Importing Seeds for Sowing

3 December 2007

155-02-05

You are viewing an import health standard. It outlines the requirements that must be met before risk goods can be imported into New Zealand.

The document is also available as a PDF: 155-02-05 (504 KB)
Information on viewing PDF files

Further information about the import of seed for sowing may be found at: Importing seed for sowing.

Biosecurity Index

The importation requirements for seeds for sowing vary between different species and are listed in the MAF Biosecurity Authority Plants Biosecurity Index (offsite link to www1.maf.govt.nz). Only seeds for sowing listed in the Plants Biosecurity index are permitted entry into New Zealand.

Plant species not in the Biosecurity Index

If the species is not present in the biosecurity index it is considered not to be present in New Zealand and is not permitted entry. If you consider the species is not on the biosecurity index because of name synonymy, or a simple spelling mistake, please contact MAF Biosecurity. If you consider the species to already be present in New Zealand, or wish to make an application to import new organisms (species), including genetically modified organisms, as defined in the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, please contact the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) at PO Box 131, Wellington, Phone: 04 473 8426 Fax: 04 473 8433, E-mail: info@ermanz.govt.nz.

Seed for Sowing Import Health Standard

The phytosanitary requirements for all seeds for sowing, approved for importation into New Zealand, have been specified in the document: 155.02.05 Importation of Seed for Sowing Link to PDF document (504 KB). This document states the requirements for seeds for sowing approved in accordance with New Zealand MAF's obligations under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the revised International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

Entry Conditions

The requirements listed in the biosecurity index refer to the MAF standard 155.02.05 Importation of Seed for Sowing Link to PDF document (504 KB).

  • If the Import Specification Seed for Sowing column in the biosecurity index refers to "Basic" the seed for sowing must meet the basic conditions specified in section 2.2.2 of the MAF standard.
  • If the Import Specification Seed for Sowing column in the biosecurity index refers to "see 155.02.05 under (species name)" the seed for sowing must also meet the specific requirements outlined in the schedule of special conditions for that species in section 3 of the MAF standard.

Permit to Import

A permit to import is only needed for seed that require post entry quarantine (PEQ). To find out if post entry quarantine is required for the seed species you wish to import, check the MAF standard 155.02.05 Importation of Seed for Sowing Link to PDF document (504 KB).

To apply for a permit, complete the form given here Application to Import Plant Material Link to PDF document (83 KB). The completed form should be returned to Plant Imports, where requirements will be checked before issuing a permit to import. Allow up to 10 working days for processing.

Plant Import Office
Plants Biosecurity
MAF Biosecurity Authority
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 4 894 0862
Fax: +64 4 894 0662
E-mail: plantimports@maf.govt.nz

Specific Import Health Standards

Genetically Modified Organisms
For information on genetically modified organisms and testing imported seed for the presence of GM seeds. more>>