Import Health Standard  
Issued under the Biosecurity Act 1993   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fresh Ginger ( Zingiber  
officinale  and Z. zerumbet ) for 
Human Consumption  
GINGER -IHS.FP  
  
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  1 of 12 
TITLE  
Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Import Health Standard  comes into force on  date of signing.   
REVOCATION  
This Import Health S tandard revokes and replaces  the following :  
 Import Health Standard Commodity Sub -class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Ginger, ( Zingiber officinale ) 
from Papua New Guinea.  
 Import Health Standard Commodity Sub -class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Ginger, ( Zingiber officinale ) 
from Thailand.  
 Import Health Standard Commodity Sub -class: Fresh Fruit/Vegetables Ginger, Zingiber officinale  
from Vanuatu.  
 Zingiber officinale , Ginger, Australia schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation and 
Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber officinale , Ginger, Fiji schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation and Clearance of 
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber officinale , Ginger, Papua New Guinea schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation 
and Clearance of F resh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber officinale , Ginger, Samoa schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation and Clearance 
of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber officinale , Ginger, Thailand schedule in Import Health Stand ard: Importation and 
Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber officinale , Ginger, Vanuatu schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation and Clearance 
of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber zerumbert , Ginger, Niue  schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation and Clearance of 
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber zerumbert , Ginger, Samoa schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation and Clearance 
of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
 Zingiber zerumbert , Ginger, Tonga schedule in Import Health Standard: Importation and Clearance 
of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  2 of 12 
ISSUING AUTHORITY  
This Import Health Standard  is issued  under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993.  
 
Dated at Wellington,   
 
 
Stephen Butcher  
Principal Adviser, Plants & Pathways  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(acting under delegated authority of the Direc tor-General)  
 
Contact for further information  
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  
Biosecurity  New Zealand  
Plants & Pathways  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
 
Email: plantimports@mpi.govt.nz   
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Contents  Page 
Introduction  4 
Part 1:  General Requirements  6 
1.1 Application  6 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  6 
1.3 Definitions  6 
1.4 General requirements for fresh ginger  7 
Part 2:  Specific Requirements  8 
2.1 Basic Measures  8 
Part 3:  Inspection, Verification and Documentation Requirements  9 
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  9 
3.2 Phytosanitary certification  9 
Schedule 1: Definitions  10 
 
 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Introduction  
This introduction  is not part of the  Import Health S tandard  (IHS), but is intended to indicate its general effect.  
Purpose  
An IHS specifies the requirements for importing  risk goods  into New Zealand from all countries.  This IHS 
specifies the requirements that must be met when importing  fresh ginger  into New Zealand . 
Background  
An IHS issued under the New Zealand Biosecurity Act  1993  (the Act ) specifies the requirements to be met 
to effectively  manage biosecurity risks associated with importing  risk goods , including the risks from 
incidentally imported new organisms . IHSs  include measures that must be applied in the exporting country 
before the risk goods  are exported. IHSs  also include requirem ents that must be met by importers  during 
importation , including while the risk goods  are in transit  to New Zealand and held in a transitional facility , 
before biosecurity clearance  can be given.  
Post-clearance  conditions may also be specified in an IHS. 
Who should read this?  
This IHS should be read by anyone  involved in the process of importing  fresh ginger  into New Zealand  (or 
who has an interest in importing  fresh ginger ). 
Why is this important?  
It is the responsibility of the importer  to ensure that risk goods  (i.e. fresh ginger ) comply with the 
requirements of the relevant IHS. Risk goods  that do not comply with the requirements of an IHS may not be 
cleared  for entry  into New Zealand and may be directed for treatment , re-shipment , destruction or further 
action deemed appropriate by a Chief Technical Officer  (CTO ). The pathway  may be suspended if certain 
types of viable regulated  pests  or weed seeds are intercepted  on the consignment . 
Importers  are liable for all associated expenses.  
Equivalence  
A CTO  may consider an application for an equivalent  phytosanitary  measure  to be approved, different from 
that provided for in this IHS, to maintain at least the same level of protection assured by the current 
measure (s).  
Equivalence  will be considered with reference to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures  
ISPM  24. Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary measures . 
Document History  
This IHS replaces the following schedules in  the revoked  Import Health Standard  152.02: Importation and 
Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand : 
 Ginger, Zingiber officinale , Australia  
 Ginger, Zingiber officinale , Fiji 
 Ginger, Zingiber zerumbet , Niue  
 Ginger, Zingiber officinale , Papua  New Guinea  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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 Ginger, Zingiber officinale , Samoa  
 Ginger, Zingiber zerumbet , Samoa  
 Ginger, Zingiber officinale , Thailand  
 Ginger, Zingiber zerumbet , Tonga  
 Ginger, Zingiber officinale , Vanuatu  
 
Version Date  Section Changed  Change(s) Description  
XX July 2019  All  New document  
 
