8 December 2020
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry that New Zealand (NZ) has revised the import conditions for pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) and watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) from Australia.
Summary of changes and key points
- The NZ National Plant Protection Organisation, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), has advised that the Import Health Standards (IHS) for pumpkins and watermelons have been amended to allow fruit sourced from a Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) Pest Free Place of Production (PFPP).
- Effective 19 November 2020, fresh pumpkins and watermelons can be imported into NZ if they have been sourced from a Pest Free Area (PFA) OR produced in a PFPP of CGMMV.
- Currently, only Victoria and New South Wales have systems approved by NZ to manage PFPPs. Therefore, only farms in these states can export.
- NZ MPI has advised that fresh cucurbits from Queensland remain suspended from import into NZ.
- The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) has been updated to reflect the changed conditions.
- To trade under the new measures, farms must apply to their relevant state department and adhere to the PFPP system in their state.
- Farms must also register with us using the form below. Approval is subject to an assessment against PFA or PFPP certification issued by the state and territory departments confirming the area’s freedom from CGMMV.
- Exporters sourcing produce from farms and suppliers to export to NZ will need to ensure that the place of production is registered with the department and approved for export. Exporters will need to provide evidence in the form of the official approval letter from us, to Assessment Services Group when requesting authorisation of their phytosanitary certificate.
- All other requirements in the relevant IHS, the Australia-New Zealand Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement and on Micor must be adhered to.
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Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email Horticulture Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch