Plant Exports Operations Pest List Requirements

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Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. General Requirements
  3. Technical Requirements

1 Introduction

1.1 Scope

This MAF Plants Biosecurity standard specifies the requirements and format for the preparation of lists of pests associated with commodities (plants and plant products) intended for export.

1.2 References

  • AS/NZS ISO 8402:1994-Quality management and quality assurance - Vocabulary.
  • IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention). Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms, 2002. ISPM Pub. Nº 5, FAO, Rome.

1.3 Definitions

For the purposes of this MAF Biosecurity Authority standard the following definitions apply:

Client
Means the party(ies) representing an industry sector-group/commodity who arranges for the provision of the information as specified in this standard.

Commodity
A type of plant, plant product or other regulated article being moved for trade or other purpose (IPPC).

Contaminating pest
A pest that is carried by a commodity and, in the case of plants and plant products, does not infest those plants or plant products (IPPC). (For example, Fuller’s rose weevil and orchids.) For this standard the definition is expanded to include pests associated with the pathway, including packaging.

Director
Within this standard, this term refers to a Director of MAF Biosecurity Authority, who is a manager of the Plants Group within the MAF Biosecurity Authority.

Organism
Biotic entity capable of reproduction or replication, vertebrate or invertebrate animals, plants and micro-organisms (IPPC).

Pathway
Any means that allows the entry or spread of a pest (IPPC).

Pest
Any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent, injurious to plants or plant products (IPPC).

"Pest List" 
A list of all pests recorded in New Zealand associated with the commodity (part of the plant)  to be exported. This should include contaminating pests.

Plants
Living plants and plants thereof, including seeds and germplasm (IPPC).

Quarantine pest
A pest of potential economic importance to the area endangered thereby and not yet present there, or present but not widely distributed and [is] being officially controlled (IPPC).

Specification
The document that prescribes the requirements with which the product or service has to conform (AS/NZS ISO).

Standard
Has the same meaning as specification.

Survey
An official procedure conducted over a period of time to determine the characteristics of a pest population or to determine which species occur in an area. (IPPC) (E.g. see MAF standard PEO.PSR)

1.4 Service Outline

When the requirements of this standard are met, MAF may supply a pest list to an importing country to enable it to specify quarantine requirements for a specific commodity being imported from New Zealand.

2 General Requirements

The client shall provide the Director with a "pest list" (in electronic format) in accordance with this specification for validation. 

MAF Biosecurity Authority shall not be responsible for the integrity of information provided directly to an importing country by a third party unless the information has been validated by MAF. The cost of providing a "pest list" shall be met by the client. This includes costs incurred by the Director or the Director’s representatives associated with validation of the "pest list".

3 Technical Requirements

3.1 Format of List

3.1.1 Software

The "pest list" shall be formatted using Microsoft Excel. A "pest list" template in Excel format is available from MAF Biosecurity Authority on request.

3.1.2 Grouping of pests

Each pest shall be listed alphabetically by genus, and grouped under headings for organism type such as; bacteria, fungi, insects, mites, nematodes, viruses, and sub headings 'Pest' and 'Contaminating Pest', where appropriate.

3.1.3 Column headings

Pests shall be listed under the following column headings where applicable:  Genus, Species, Authority, Anamorph, Synonym(s), Acronym, Family, Order/Group, Common name, Comments, Record, References, Taxonomy reference.

3.1.4 Document control

Each page of the draft "pest list" must include the following information:

  • Date submitted to MAF
  • Page number
  • Name of Client (and provider of the information, if different)
  • Name of Commodity

3.2 Content of Technical Information

3.2.1 Scientific Name 

The preferred1 genus and species name, including the authority, shall be listed. For fungi, the perfect (Teleomorph) state shall be listed in separated form as for other organisms, while the asexual (Anamorph) name shall be listed in full with the authority.

3.2.2 Synonym(s)

The most recent synonym(s), if any, shall be listed.

3.2.3 Acronym

For viruses the preferred acronym shall be listed.

3.2.4 Family

The preferred 1 family name shall be listed, where applicable.

3.2.5 Order/Group

The preferred 1 order or group name shall be listed, as appropriate.

3.2.6 Common name

The most widely accepted common name(s) shall be listed.

3.2.7 Comments

This section must provide a brief summary of the biology of the pest, such as details on the nature of the pest:host association; the pest 'type', (e.g. primary, secondary); and nature of the damage to the host. For contaminating pests, list the part of the host affected and hosts other than the commodity for which the pest list has been prepared. Where available, provide information on the frequency of the association (e.g. rare, common, infrequent). The comments may be restricted to the life stage found.

Any terms used to describe the significance of the pest should be defined in a footnote to the pest list.

3.2.8 Record

These must provide at least one accession record, or reference verifying that the pest has been recorded in New Zealand associated with the commodity being exported.

3.2.9 References

At least one or more technical references must be provided to support, and expand on, the summarised comments. Relevant excerpts from the publications referenced in the list, including information on the biology, distribution, and nature of damage or nature of the association (e.g. contaminant) shall be attached.

3.2.10 Taxonomy reference

Provide a reference that authenticates the scientific name and the synonyms listed.

3.3 Sources of Information

A list of the sources consulted used must be provided to the MAF Plants Biosecurity. Relevant sources of published and unpublished information include:

  • MAF National Plant Pest Reference Laboratory
  • MAF Plant Protection Information Network
  • Crown Research Institutes
  • Published lists of plant pests and diseases (such as Pennycook (1989)2)
  • Fauna of New Zealand series
  • Journals
  • Commodity survey reports.

Where there is insufficient information on pests of a commodity, e.g. for a new crop, the client, in discussion with MAF Biosecurity Authority, may decide to conduct a survey of the crop. Such a survey must be done to MAF Standard PEO.PSR and the findings shall be attached to (and referenced in) the "pest list".

Endnotes:

  1. Currently accepted usage or as recommended by publications such as:
    • Wood, A.M. 1996. Insects of economic importance: a checklist of preferred names. CAB International. ISBN: 0851986528.
    • Van Regenmortel MHV, et al. (2000). Virus Taxonomy: Seventh Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Academic Press, San Diego..MAF Plants Biosecurity PEO.PLR November 2002 4
  2. Pennycook, S.R. 1989. Plant diseases recorded in New Zealand. Plant Diseases Division, DSIR, Auckland.

Page last updated: 30 April 2008