High Value Crops - Stakeholder Update, June 2007
8 June 2007
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Developments in Post-entry Quarantine Activities for High-value Crops
Production of Post-entry Quarantine Testing Manuals
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF BNZ) has completed the post-entry quarantine (PEQ) testing manual for Solanum (potato) tissue culture, seed and pollen. The Solanum manual is available on MAF BNZ’s website:
Solanum Testing Manual (1666 KB)
A draft of the Ribes (currants and gooseberries) manual has been completed and consultation on the draft has commenced.
Prioritisation of Post-entry Quarantine Testing Manuals for 2007-2008
In consultation with stakeholders, MAF BNZ prioritised the development of testing manuals in 2006 according to the following criteria:
- a) Potential value to New Zealand
- b) Historical and projected demand for importation
- c) Current and projected availability of resources required to enable import (e.g. PEQ space)
- d) Complexity of testing manual
- e) Alternatives to Level 3 PEQ (e.g. high-health schemes overseas)
- f) Any other relevant factors (e.g. private provision of PEQ)
The list of manuals to be developed was prioritised as follows (progress to date is marked in red italics)
- Actinidia (kiwifruit) - completed
- Vaccinium (blueberry and cranberry) - completed
- Solanum (potato) - completed
- Malus (apple) - drafted, awaiting completion of risk analysis prior to completion
- Fragaria (strawberry) - in preparation
- Ribes (currants) - drafted, consultation to be completed
- Pyrus (pear) - not commenced
- Ipomea (sweet potato) - in preparation
- Humulus (hop) - not commenced
- Juglans (walnut) - not commenced
- Citrus (lemon, mandarin, orange) - not commenced
- Rubus (berries) - not commenced
- Castanea (sweet chestnut) - in preparation
- Prunus (cherry, peach, plum) - not commenced
- Olea (olive) - not commenced
- Quercus (oak) - not commenced
- Corylus (hazel nut) - not commenced
During the next financial year (July 2007 - June 2008), MAF BNZ is proposing to complete the manuals on which work has commenced (Castanea, Fragaria, Ipomea, Malus and Ribes), and to continue with the remaining manuals in the following order of priority:
- Pyrus (pear)
- Humulus (hop)
- Juglans (walnut)
- Citrus (lemon, mandarin, orange)
- Rubus (berries)
- Corylus (hazel nut)
- Olea (olive)
- Prunus (cherry, peach, plum)
- Quercus (oak)
We are seeking input from all stakeholders regarding these proposed priorities. Stakeholders are also invited to submit requests for the development of testing manuals for other crops. (a full list of high-value crops is available on our website: High Value Plant Table (57 KB)). Please e-mail submissions to: peqtesting@maf.govt.nz by Friday 29 June.
Decision not to construct glasshouse testing facilities
In 2005, MAF BNZ obtained funding to construct four glasshouse units (16 m2 each) at the Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) in Auckland. The purpose of the units was to provide additional capacity for test validation and testing of high-value crops (not for holding imported plants in quarantine).
In September 2006, MAF BNZ re-evaluated the need for additional units in view of the demand for glasshouse-based testing and concluded that the space available was sufficient to meet demand. Therefore the construction of the additional units was deferred. This decision was reviewed in May 2007 and it was concluded that the projected demand for testing does not warrant the construction of additional glasshouse space.
Future updates
We plan to e-mail stakeholder updates every two-three months to keep you informed of our progress and other relevant material. These updates will also be available on our website: High Value Crops.
If you do not wish to receive these updates, please reply to this e-mail asking to be removed from the mailing list.
If you know of others who might be interested in these updates, please let us know and we will add them to the mailing list. MAF BNZ’s PEQ team can be contacted at: peqtesting@maf.govt.nz