Import Health Standard: Bulk Fertiliser

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Table of Contents

1. General Conditions
2. Definitions
3. Entry Conditions
4. Inspection on Arrival in New Zealand
5. Use of Certification
6. Costs
7. Enquiries

1. General Conditions

It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that the bulk fertiliser complies with the conditions in this standard. Bulk fertiliser that does not comply with the conditions of this standard may require treatment, reshipment or destruction.

2. Definitions

Contaminants
Those items listed in 3.1.

Direct application fertilisers * (see note below)
Fertilisers that are ready for immediate use or those where the manufacturing process in New Zealand does not destroy quarantine pests and diseases.

Fertilisers for further processing * ( see note below)
Fertiliser (including fertiliser components) that is processed in New Zealand in such a way that ensures that any contaminants would be destroyed (eg. hot mix - sulphuric acid process).

Quarantine Pest
A pest of potential environmental or economic importance to the area endangered thereby and not yet present there, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled.

Quarantine pests are those pests (organisms) for which sanitary or phytosanitary action would be undertaken if they were intercepted/detected. These include new organisms as defined by the Hazardous Substances and New Organism Act 1996.

Secure Storage
Storage in such a manner that precludes any possible contaminants escaping.

* NB: For the purposes of this standard fertiliser does not include any liquid fertiliser or fertiliser which has been manufactured by the decomposition of fresh plant or animal material.

3. Entry Conditions

3.1 Fertiliser must be free of contamination from:

1. residues of previous cargo(es)
2. grain
3. quarantine pests
4. soil

4. Inspection on Arrival in New Zealand

4.1 Liner Trade

4.1.1 Rock Phosphate from a dedicated rock phosphate port carried aboard a vessel dedicated to that trade may be exempted any inspection requirement apart from the initial inspection at the commencement of that trade. The importer shall provide sufficient evidence to allow a risk assessment of the trade to be undertaken.

4.2 Fertiliser for further processing

4.2.1 Fertiliser for further processing is exempt inspection at the ship=s side provided that:

1. the importers premises are within metropolitan area around the port or within 25 km of the port of discharge;
2. a secure method of transport from vessel to the importers premise is available which has been approved by an inspector
3. secure storage of fertiliser is maintained
4. all the fertiliser must go through an approved manufacturing process that will destroy contaminants
5. The importer signs a Compliance Agreement with MAF detailing:
   • security of the fertiliser at port during unloading
   • transportation/storage and processing of the fertiliser to importers premises.
   • importers process procedure which shall demonstrate that all fertiliser is processed to the degree necessary
6. The premises are made a transitional facility pursuant to the Biosecurity Act 1993.

4.2.2 If the above conditions are not be met then the fertiliser shall be treated as direct application fertiliser

4.3 Direct Application Fertilisers

Consignments of direct application fertilisers will be inspected to the extent necessary to ensure they are free from contaminants as follows:

1. Fertiliser in holds that are to be opened at that port will be visually inspected by MAF for contamination of the fertiliser and structural parts of the hold that may be contaminated. A hold that has been inspected at another New Zealand port does not require a further inspection.
2. Inspections shall be carried out under daylight conditions or equivalent.
3. No fertiliser may be discharged until the initial inspection has been done.
4. After the initial inspection, an inspection every 8 hours of discharge shall be done by the inspector. This inspection need not take place within the hold.

4.4 If Contaminants are Found

4.4.1 Any cleaning certificates for the hold become void.

4.4.2 If the initial inspection shows contamination on the beams, ledges or ribs of the hold they shall be swept clean, on to plastic sheets placed over the fertiliser. The contaminants shall be collected and disposed of at an approved facility.

4.4.3 If contaminants are found in the fertiliser, discharge must be stopped. No contaminant shall leave the vessel or the area adjacent to the vessel except to a treatment or incineration facility.

4.4.4 Contaminants shall be treated in such a manner as to render them incapable of introducing quarantine pests into New Zealand.

4.4.5 Where the contaminant cannot be removed or effectively treated (eg. fumigation, spraying, sweeping, etc) the National Advisor (Border Inspection) shall be advised with all relevant information.

4.4.6 Where the contaminant is a seed, then each hold on the vessel containing fertiliser to be discharged in New Zealand shall be sampled by an inspector as follows:

Using a W sampling pattern as detailed below, twenty 10kg samples are to be taken at regular intervals. The number of whole seeds in each 10 kg sample is to be calculated then added to give a total figure for the 200kg sample.

If any 200kg sample has less than 32 seeds, then all accessible beams, ribs and ledges of the hold shall be brushed free of seeds before discharge commences. Seeds shall not be brushed directly on to the cargo.

A further W sample is to be taken for every 1500 tonnes of fertiliser discharged. If any subsequent sample shows more than 32 grains the following two paragraphs apply.

If any 200kg sample has more than 32 grains then discharge from that particular hold shall be stopped and MAF Reg consulted. The seed shall be identified and if possible the seed=s origin ascertained.

Note: MAF Regulatory Authority would consider any treatment process proposed by the importer. Any costs associated with considering the proposal would be borne by the importer.

Fertiliser already discharged from a hold which in a subsequent sample exceeds the 32 seed per 200 kg sample require no further action.

4.4.7 Seed collected as sweepings (or from contaminated machinery) or samples that are not sent for analysis are to be destroyed at an approved facility.

5. Use of Certification

5.1 An importer may present documented evidence that the fertiliser and the holds of the vessel meet the requirements of (3). Certification will only be acceptable if the certifying agency has demonstrated reliability.

5.2 The certifying agency may be federal government, state government or private.

5.3 After 10 certificates have been received for not less than 10 consignments of fertiliser and all from the same certifying agency (port of origin) and without any contamination having been found by MAF the inspection regime may drop to an audit of 1 in 10 consignments. Importers should submit records to MAF when wishing to avail themselves of this section.

Note: Certification must cover the cleanliness of the vessel prior to loading as well as the fertiliser loaded into the hold bearing in mind that contamination may come from the loading equipment.

6. Costs

6.1 The costs of inspection, testing, treatment, reship or destruction and any demurrage relating to delays in clearance due to any fertiliser consignments not meeting the requirements of this standard are the responsibility of the importer.

7. Enquiries

7.1 Unless indicated to the contrary, all communications concerning this import health standard should be addressed to:

Chief Plants Officer
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
P O Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Fax: 64-4-474 4240
E-mail: plantsihs@maf.govt.nz