New Zealand Imposes Grain and Seed Import Health Standards

New Zealand has established comprehensive import health standards for grain and seed products intended for consumption, feed, or processing, covering wheat, maize, barley, and corn.

Compliance Requirements for Importing Grain and Seed Products into New Zealand

New Zealand’s import health standards (IHS) for grain and seed products intended for consumption, feed, or processing are governed by the Import Health Standard: Grain and Seeds for Consumption, Feed or Processing (hereafter referred to as the IHS), administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The IHS establishes biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases that could harm New Zealand’s economy, environment, or human health. Below is a structured overview of the key compliance requirements, recent regulatory changes, and procedural options for importers.

1. Scope of the IHS

The IHS applies to grain and seed products, including but not limited to:

• Wheat, maize (Zea mays), barley, corn, Phaseolus spp. (e.g., beans), Medicago spp. (e.g., alfalfa), Lupinus spp. (lupins), Panicum spp., Cannabis sativa, Phalaris canariensis, and Lens spp.
• Products intended for consumption, animal feed, or processing (e.g., milling, crushing, cold pressing, steam flaking, or pelletising)¹.

Exclusions:

• Grain/seed species not listed in the IHS or the MPI Plants Biosecurity Index (PBI) are ineligible for import under this standard¹.
• Seeds for sowing are covered under separate import specifications (e.g., "Basic" seeds listed in the PBI)¹.

2. Key Compliance Requirements

A. General Obligations

1. Phytosanitary Certificate (PC):
   • A PC issued by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of the exporting country is mandatory for most grain/seed imports, unless exempt (e.g., "Basic" seeds)^{1, 2}.
   • The PC must include additional declarations for specific pests/pathogens (e.g., freedom from Curvularia cymbopogonis for Cannabis sativa or Pea early browning tobravirus for Medicago spp.)^{1, 2}.

1. Treatment Requirements:
   • Offshore treatment: Details must be recorded in the PC’s "Disinfestation and/or Disinfection Treatment" section¹.
   • On-arrival treatment: Some seeds (e.g., Phalaris canariensis, Lens spp.) must be treated in an MPI-approved transitional facility to render them non-viable using methods listed in Appendix 2 of the IHS².
   • Processing in New Zealand: Seeds/grain must be processed in an MPI-approved facility to render them non-viable (e.g., Cannabis sativa for food/animal products)².

1. Documentation:
   • Sampling and seed analysis certificates are required unless the seeds are tested upon arrival in New Zealand (per Part 1.6 of the IHS)^{1, 2}.
   • For genetically modified (GM) seeds (e.g., Medicago spp.), a GM seed test certificate is mandatory unless the consignment is tested on arrival¹.

1. Pest-Specific Measures:
   • The IHS regulates pests based on scientific evidence of their potential to establish in New Zealand and cause harm³. Recent amendments removed:
   • Liposcelis entomophilus (booklouse) from Zea mays pest lists (deemed non-regulated in 2021)³.
   • Dinoderus minutus (bamboo borer) from Zea mays pest lists (no justification for continued regulation)³.
   • Tomato black ring virus (TBRV) from Phaseolus spp. (weak evidence of seed transmission or economic impact)³.

B. Import Options and Species-Specific Requirements

Importers must choose one of four options for compliance, depending on the species and intended use. Below is a summary of key species and their requirements:

Notes:

• "Basic" seeds (e.g., some Papaver somniferum varieties) may not require a PC but may need Ministry of Health approval for controlled substances².
• Processing methods (e.g., milling, crushing) must comply with MPI guidelines¹.

3. Recent Regulatory Changes

The IHS was amended in 2021–2023 to align with scientific evidence and reduce unnecessary restrictions. Key changes include:

1. Removal of Pests from Regulated Lists:
   • L. entomophilus and D. minutus were removed from Zea mays pest lists³.
   • TBRV was removed from Phaseolus spp. pest lists³.
2. Simplified Requirements:
   • Importers of Zea mays and Phaseolus spp. now face fewer compliance steps³.
   • No negative impacts on growers are expected³.
3. Justification for Changes:
   • Under international law, MPI cannot regulate pests without scientific evidence of their ability to establish in New Zealand and cause harm³.

4. Incorporated Documents

The IHS incorporates the following documents by reference (per section 142M of the Biosecurity Act 1993)¹:

• ISPM 5 (2017): Glossary of phytosanitary terms.
• ISPM 12 (2016): Phytosanitary certificates.
• ISPM 24 (2017): Guidelines for equivalence of phytosanitary measures.
• Official New Zealand Pest Register (ONZPR).
• MPI-ABRT Approved Biosecurity Treatments.
• MPI Plants Biosecurity Index (PBI).
• MPI Protocol for Testing Seed Imports for GM Seeds.
• Schedule of Regulated (Quarantine) Weed Seeds.

5. Summary Answer

New Zealand’s Import Health Standard: Grain and Seeds for Consumption, Feed or Processing regulates the import of grain and seed products to mitigate biosecurity risks. Key requirements include:

1. Mandatory phytosanitary certificates for most species, with additional declarations for regulated pests^{1, 2}.
2. Four import options (biosecurity clearance, treatment, processing, or on-arrival testing), depending on the species and intended use^{1, 2}.
3. Recent deregulation of L. entomophilus, D. minutus, and TBRV for Zea mays and Phaseolus spp., reducing compliance burdens³.
4. Species-specific measures (e.g., Cannabis sativa must be processed in MPI-approved facilities; Medicago spp. requires GM testing)^{1, 2}.
5. Incorporation of international standards (ISPMs) and MPI protocols¹.

Importers must consult the MPI Plants Biosecurity Index (PBI) and the Official New Zealand Pest Register (ONZPR) to confirm eligibility and pest-specific requirements¹. For species not covered by the IHS, alternative import pathways or approvals may be required.

Sources

1. ↩ Grain and seeds for consumption, feed or processing import health standard https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/NZL/21_7154_00_e.pdf
2. ↩ Import health standard: Grain and Seeds for Consumption, Feed or Processing https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/NZL/21_5336_00_e.pdf
3. ↩ Import Health Standard: Grain and Seeds for Consumption, Feed or Processing https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/NZL/23_10455_01_e.pdf