Notifications for New Zealand (373 notifications)

Adopted on: 12 July 2023.

Amended the testing requirements for Phaseolus and Pisum seeds for sowing, as well as testing before export there is now the option of testing shipments of seeds for sowing on arrival at the border in New Zealand.Amended the regulation for grapevine fanleaf virus. The record no longer specifies “strains not in New Zealand” because we are regulating all strains of grapevine fanleaf virus.Amended the regulation of raspberry ringspot virus. The record now specifies “strains not in New Zealand” because “raspberry strain” is present in New Zealand, but the other strains remain regulated and unwanted.Adopted on: 12 July 2023.

This IHS relates to live aquatic animals - giant river prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Items 4, 5 and 6 of G/SPS/N/NZL/726 should read as follows:4.Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:            [ ]     All trading partners            [X]    Specific regions or countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu5.Title of the notified document: Import Health Standard - Fresh Pineapple (Ananas comosus) for Human Consumption. Language(s): English. Number of pages: 14https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/NZL/23_10907_00_e.pdf6.Description of content: The import health standard: Fresh Pineapple (Ananas comosus) for Human Consumption allows the importation of fresh pineapple fruit into New Zealand from recognised countries.The new commodity standard will replace the followings schedules in the standard 152.02.Importation and Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand-         Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Australia-         Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Ecuador-         Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Fiji-         Pineapple, Ananas comosus, New Caledonia-         Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Philippines-         Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Thailand-         Pineapple, Ananas comosus, VanuatuThe new commodity standard will also replace the following standards:-         Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from Ecuador-         Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from Fiji-         Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from Thailand-         Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from Vanuatu

To align with international standards and to protect public health and safety, FSANZ has drafted an amendment to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to amend the maximum levels (MLs) for diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DST)and paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) with the equivalent MLs set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) and with those set in New Zealand.MLs for marine biotoxins are necessary in order to protect public health and safety, as marine biotoxins cause serious and sometimes long term toxicity in humans.The proposed changes are:·            Lower the ML for DST, expressed as okadaic acid equivalent, from 0.20 to 0.16 mg/kg in bivalve molluscs;·            Define PST in mg saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalents/kg rather than mg saxitoxin equivalents/kg. The net effect of this change to a more specific reporting unit is to lower the ML for PST from 0.8 to approximately 0.6 mg/kg.All applications to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, must be assessed in the context of the following objectives:  (a) the protection of public health and safety; (b) the provision of adequate information relating to food to enable consumers to make informed choices; and (c) the prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct. FSANZ must also have regard to the promotion of consistency between domestic an international foods standards.

This notification relates to the minor amendment to the import health standard: Grain and Seeds for Consumption, Feed or Processing. The amendment includes clarifying the rate at which grains must be sampled to allow for the inspection for contaminant seeds. The seed sampling certificate requirements in Part 1.5.3 of the standard have therefore been amended.This clarification provides clarified for imports, minimising delays in the direction and/or release of grains.This amendment did not change the import requirements and was considered as an administrative change.

The import health standard: Fresh Pineapple (Ananas comosus) for Human Consumption allows the importation of fresh pineapple fruit into New Zealand from recognised countries.The new commodity standard will replace the followings schedules in the standard 152.02.Importation and Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand·       Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Australia·       Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Ecuador·       Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Fiji·       Pineapple, Ananas comosus, New Caledonia·       Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Philippines·       Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Thailand·       Pineapple, Ananas comosus, VanuatuThe new commodity standard will also replace the following standards:·       Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from Ecuador·       Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from Fiji·       Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from Thailand·       Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Pineapple, Ananas comosus from VanuatuThe new commodity standard also includes new market access for fresh pineapple (Ananas comosus) from Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Panama, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, and Tonga.

