Capsicum, Cucumis, Cucurbitaceae, Lotus, Panicum, Phaseolus, Pisum, Raphanus sativus, Solanum, Solanum lycopersicum, Zea seeds for sowing

Import Health Standard: Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05)

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries is publicly consulting on the following proposed amendments to the Import Health Standard (IHS): Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05):

Trade facilitating measures:

• Adding the option for small seed lots of species eligible to import under the specific requirements in the IHS for Capsicum (capsicum), Solanum (Solanum melongena only) (eggplant), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and Zea (corn) to be tested as composite samples for the presence of quarantine pests;
• Adding the option for Phaseolus (bean) and Pisum (pea) seeds be tested for the presence of quarantine pests offshore prior to export;
• Adding Matthiola incana and Cyperus papyrus to the list of species approved for import as pelleted seed;
• Removing measures for the fungal pests Rhizopus maydis and Phaeocytostroma ambiguum on Zea (corn) seed, Cercospora loti on Lotus (lotus) seed and Peronosclerospora sorghi and Sclerospora graminicola on Panicum (panicum) seed.

Other measures:

• Adding a phytosanitary certificate as a requirement for Raphanus sativus (radish) seeds for sowing. The full details of the proposed amendments can be found in the MPI Risk Management Proposal: Amendments to the Import Health Standard Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05).