New Zealand
November 12, 2012

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has revised the import health schedule for apple (Malus) seed for sowing and has issued a draft schedule for public consultation and comment. Both the draft import health schedule and the Risk Management Proposal, providing background information to the development of the schedule, can be found at the following link. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/biosec/consult/draft-ihs-apple-seed  

Consultation on the Seed for Sowing import health standard is in accordance with Section 23 of the Biosecurity Act (1993) and Biosecurity New Zealand's consultation policy. An import health standard specifies import requirements that must be met either in the country of origin or of export, or during transit, before biosecurity clearance can be given for the goods to enter New Zealand. MPI must ensure that these requirements are technically justified and provide an appropriate level of biosecurity protection.

Comments on the draft IHS should be forwarded to MPI by close of business on 25 January 2013. MPI encourages respondents to forward comments electronically to the email address below. However, should you wish to forward submissions in writing, please send them to the address that follows:

Plant Imports: Apple seed IHS consultation
Plants, Food & Environment Directorate Standards Branch
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington
New Zealand

Fax: +64 4 894 0662
Email: plantimports@mpi.govt.nz  

Please see the MPI New Zealand website for additional information on Making a submission Submissions received by the closure date will be considered for the final issue of this import health standard. Submissions received after the closure date may be held on file for consideration when the issued standard is next revised/reviewed.

Please note that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA.
 
Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as the information is commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld.

Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.

Website: http://www.maf.govt.nz

Published: November 12, 2012