Draft Import Health Standards for Capsicums, Cucumbers, Scallopini/Zucchini and Tomatoes from Australia

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must consult with interested parties before issuing or amending (other than of minor nature) import health standards (IHSs) in accordance with Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act (1993) and MPI’s consultation policy. An IHS specifies phytosanitary requirements that must be carried out, either in the country of origin or of export, during transit, or in quarantine, before biosecurity clearance can be given for the commodity to enter New Zealand. MPI must ensure that these requirements are technically justified and provide an appropriate level of biosecurity risk management.

MPI proposes to amend the IHSs for capsicums, cucumbers, scallopini/zucchini and tomatoes from Australia to provide an alternative treatment to the dimethoate dip/spray treatment specification which has been suspended from use in Australia, with:

• Field control programmes (Appendix 10)

AND

• Methyl bromide fumigation (Appendix 3) at:
  • 24gm³ for 2hrs at 26-31.9°C
  • 32gm³ for 2hrs at 21-25.9°C
  • 40gm³ for 2hrs at 15-20.9°C
  • 48gm³ for 2hrs at 10-14.9°C

MPI is seeking feedback on the below documents which include the alternative treatment above.

• Draft IHS 152.02 Treatment Appendices and Schedules Capsicums, Cucumbers, Scallopinis, Tomatoes and Zucchinis from Australia; (159 KB)
• Draft IHS Capsicum annuum from Australia; (352 KB)
• Draft IHS Cucumis pepo from Australia; (349 KB)
• Draft IHS Cucurbita sativus from Australia; (334 KB)
• Draft IHS Lycopersicon esculentum from Australia; (300 KB)
• Information supporting the amendment of this IHS can be found in the Risk Management Proposal. (310 KB)

Comments on the draft IHSs should be forwarded to MPI by close of business on Monday 6^th August 2012. MPI encourages respondents to forward comments electronically. Send submissions to: plantimports@mpi.govt.nz.

However, should you wish to forward submissions in writing, please send them to the following address:

Plant Imports
Import & Export Standards
Ministry for Primary Industries

PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

Fax: + 64 6 894 0622

Please see the MPI website for additional information on 'Making a submission'.

Submissions received by the closure date will be considered for the final issue of the amended IHSs. Submissions received after the closure date may be held on file for consideration when the issued standard is next revised/reviewed.

Please note that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA. Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as the information is commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld. Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.

Page last updated: 9 July 2012