News related to Importing Micro-Organisms, Micro-Biologicals and Laboratory Specimens
- MAF recalls strawberry seed kits due to biosecurity risk - 18 November 2011
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is seeking public support for a product recall of a strawberry seed growing kit.
- Illegal seed importer fined - 18 April 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is pleased with the conviction handed down today in the Tauranga District Court to a Katikati company for the illegal importation of sowing seeds.
- Taiwanese lift suspension on New Zealand apples - 31 May 2007
New Zealand is now able to resume apple exports to Taiwan following a six week suspension.
- Offending serious risk to New Zealand's biosecurity - 12 June 2007
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) welcomes the sentence handed down today in the North Shore District Court to Auckland man for the illegal importation of aquatic plants and aquarium equipment.
- Urgent product recall - "Message in a bottle" containing toxic seeds - 11 January 2007
The Ministry of Health and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand are urgently recalling a 'Message in a Bottle' product containing highly toxic seeds.
- Urgent product recall - more bottles found to contain toxic seeds - 19 January 2007
After a recall notice was issued last week the Ministry of Health and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand have been alerted to the presence of more ‘Message in a Bottle’ novelty products in New Zealand.
- MAF works with nursery industry to limit pest weed spread - 25 February 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's biosecurity arm, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is today working in close co-operation with the nursery and gardening industry to limit the distribution of suspected pest weeds through contaminated imported coconut fibre.
- Investigation of possible GM plant containment breach finds no grounds for prosecution - 18 June 2010
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has completed its investigation into the discovery late last year of suspected genetically modified Arabidopsis thaliana plants found growing just outside a containment glasshouse on the Plant & Food Research Ltd site at Lincoln.
- Review of GM plant containment breach nears completion - 15 December 2009
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has ordered Plant and Food Research Ltd to take a number of actions as part of its review into a report of genetically modified Arabidopsis thaliana plants being found growing just outside a containment glasshouse on the Plant & Food Research site at Lincoln.
- MAFBNZ investigating possible GM breach of containment - 30 November 2009
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is investigating a possible breach of containment, reported by Plant & Food Research, around a containment glasshouse located on the Plant & Food Research campus at Lincoln.
- Measures put in place in response to field trial at Plant & Food Research Lincoln - 12 March 2009
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has evaluated non-compliance with controls at Plant & Food Research - the Lincoln-based crown research institute containment facility where genetically modified (GM) brassica plants had been growing as part of an approved field trial.
- MAFBNZ takes action regarding GM brassica trial - 10 February 2009
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has completed their review of the Plant & Food Research internal report into a reported breach of containment facility requirements at Plant & Food Research - the Lincoln-based crown research institute containment facility where genetically modified (GM) brassica plants had been growing as part of an approved field trial.
- Initial feedback on sweet corn import processes - 22 December 2006
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has received initial feedback from reviewer David Oughton on his work in reviewing the circumstances that led to the recent importation of sweet corn seed with low level presence of GM.
- MAF releases imported corn seed report - 1 February 2007
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Director-General Murray Sherwin today released the final report by David Oughton into the circumstances associated with the imports of genetically modified corn seeds in late 2006.
- Sweet corn investigation update 1 - 6 December 2006
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is confident it has located all of the sweet corn that was cleared at the border in October and November 2006, but later determined to present a risk of containing genetically modified (GM) material at extremely low levels. Following further investigation, an additional 2,620kg consignment of potentially GM-contaminated corn has been identified. This now brings the total quantity of concern to 4,420kg.
- Sweet corn investigation update 2 - 11 December 2006
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s (MAF) investigations have cleared the Mid-Canterbury plantings of Krispy King sweet corn and the Hawke’s Bay region planting of the GH2042 sweet corn variety, but seed tests for the Jubilee Plus/Dominion consignments planted in the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay regions have produced positive GM results and these crops will be destroyed.
- GM import standards to be reviewed - 11 December 2006
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has commissioned an independent enquiry into the circumstances surrounding recent imports of sweet corn seeds.
- MAF investigates GM sweet corn importation - 1 December 2006
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is investigating the importation of genetically modified (GM) sweet corn that was inadvertently cleared by MAF’s Quarantine Service in October 2006.
- MAF supervising harvesting and processing of GM maize - 4 June 2004
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) today announced that, weather permitting, it expected to see the harvesting and further processing of fields of maize containing low levels of GM material completed in about 14 days time.
- Low level of GM detected in maize seed - 11 May 2004
An audit of US-based GM testing laboratory Biogenetic Services Ltd (BGS) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) identified that BGS was deficient in several audited areas, including the way it was interpreting and reporting testing results. Subsequent MAF-sponsored tests of BGS-certified seed consignments have revealed a very low level of GM in two of 15 consignments tested to date.
- MAF investigation into GM maize nears completion - 28 May 2004
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has largely completed its investigation into the planting of the maize seed containing the very low level of GM presence.
- Biosecurity New Zealand to consult on seed testing protocol - 12 June 2006
Biosecurity New Zealand, part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), is consulting on a seed testing protocol for lucerne/alfalfa seed (Medicago sativa), similar to testing already in place for maize, canola and soybean seed.
- Snakes don't belong in New Zealand - 7 September 2011
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is welcoming the successful prosecution of a Feilding man for acquiring a snake.
- Government-level agreements pave way for imports from China - 18 July 2011
Agreements on biosecurity standards are enabling traders to take advantage of New Zealand’s free-trade agreement with China, while at the same time keeping biosecurity risk offshore.
- MAF to defend Import Health Standards for pork imports - 25 May 2011
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) will be defending in court its decision to allow the importation of fresh uncooked pork from Canada, the EU, Mexico and the USA.
- Pork Import Health Standards effectively manage risk - 13 April 2011
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) today issued updates to four Import Heath Standards for pig meat, pig meat products and by-products from Canada, the EU, Mexico and the USA.
- Scientist sentenced for lying to biosecurity inspector - 10 August 2010
The justice system has today sent a clear signal to an Auckland scientist that flouting biosecurity rules won’t be tolerated.
- Horticulturists sentenced for the illegal importation of insects - 29 July 2010
Two horticulturists, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges related to the illegal importation of the predatory mirid bug, Macrolophus pygmaeus, appeared in the Auckland District Court today for sentencing.
- Independent Review Panel report on Provisional Import Health Standards for Pig Meat - 28 April 2010
MAF received the report of the Independent Review Panel on Provisional Import Health Standards for Pig Meat on the 31st of March 2010.
- MAF grants independent review of provisional Import Health Standard for pork - 7 August 2009
The Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Murray Sherwin, has agreed to the New Zealand Pork Industry Board’s request for an independent review of the provisional Import Health Standards for Pig Meat and Pig Meat Products issued by MAF Biosecuirty New Zealand (MAFBNZ) in April 2009.