G/SPS/N/NZL/621  
 
9 March 2020  
(20-1822) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  NEW ZEALAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry for Primary Industries  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Seed for sowing  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countr ies:  
5. Title of the notified document:  Amendments to Import health standard 155.02.05: 
Seeds for Sowing  and Import health standard 155.02.06: Importation of Nursery Stock.  
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  25 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/NZL/20_1817_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The targeted consultation document proposes a number of 
minor ch anges to measures, all of which are trade -enabling, to the relevant schedules in 
import health standard 155.02.05: Seeds for Sowing and IHS 155.02.06: Importation of 
Nursery Stock (listed below) . 
Amendments to IHS 155.02.05: Seeds for sowing  
Adoption of ho t water treatment performed onshore at an MPI -approved facility as a 
phytosanitary measure for regulated bacteria on Apiaceae  and Cannabis sativa  seeds for 
sowing. Adoption of molecular testing as an offshore phytosanitary measure for Tomato 
brown rugose f ruit virus  on Capsicum  and Solanum lycopersicum  seeds for sowing. 
Addition of an option for importers to provide a non -GMO declaration to meet the 
genetically modified (GM) requirements for Petunia  seeds for sowing. Removal of 
requirement for 'appropriate common name' to be specified on phytosanitary certificates 
for Petunia  seeds for sowing.  
Amendments to IHS 155.02.06: Importation of Nursery Stock  
Addition of an option for importers to provide a non -GMO declaration to meet the GM 
requirements for Petunia  nursery stock (whole plants, cuttings and tissue cultures). 
Amendment to information required on GM testing certificates for Petunia  nursery stock 
(whole plants, cuttings and tissue cultures). Removal of the requirement for an import 
permit for Petunia  tissue cultures.  
Please email PlantImports@mpi.govt.nz to request a copy of the targeted consultation 
document, should you wish to review the consultation document.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/NZL/621  
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial num ber of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : 
ISPM number: 1  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes  [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 20 April 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 20 April 2020  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 20 April 2020  
[X] Trade facilita ting measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 6 April 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Mrs Sally Jennings, Coordinator, SPS  New Zealand  
PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand  
Tel: +(644) 894 0431;  
Fax: +(644) 894 0733;  
E-mail: sps@mpi.govt.nz  
Website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/overview/access -and-trade-into-new-
zealand/world -trade-organization -notificatio ns/ 
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Mrs Sally Jennings, Coordinator, SPS  New Zealand  
PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand  
Tel: +(644) 894 0431;  
Fax: +(644) 894 0733;  
E-mail: sps@mpi.govt.nz  
Website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/overview/access -and-trade-into-new-
zealand/world -trade-organization -notifications/