These include:
- 155.02.04 Cut Flowers and Foliage, and its Appendix 1.
- Cut flowers and branches of Cordyline and Dracaena species from all countries.
The new versions of these documents are dated 13 December 2016, replacing versions dated 17 July 2015 and 14 March 2002 respectively. The revised IHSs come into force from 13 December 2016.
MPI says the urgent amendments have been made as a result of recent changes to the distribution and hosts of Xylella fastidiosa.
X. fastidiosa is a high impact bacterial pathogen which causes serious diseases in horticultural crops (including Pierce’s Disease of grapevines, Citrus Variegated Chlorosis and Olive Quick Decline) and native species.
Insect vectors (infected with X. fastidiosa) present an unmanaged risk on cut flower and foliage pathways, and measures have been implemented to address this risk. Importation of infected cut flowers and foliage stems is a low risk because it is very unlikely that X. fastidiosa could be spread to other plants from infected stems.
MPI says that materials imported for decorative purposes (cut flowers) have a lower biosecurity risk than material imported for propagation.
The following is a summary of the amendments:
- 155.02.04 Cut Flowers and Foliage, and its Appendix 1.
French Polynesia Schedule
- Update of the scientific name of the glassy winged sharpshooter to Homalodisca vitripennis.
Mexico Schedule
- Addition of a methyl bromide fumigation treatment (on arrival in New Zealand) to manage the risk of X. fastidiosa vectors on Rosa spp. and Solidago spp. pathways.
USA Schedule
- Amendment to recognise that the existing measure (methyl bromide fumigation) manages the risk associated with all vectors of X. fastidiosa.
- Cut flowers and branches of Cordyline and Dracaena species from all countries.
- Addition of Xylella fastidiosa (including insect vectors) to the pest list for Cordyline spp. One of the following measures must be applied:
- Pest free area (PFA) - MPI recognised PFA or Country Freedom from X. fastidiosa.
or
- Fumigation with methyl bromide.
Any questions can be directed to:
Plant Imports
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526, 25 The Terrace, Wellington 6140
Classifieds
