10 July 2023
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise stakeholders of upcoming changes to inspection requirements for exports to New Zealand under the Export Plan.
Summary of changes and key points
- New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) have advised that protocol exports to New Zealand will no longer require inspections per farm lot and instead must be inspected per commodity.
- We are working to remove New Zealand industry inspector requirements from department policy and procedure with expected completion by the end of July 2023.
- Inspections will be conducted per unique commodity in the consignment by an Authorised Officer (AO). Further information is below.
- Instructional material relating to industry inspection/inspectors will be removed from the Plant Export Operations Manual.
- The Export Plan for Fresh Produce from Australia to New Zealand (Export Plan) will be updated to include the new inspection rate.
- Further communications will be provided upon completion of removing New Zealand industry inspector requirements.
Background
The Export Plan for Fresh Produce from Australia to New Zealand sets out the operational requirements for the export of fruit fly host commodities to New Zealand and includes specifications on sampling rates.
MPI has agreed to remove the following requirement: “The sampling rate for phytosanitary inspections is 600 units per farm lot”.
The new sampling rate will be “600 units per single commodity/species”.
Note: The following examples are considered single commodity/species for the purposes of phytosanitary inspection for New Zealand:
- a single species of citrus (for example, oranges). Mixed consignments of more than one citrus species will require a 600-unit phytosanitary inspection per species.
- a single variety of Brassica vegetables (for example, broccoli). Mixed consignments of more than one Brassica variety will require a 600-unit phytosanitary inspection per variety.
- a single variety of melons (for example, rockmelons). Mixed consignments of melons will require a 600-unit phytosanitary inspection per variety.
Assessment Services Exports will assess documentation and authorisation may be withheld if the correct sampling rate is not used. Contact Horticulture Exports Program if you have questions about sampling.
Documentation changes
The following instructional material will be rescinded from the Plant Export Operations Manual:
- Work instruction: Inspecting horticulture for New Zealand using industry inspectors
- Reference: New Zealand industry inspection record
- Reference: Performance standards – New Zealand industry inspectors
- Reference: Performance standards – Industry inspections of horticulture for New Zealand.
The following instructional material will be updated on the Plant Export Operations Manual to reflect new practices for phytosanitary inspections for New Zealand:
- Reference: Application for plant export accreditation of packhouses
- Departmental Policy: Management of plant export registered establishments
- Guideline: Management of horticulture export accredited properties
- Guideline: Audit of horticulture export accredited properties
- Reference: Registered operation and function codes for plant export registered establishments
- Guideline: Supporting documents for plant exports.
Additionally, the following documents on the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated:
- Export Plan for Fresh Produce from Australia to New Zealand (“New Zealand Export Plan”)
- New Zealand endorsement explanations and required supporting documents.
Industry responsibilities
From the end of July 2023:
- Ensure fresh fruit and vegetables for export to New Zealand comply with the requirements of the New Zealand Export Plan, including new inspection requirements.
- Discontinue use of industry inspectors for phytosanitary inspections of consignments exported to New Zealand.
Authorised officer responsibilities
From the end of July 2023:
- Ensure consignments are inspected at a sample rate of 600 units per single commodity/species as outlined in the New Zealand Export Plan.
- Ensure the sampling rate per single commodity/species is accurately recorded in the Plant Export Management System (PEMS).
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Horticulture Exports Program.
Rossana Carr
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch