Import Health Standards Submission for Cut Flowers Lodged

The NZFGA has lodged a series of amendments to the proposed standards, and in addition have highlighted areas of concern beyond the noted amendments

Devitalisation of imported plant material remains of significant concern, with grower and independent tests of imported plant material showing that plant material in many cases is still viable for propagation after importation. The risk posed in terms of bringing diseases and pathogens into the country and threats to national biosecurity were outlined in a detailed ten page submission

According to the NZ Flower Growers Association, submissions from NGINZ and HortNZ also highlighted devitalisation concerns, hence they observe, a concern for parties across horticulture and not only flower growers

An argument for better monitoring of fumigation practices has been put forward, outlining industry concerns and remedial suggestions extracted from the submission document as follows:  

1. That a consistent programme of devitalisation testing in NZ be put in place until all product shows fully effective devitalisation, enough to prevent any chance of propagation. Once this has been achieved a lesser but consistently ongoing regime of testing begin.  All horticultural and conservation associations and bodies who could potentially be affected by disease incursion are automatically notified of the results of all devitalisation trials.  I.e. a thorough and transparent testing procedure.

2. The option for importers to have consignments fumigated without pest or disease identification, be removed so that MPI can build a profile of what is on incoming product.

3. If for some reason 1. & 2. Are not possible the devitalisation process should be brought back onshore to NZ. We consider effective devitalisation to be of the utmost importance for NZ Biosecurity.

Contact [email protected] for further correspondence on the MPI submission status