02 August 2023
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise stakeholders that changes to inspection requirements for exports to New Zealand under the Export Plan for Fresh Produce from Australia to New Zealand (Export Plan) have now been completed.
Summary of changes and key points
- New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) have advised protocol exports to New Zealand no longer require industry inspections per farm lot.
- Inspections must now be conducted per single commodity/species by an Authorised Officer (AO). See Authorised officer responsibilities for further information.
- The Export Plan has been updated to include the new inspection sample rate of 600 units per single commodity/species.
- Instructional material relating to industry inspection/inspectors has been removed from the Plant Export Operations Manual.
- An IAN will be released in the coming weeks regarding changes to the Export Plan as a result of new Import Health Standards being released by MPI (Refer to website: Amendments to import requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables from Australia).
Background
The Export Plan sets out the operational requirements for the export of fruit fly host commodities to New Zealand and includes specifications on sampling rates.
The Export Plan has been amended to remove the requirement of industry inspections per farm lot and include the new sampling rate: “600 units per single commodity/species”.
The Export Plan can be accessed through the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor).
Assessment Services – Exports will assess documentation and authorisation may be withheld if the correct sampling rate is not used. Contact the Horticulture Exports Program if you have questions about sampling.
Refer to IAN 2023-41 for further information.
Industry responsibilities
- Ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables for export to New Zealand comply with the requirements of the Export Plan, including the new inspection requirements.
- Discontinue use of Industry Inspectors for phytosanitary inspections of consignments exported to New Zealand.
Authorised officer responsibilities
- Familiarise yourself with the new inspection sample rate outlined in the Export Plan.
- Ensure the sample rate is accurately recorded in the Plant Export Management System (PEMS).
- For consignments made up of 2 or more commodities/species, use the sample rate ‘Other’, and provide a comment stating: “Goods inspected at a rate of 600 units per commodity/species as per New Zealand Export Plan”.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Horticulture Exports Program.
Rossana Carr
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch