Issuance of amended import health standard for seeds for sowing

This addendum concerns the amendment of the previously notified document, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Import Health Standard: Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05). The amendment to this import health standard was notified in G/SPS/N/NZL/768 dated 16 May 2024. Consultation on these changes has closed and the Ministry for Primary Industries issued the amended Import Health Standard: Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05) on 30 August 2024. The issued standard is on this link -  https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/1151-Seeds-for-Sowing-Import-Health-StandardAll the changes to the Import Health Standard: Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05) proposed in G/SPS/N/NZL/768 were adopted, published, and entered into force on 30 August 2024. Note that we have provided a one year implementation period for the following changes: Changing the wording for additional declarations for pests from: pest "not known to occur"; to "the seeds are produced in an area where [pest] is absent" as per ISPM 8: Determination of pest status in an area. Those changes apply for specific pests in the following 18 schedules in the import health standard: CapsicumCarpinusCaryaCastaneaCitrusCucumisCucurbitaceaeDesmodiumEriobotryiaHelianthusJuglansLensLithocarpus densiflorusMedicagoNicotiana tabacumQuercusUlmus and VignaUntil 30 August 2025, MPI will accept phytosanitary certificates with additional declarations for these pests that certify either the “[pest] is not known to occur” or "the seeds are produced in an area where the [pest] is absent" as per ISPM 8: Determination of pest status in an area. Guidance about this has been added in the 18 schedules.In relation to the change notified in G/SPS/N/NZL/768 to add seed testing (either offshore prior to export or on-arrival in New Zealand) as an option for a phytosanitary measure for certain pests, MPI wishes to inform trading partners that on-arrival testing in New Zealand is only possible if the seeds are not pesticide treated. Guidance about this has been added in the following schedules in the import health standard: AvenaGlycineHordeumSesamumTriticum and VignaAdoption date of regulation: 30 August 2024.