MPI is proposing to amend the Import Health Standard for grain and seeds for consumption, feed, or processing. The amendment includes:a.    Removal of Liposcelis entomophilaLiposcelis entomophilus) from the pest list for Zea maysb.    Removal of Dinoderus minutus from the pest list for Zea maysc.    Removal of Tomato black ring virus (TBRV) from the pest list for Phaseolus spp.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is proposing to add three new regulated pests to the import requirements for Vitis plants for planting. The viruses are Grapevine fabavirusGrapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 “red globe” and Grapevine virus E. MPI proposes regulation of all three of these viruses with PCR during post-entry quarantine. These measures will be required post-border in New Zealand and will not affect trade. MPI is also proposing to remove the option to import Vitis cuttings or plants in vitro sourced from open-field mother plants when being imported from an approved offshore facility. This will not affect trade, as there are no approved facilities currently. This amendment brings the nursery stock import health standard in line with the MPI Offshore Facilities Standard.

The external consultation period for IHS Zoo Rhinoceroses ended on 28 April 2023.

Irradiation at a minimum absorbed dose of 150 Gy for Tephritidae fruit fly species on fresh mango from Mexico.

MPI is proposing to add new options for phytosanitary measures on various fresh fruit and vegetable commodities from Australia. The measures are radiation treatment on avocado, cucumber, pear, pumpkin, butternut, squash and watermelon; low-dose methyl bromide fumigation on capsicum; and “winter window + in-field controls” on pumpkin, butternut and squash. MPI is also proposing to allow importation of butternut and squash from Australia under the same conditions as pumpkin.

Adopted on 26 April 2023.

This addendum concerns the amendment of the previously notified Import Health Standard Commodity Sub-class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Lychee, (Litchi chinensis) from Chinese Taipei, and the corresponding schedule for lychee from Chinese Taipei in Ministry for Primary Industries Standard 152.02: Importation and Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand.The amendment to these import health standards was notified in G/SPS/N/NZL/707 dated 19 January 2023 with the adoption, publication, and entry into force date of 24 March 2023. The new date of adoption, publication, and entry into force is 26 April 2023.

The Ministry for Primary Industries proposes removing biological indexing as a diagnostic tool from all our plant germplasm import health standards.Biological indexing will be:a) removed as a complimentary test to ELISA or PCR for 78 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing to be done with ELISA or PCR testing),b) replaced by testing using only ELISA or PCR for 44 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing as the only test method),c) removed as a test from one Fragaria disease of unknown aetiology (and instead this pest will be managed by inspecting plants for symptoms).The Ministry for Primary Industries will also remove all guidance and sections about biological indexing requirements from our plant germplasm import health standards.For FragariaOleaPrunusRubusSolanum tuberosum, and Vitis plants for planting, we are removing 25 pests from our plant germplasm import health standards. We no longer consider these pests biosecurity risks on this pathway, and we will no longer require plants to be tested for these pests.

The Ministry for Primary Industries proposes removing biological indexing as a diagnostic tool from all our plant germplasm import health standards.Biological indexing will be:a) removed as a complimentary test to ELISA or PCR for 78 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing to be done with ELISA or PCR testing),b) replaced by testing using only ELISA or PCR for 44 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing as the only test method),c) removed as a test from one Fragaria disease of unknown aetiology (and instead this pest will be managed by inspecting plants for symptoms).The Ministry for Primary Industries will also remove all guidance and sections about biological indexing requirements from our plant germplasm import health standards.For FragariaOleaPrunusRubusSolanum tuberosum, and Vitis plants for planting, we are removing 25 pests from our plant germplasm import health standards. We no longer consider these pests biosecurity risks on this pathway, and we will no longer require plants to be tested for these pests.

The Ministry for Primary Industries proposes removing biological indexing as a diagnostic tool from all our plant germplasm import health standards.Biological indexing will be:a) removed as a complimentary test to ELISA or PCR for 78 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing to be done with ELISA or PCR testing),b) replaced by testing using only ELISA or PCR for 44 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing as the only test method),c) removed as a test from one Fragaria disease of unknown aetiology (and instead this pest will be managed by inspecting plants for symptoms).The Ministry for Primary Industries will also remove all guidance and sections about biological indexing requirements from our plant germplasm import health standards.For FragariaOleaPrunusRubusSolanum tuberosum, and Vitis plants for planting, we are removing 25 pests from our plant germplasm import health standards. We no longer consider these pests biosecurity risks on this pathway, and we will no longer require plants to be tested for these pests.

The document contains technical details on proposals to amend the current Notice issued under the Food Act 2014 that lists the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for agricultural compounds in New Zealand.MPI proposes the following amendments to the Notice:a)    New MRL entries for the following compounds and commodities:·       Flumetsulam: 0.01(*) mg/kg in cereal grains, 0.1 mg/kg in eggs, 0.01 mg/kg in mammalian meat, 0.1 mg/kg in mammalian offal, 0.01 mg/kg in milk, 0.1 mg/kg in poultry meat, and 0.1 mg/kg in poultry offal.·       Thiencarbazone-methyl: 0.01 mg/kg for mammalian meat, mammalian fat, mammalian offal, and milk.b)    The amendment of existing MRL entries for the following compounds and commodities:·       Foramsulfuron: 0.01 mg/kg in mammalian meat, mammalian fat, mammalian offal, and milk, and to delete the MRL for maize.·       Mefentrifluconazole: 0.07 mg/kg for grapes and 0.15 mg/kg for pome fruits.·       Spinetoram: 0.01(*) mg/kg for maize, 0.02 mg/kg in milk, 0.15 mg/kg in milk fats, 0.01(*) mg/kg in poultry meat, offal, and eggs, and 0.01(*) mg/kg in sweetcorn; amend the mammalian fat description to exclude milk fats and increase the MRL to 0.5 mg/kg; and to combine the mammalian kidney and liver MRLs into a single mammalian offal MRL of 0.03 mg/kg.·        Tetraniliprole: 0.3 mg/kg for stone fruits.(*) indicates that the maximum residue level has been set at or about the limit of analytical quantification.c)    The addition of four new entries in Schedule 3 for veterinary medicines for which no maximum residue level applies:·       Aniseed oil, menthol, and sassafras oil, when used as topical liniments on horses.·       Luteinising hormone (LH), when used to manage reproduction in ruminants.

The Ministry for Primary Industries proposes removing biological indexing as a diagnostic tool from all our plant germplasm import health standards.Biological indexing will be: a) removed as a complimentary test to ELISA or PCR for 78 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing to be done with ELISA or PCR testing), b) replaced by testing using only ELISA or PCR for 44 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing as the only test method), c) removed as a test from one Fragaria disease of unknown aetiology (and instead this pest will be managed by inspecting plants for symptoms).The Ministry for Primary Industries will also remove all guidance and sections about biological indexing requirements from our plant germplasm import health standards.For Fragaria, Olea, Prunus, Rubus, Solanum tuberosum, and Vitis plants for planting, we are removing 25 pests from our plant germplasm import health standards. We no longer consider these pests biosecurity risks on this pathway, and we will no longer require plants to be tested for these pests.

The Ministry for Primary Industries proposes removing biological indexing as a diagnostic tool from all our plant germplasm import health standards.Biological indexing will be:a) removed as a complimentary test to ELISA or PCR for 78 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing to be done with ELISA or PCR testing),b) replaced by testing using only ELISA or PCR for 44 pests (where existing standards require biological indexing as the only test method),c) removed as a test from one Fragaria disease of unknown aetiology (and instead this pest will be managed by inspecting plants for symptoms).The Ministry for Primary Industries will also remove all guidance and sections about biological indexing requirements from our plant germplasm import health standards.For FragariaOleaPrunusRubusSolanum tuberosum, and Vitis plants for planting, we are removing 25 pests from our plant germplasm import health standards. We no longer consider these pests biosecurity risks on this pathway, and we will no longer require plants to be tested for these pests.