Other information  
Guidance boxes are included within this IHS for explanatory purposes.  The guidance included in these boxes 
is for informati on only and has no legal effect .  
Guidance Document: Import of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for Human Consumption provides information to 
assist with meeting the requirements of an IHS for fresh  fruits and vegetables  and should be read in 
conjunction with this IHS. Biosecurity clearance  of fresh  fruits and veg etables  will be covered by a 
separate guidance document.  
Within this IHS, terms printed in bold have the same meaning as that set out and defined by the FAO , in ISPM 
5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms , the Act  or in this IHS. Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Part 1:  General Requirements  
1.1 Application  
(1) This Impor t Health Standard  (IHS) applies to fresh ginger  rhizome (Zingiber officinale  and Z. 
zerumbet ) imported  for human consumption (‘ fresh ginger ’).  
(2) Only the following species of fresh ginger  may be imported  into New Zealand and only f rom the 
countries specified for that species below:  
a) Zingiber officinale  from Australia, China, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Samoa and Vanuatu.  
b) Zingiber zerumbet  from Niue, Samoa and Tonga.  
(3) This IHS applies to imports of fresh ginger  from those countries that meet the requirements in 1.4.  
 
Guidance  
 Hybrids between species can be imported  but only when each species is an approved commodity , i.e. 
an IHS exists for each species. The hybrid should meet the requirements specified in the IHS for each 
species in the hybrid.  
 Some fresh commodities  (commercially manufactured and processed fruits and vegetables  of 
specific commercial brands that have undergone pre export assessment by the Ministry for Primary 
Industries (MPI) ) can be found on the MPI websit e in “Processed” Fresh Commodities . These 
commodities  are not considered to be risk goods  and do not need to comply with the requiremen ts of 
this IHS. To apply to have a processed fresh commodity  assessed to be listed, contact 
Plantimports@mpi.govt.nz . 
 Frozen, cooked, pickled, pureed or dried  commodities  for human consumption are covered by Import 
Health Standard:  Stored Plant P roducts for Human C onsumption . 
 Import  requirements for trade samples for evaluation and private consignments are covered by 
separate standards.  
 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  
(1) The following documents are incorporated by reference under section 142M of the Act : 
a) ISPM 5.  Glossary of phytosanitary terms . Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
b) ISPM 7.  Phytosanitary certification system . Rome, IPPC, FAO.   
c) ISPM 12.  Phytosanitary certificates . Rome, IPPC, FAO .  
d) ISPM 23.  Guidelines for inspection . Rome, IPPC, FAO .  
e) ISPM 31.  Methodologies for sampling of consignments . Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
f) MPI Biosecurity Organisms Register for Imported Commodities  (BORIC ). Wellington, MPI.  
g) MPI Schedule of Regulated (Quarantine) W eed Seeds . Wellington, MPI.  
(2) Under section 142O(3) of the Act  it is declared that section 142O(1) does not apply, that is, a notice 
under section 142O(2) of the Act  is not required to be published before material that amends or 
replaces any material incorporated by reference has legal effect as part of those documents.  
1.3 Definitions  
(1) Definitions are listed in Schedule 1.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  7 of 12 
1.4 General  requirements for fresh  ginger  
(1) Importe rs may only import  fresh ginger  from a country where  the NPPO  has provided evidence to 
the satisfaction of a CTO  that the exporting country has a  phytosanitary  certification  system  that 
complies with ISPM 7.  Phytosanitary certification system . The phytosanitary  certification  system  
(including programmes and standards) must demonstrate the process u sed to provide export 
assurance . 
(2) In order to obtain biosecurity clearance  all consignments  of fresh ginger  imported  into New 
Zealand must:  
a) meet the specific requirements in Part 2 Specific Requirements ; 
b) be considered free from viable regulated pests , soil and other contamination ; 
c) at the time of export, be commercially produced in accordance with the principles of Good 
Agricultural Practice  (GAP) and meet the requirements relating to export quality  in 1.4 (3);   
d) be packaged  in clean and either new or refurbished material;  
e) be exported in a secure manner to prevent contamination ; and  
f) be accompanied by documentation that meets the requirements of Part 3  Inspection, Verification 
and Documentation Requirements . 
(3) All consignments  of fresh ginger  must be:  
a) intact, sound and clean;  
b) free from:  
i) rot, signs of shrivelling and dehydration;  
ii) any visible foreign matter;  
iii) damage caused by pests  affecting the fles h; and  
iv) abnormal moisture;  
c) able to withstand transportation and handling.  
(4) Fresh  ginger  must  not include flowers, leaves or any other plant  parts.  Zingiber  officinale  must not 
include roots.   
(5) Fresh ginger  must only be used for human consumption.  
 
