plants for planting IHS [PDF, 5.9 MB]
Download the seeds for sowing IHS [PDF, 1.9 MB]
Find out more about importing plants
Important: Before applying for an import permit for plants or seeds, you must confirm that an appropriate greenhouse unit or bench space is confirmed at a PEQ facility.
Our PEQ greenhouses
MPI operates Level 3B post‑entry quarantine (PEQ) greenhouses at 2 Auckland locations:
- Mount Albert
- Tamaki.
A Level 3B PEQ is the highest level of transitional facility for imported plant material.
The same greenhouse unit services are available at both facilities. The bench size and available space varies between the 2 locations.
What plant material we can accept
The facility can hold any imported germplasm, including plants for planting, seeds, tissue culture plants, cuttings, budwood, or whole plants. Genus/species requiring this level of quarantine are listed in the Plant Biosecurity Index and include crops such as strawberries (Fragaria spp.), kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), blackberries, and raspberries (Rubus spp.).
How PEQ greenhouse units are allocated
There are a number of Level 3B units available in both facilities. To manage demand, MPI allocates space through an expression of interest (EOI) process.
The units are allocated to preferential and rolling bookings first and then general bookings, depending on customer demand and operational requirements.
We offer Level 3B greenhouse units to customers on a whole unit basis or partial unit by bench. We send out offers after we have evaluated the EOI.
PEQ booking types
There are 3 PEQ booking types: preferential bookings, ongoing or rolling bookings, and general bookings.
Preferential bookings: Use this type when you want to guarantee a greenhouse unit for your plant material for one PEQ cycle. These bookings will be allocated first before allocating other booking types. They cost $12,500 plus GST per month.
Ongoing or rolling bookings: Use this type when you want to guarantee a greenhouse unit for your plant material for 2 or more PEQ cycles depending on availability. 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. They cost $9,500 plus GST per month.
General bookings: When you want a greenhouse unit for your plant material, but you do not mind if you miss out. General bookings are cheaper than preferential and ongoing bookings. It is not guaranteed that customers will get a booking. We will prioritise your request according to our booking and prioritisation policy. A general booking costs $6,500 plus GST per month.
Bench bookings
If you do not require a full greenhouse unit, you may book space by bench. For advice, email PHEL.PEQ@mpi.govt.nz
Table 1: Bench capacities and costs
| Location | Benches per unit | Cost per bench (excluding GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Albert | 8 | $812.50 |
| Tāmaki | 6 | $1,083.33 |
The benches at the Tāmaki facility cost more because they are bigger and can accommodate more plants.
Booking PEQ space
To book space, you need to complete an expression of interest (EOI) form. We recommend you read our booking and prioritisation policy and be familiar with booking types and our requirements before submitting your EOI form.
You need to submit a separate form for each PEQ greenhouse booking types you're interested in.
All greenhouse units are the same size and are subject to availability.
We cannot guarantee that a greenhouse unit/bench will be offered to everyone who expresses interest. The offer of a greenhouse unit/bench depends on your PEQ greenhouse booking type and the number of available units/benches at the time.
We allocate preferential bookings before general bookings. If you miss out on a general booking unit, we will hold your information and contact you when the unit is available.
There is no maximum number of EOIs you can submit, nor is there a closing date.
Shared bookings
Units booked by bench can be shared with other importers. However, all plants in the unit must be listed as approved to share.
Table 2: Plant material that can share a greenhouse unit
| Scientific and common name | Minimium PEQ period |
|---|---|
|
Fragaria (strawberries) |
16 months |
| Malus (apples) | 24 months |
| Rubus (blackberries, raspberries) | 16 months |
| Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) | 3 months |
| Vaccinium (blueberries) |
Tissue culture: 9 months Cutting: 16 months |
| Vitis (grapes) | 16 months |
Table 3: Plant material that cannot share a greenhouse unit
| Scientific and common name | Minimum PEQ period |
|---|---|
| Actinidia (kiwifruit) | 20 months |
| Citrus (lemons, mandarins, oranges) | 17 months |
| Persea (avocados) | 12 months |
| Prunus (apricots, almonds, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums) | 21 months |
How the EOI process works
- Customers submit an expression of interest form on MPI’s website.
- MPI contacts customers for further information, if required
- MPI evaluates and prioritises the EOIs following the booking policy prioritisation framework.
- MPI informs customers via email about the outcomes of the evaluation.
- MPI offers PEQ space to successful customers.
- Customers confirm their interest in booking the PEQ space.
- Customers sign contracts, pay deposits, and schedule plant imports.
Our policy document describes the EOI process in more detail.
Level 3B Greenhouse Booking and Prioritisation Policy [PDF, 352 KB]
Steps to completing a PEQ booking
Each EOI form is limited to one booking type only. You need to submit a new EOI form for each booking type:
- preferential
- ongoing or rolling
- general.
Complete the expression of interest form
PEQ – Expression of interest form
We've filled in an example form to help you.
Example of a completed expression of interest form [PDF, 4.4 MB]
The maximum number of plants in a unit or bench
The maximum number of plants that can be held in a greenhouse unit depends on the plant species.
The number of plants per greenhouse unit differs depending on plant size.
Table 4 gives a rough indication of how many plants can be placed in one greenhouse unit for various plant materials.
Table 4: Rough number of plants per PEQ greenhouse unit or bench for plants that can share
| Scientific name | Common name | Number of plants per unit | Number of plants per bench |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fragaria | Strawberries | 36 | Up to 4 plants per bench |
| Malus | Apples | 24 | |
| Rubus | Blackberries, raspberries | 24 | |
| Solanum tuberosum | Potatoes | 48 | |
| Vaccinium | Blueberries | 36 | |
| Vitis | Grapes | 24 | |
| For plants that cannot share with other genera | |||
| Actinidia | Kiwifruit | 24 | |
| Citrus | Lemons, mandarins, oranges | 24 | |
| Persea | Avocados | 18 | |
| Prunus | Apricots, almonds, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums | ||
Post-booking
If your EOI is successful and you are allocated PEQ space, you must sign the contract and pay the deposit. The deposit will cover the first month’s invoice. You will be invoiced monthly after that.
PHEL PEQ Agreement – Agreement Details and Schedule 1 [PDF, 183 KB]
PHEL PEQ Agreement – Schedule 2 – General Terms [PDF, 172 KB]
The plant material should be delivered to the PEQ facility to align with the contract start date.
If there are any delays or changes to the timeframes specified in your contract with us (like a shipping delay), notify us as soon as possible so that we can discuss options.
PEQ and testing costs
All plant material held in PEQ must undergo regular inspection and testing, as required by the relevant import health standards. Charges may apply for activities including plant inspections, predetermined and diagnostic testing, treatments, supervision of importer‑undertaken work, handling of tissue culture plants in growth cabinets, preparation of rootstock for grafting, and the like.
These costs are in addition to the charges for the greenhouse unit.
To get an estimate of testing charges specific to your import, email PEQtesting@mpi.govt.nz
Example of the charges you might pay
In this example, we have calculated the charges for importing 5 cultivars of Vitis, with 5 plants per cultivar (25 plants in total) as tissue culture from Europe.
We've estimated the total cost of PEQ services for a general booking in a greenhouse unit for plants with the minimum PEQ period, minimum testing, and minimum inspection services. Price estimates are valid as of 1 July 2024.
Table 5: Example table for bench rental for Vitis
| Customer :XXXXX | ||
|---|---|---|
| Contact : XXXXX | ||
| All costs exclude GST | Mt Albert | Tamaki |
| Rental cost per bench per month | $812.50 | $1,083.33 |
| Rental cost for quarantine period | $13,000.00 | $17,333.28 |
| BNZ inspection costs | $2,400.00 | $2,400.00 |
| Total costs excluding PTD testing | $15,400.00 | $19,733.28 |
| PDT prices (spring and summer) | $2,420.50 | $2,550.50 |
| Total costs for quarantine | $17,820.50 | $22,283.78 |
| Costs per cultiver | $5,940.17 | $5,570.95 |
| Plants per bench | 3 | 4 |
| Number of quarantine months | 16 | 16 |
Table 6: Example table for Unit rental for Vitis
| Customer :XXXXX | ||
|---|---|---|
| Contact : XXXXX | ||
| All costs exclude GST | Mt Albert | Tamaki |
| Rental cost per unit per month | $6,500.00 | $6,500.00 |
| Rental cost for quarantine period | $104,000.00 | $104,000.00 |
| BNZ inspection costs | $2,400.00 | $2,400.00 |
| Total costs excluding PTD testing | $106,400.00 | $106,400.00 |
| PDT prices (spring and summer) | $6,285.00 | $6,285.00 |
| Total costs for quarantine | $112,685.00 | $112,685.00 |
| Costs per plants | $4,695.21 | $4,695.21 |
| Plants per unit | 24 | 24 |
| Number of quarantine months | 16 | 16 |
Who to contact
If you have any specific questions about your intended import and booking greenhouse space, email PHEL.PEQ@mpi.govt.nz
For any queries related to test prices, email PEQTesting@mpi.govt.nz
