FAQs related to Application ePhyto New Individual Access

What are the costs of the various survey options?

Growers should discuss costs with the IVAs, as charges will depend on the circumstances of the production sites to be registered.

Why do we need statutory declaration for the survey exemption?

This provides additional assurance to MAF that the information is correct. MAF is willing to look at alternative arrangements for implementation of the exemption. We will discuss this with MAF over the next few months, but at the moment the requirement remains.

Can the time periods applying to the pre-planting, pre-harvest, and post-harvest soil tests be better defined?

We agree that these time-periods need to be defined. The compliance programme has been modified to specify the time periods as follows:

1. Pre-planting - no more than 6 weeks prior to intended planting date

2. Pre-harvest - A minimum of 12 weeks after planting or, for early plantings, 12 weeks after the mean soil temperature reaches 12oC.

3. Pots-harvest - no more than 5 days after harvest.

For Taiwan - can you plant before pre-plant survey results are known?

Yes, at the grower’s risk. If PCN is found the production site will be removed from the programme.

How do farm track and road definitions differ when determining whether two adjoining properties can be called a single property?

If two blocks of land with separate property valuation numbers are to be considered one property (for example so that several paddocks on the two blocks can be registered as one production site) they must be contiguous - touching or adjoining. The boundaries of the properties must touch. If there is a farm track running down the boundary and the boundaries touch it is adjoining.

If there is a road between the boundaries (as owned by the local council or transit New Zealand) then they are not adjoining.

What is the Farm/Property Number/ Code on the registration form?

This space on the registration form is for the ROP number that many South Island growers use. We have changed the form to indicate “Farm ROP number (if known)”.

Is it cheaper to register all paddocks as one production site, or as several production sites?

In most cases the costs of taking samples or fork sampling will be the same, as 100 soil cores/4 Ha are required. However a separate laboratory test for PCN is required for each production site. Growers need to balance costs against the consequences of PCN being found on a production site (and it being rejected from the programme).

In the diagram in Question 1 (above), a grower could register paddocks 4,6, and 7 as one production site. If PCN is found in paddock 7 all three paddocks are removed from the programme (and may not be re-entered in subsequent years). If they are registered as 3 production sites, only paddock 7 would be removed.

How does a packer let the IVA know that they are going to be packing for Taiwan?

The registration form has now been updated to allow operators to indicate that they are registering for Taiwan.

During grading is packing of a particular size for Taiwan allowed when other sizes are destined for another market? Sec. 4.2.2.1

Yes. The intention of this section is that potatoes not cleared for Taiwan are not packed at the same time as those that are cleared for Taiwan. The wording of this section has been changed.

When does the 1m separation of potatoes for Taiwan in storage start?

We have checked the Taiwan requirements. These state that the potatoes must be segregated in storage. We have therefore removed the word “packed” from section 4.2.2.1 and now say to “segregate potatoes for Taiwan from others in the storage facility”. we have also reduced the segregation distance to 100mm.

What are the tolerances for the other Additional Declaration pests for Taiwan?

The normal 600 unit phytosanitary inspection applies, with no detections of live pests in the sample.

The category of seed to be planted for Taiwan may vary between each production site, how do we register those?

The registration form has been updated to allow the category of seed to be stated for each production site.

Who nominates when the PCN soil survey is undertaken and how do they do this?

The grower decides what surveys are needed. We have now updated the registration form to allow the grower to nominate the type of survey required for each production being registered.

If PCN is found in pre-harvest survey of site 7, and if the grower has used a sprayer on 4 and 6, what is their PCN status?

Sites 4 and 6 are still eligible for export, but cleaning procedures must be put into immediate effect for any machinery moving from site 7. The reason for this is that PCN cysts are stimulated to hatch by young root growth. Any cysts transferred by clods of soil to sites 4 & 6 would be unlikely to emerge and present a significant risk in the current export season. If 4 &6 are registered for Taiwan, all machinery will have been cleaned between sites.

What if I want to take restricted goods out of New Zealand?

If you wish to take any animal or plant matter out of New Zealand, please contact the Consulate of the country of destination for up to date information on import requirements.

If the goods require a PC (Phytosanitary Certificate) Plants Phytosanitary Certification, you must bring the produce to the MAF Aircargo Clearance Centre.
Phone + 64 9 256 8691 or + 64 9 256 0145 for Plant/Produce enquires, or + 64 4 473 8996 for Animal/Animal Product enquires. These goods will be inspected and, if in acceptable condition, you will receive an IPC signed by an authorised Quarantine Officer to show to the Agriculture Department upon arrival in the country of destination.