Guidance  
 Zingiber zerumbet  may include roots.  
 Countries that meet the requirements in 1.4 (1) and are approved to trade fresh ginger  are listed in  an 
online pest database .  
 A list of pests  associated with fresh ginger  can be found in  the online pest database . 
 The full list of regulated  and non -regulate d pests  for New Zealand can be found in BORIC  and the 
Schedule of regulated (quarantine) weed seeds . These databases can be found on the MPI website.  
 In 1.4 (2) “considered free from viable regulated pests ” is used as described in Section 5 of ISPM 12 . 
Phytosanitary certificates.   
 The phytosanitary inspec tion by the NPPO  in Part 3 Inspection, Verification and Documentation 
Requirements  may be used to determine whether the requirements in 1.4 (3) are met.  
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Part 2:  Specific Requirements  
2.1 Basic Measures  
(1) Fresh ginger  must be sourced from a production site  that uses standard commercial cultivation 
methods that comply with  the principles of  Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) including pest control , 
harvesting, sorting, cleaning, inspection  and packaging . Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  9 of 12 
Part 3:  Inspection, Verification and Documentation 
Requirements  
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  
(1) A sample unit for the purpose o f this IHS is an individual fresh ginger  rhizome . 
(2) The NPPO  of the exporting country must:  
a) sample each homogeneous grower lot of fresh ginger . The minimum sample size for 
inspection  must be based on a 95% confidence level that not more than 0.5% of the units in the 
lot are infested  as set out in ISPM 31.  Methodologies for sampling of consignments  Appendix 2;  
b) visually inspect  each sample unit according to official phytosanitary proced ures  in 
accordance with ISPM 23.  Guidelines for inspection  and ISPM 31. Methodologies for sampling of 
consignments  for all regulated pests  required by New Zealand;  
c) verify that Basic Measures have bee n applied as outlined in Part 2  Specific Requirements ;  
d) reconcile that the number of packages presented for inspection is consistent with documenta tion; 
e) verify that traceability labelling is complete; and  
f) verify that phytosanitary security  is maintained for the consignment . 
(3) The NPPO must contact MPI to establish  the regulatory  status of any pests not listed in BORIC  and 
found during an inspection . 
3.2 Phytosanitary certification  
(1) Each consignment  must meet the requirements set out in Part 3 Inspection, Verification and 
Documentation Requirements  and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate  issued by the 
NPPO  in accordance with ISPM 12.  Phytosanitary certificates . 
(2) The phytosanitary certificate  must include  the following where applicable : 
a) Sufficient detail to enable identification of the consignment  and its component parts. Information 
must i nclude country/place of origin.  
b) The scientific name of fresh ginger  (Zingiber officinale  and/or  Zingiber zerumbet ). 
c) The following certifying statement , or a variation that is compliant with ISPM 12.  Phytosanitary 
certificates  and has been approved by a CTO : 
i) “This is to certify that the plants, plant products or other regulated articles described herein 
have been inspected and/or tested according to appropriate official procedures and are 
considered to be free from the quarantine pests specified by the importing contracting 
party and to conform with the current phytosanitary requ irements of the importing 
contracting party, including those for regulated non -quarantine pests .” 
(3) If a consignment  of fresh ginger  is stored  in another country in transit  to New Zealand or opened , 
split up or ha s its packaging  changed prior to when it arrives in New Zealand , a phytosanitary 
certificate  for re-export  is required from the transiting country, in accordance with ISPM 12.  
Phytosanitary certificates , and must accompany each consignment . 
 
Guidance  
 Phytosanitary certificates  should only list the scientific name (s) of the species of fresh ginger  that is 
being imported  in a particular consignment .  
 If viable  regulated pests  are detected, a phytosanitary certificate  should not be issued unless 
appropriate phytosanitary measure s have been applied.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  10 of 12 
Schedule  1: Definitions  
Definitions have the same meaning as defined by FAO , ISPM 5.  Glossary of phytosanitary terms  or the Act  
unless set out below. Derived forms of terms set out in the aforementioned sources, e.g. inspect  from 
inspection , are considered to have the same meaning as the defined term . 
Arrive in New Zealand  
Definition as per the Act . 
Biosecurity clearance (including  clearance/cleared ) 
Definition as per the Act . 
Biosecurity Organism Register for Imported Commodities  (BORIC ) 
MPI database which identifies  the quarantine  status for an organism  as either regulated  or non -regulat ed 
for New Zealand. BORIC  is available at:  
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news -and-resources/resources/registers -and-lists/biosecurity -organisms -register -for-
imported -commodities/  
Chief Technical Officer (CTO) 
Definition as per the Act.  
Commodity  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Consignment  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Contamination  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Control  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Entry (of a consignment )  
Definition as per ISPM 5.  Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
Equivalence  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
FAO  
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  
Free from  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Fresh  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Fruits and vegetables  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Good Agricultural Practice  (GAP ) 
Definition as per FAO , 2003. Development of a Framework for Good Agricultural Practices. Retrieved from 
FAO: http://www.fao.org/3/y8704e/y8704e.htm  
Import  
Definition as per the Act . 
Import health standard (IHS) 
Definition as per the Act . 
Importation  
Definition as per the Act . Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  11 of 12 
Importer  
Definition as per the Act .  
In transit  
Refers to risk goods  (consignments ) in the process of being shipped to New Zealand, for example risk 
goods  in sea containers on board a vessel. These risk goods  or consignments  may have treatments  
applied  (for example cold treatment ) while the risk goods  are en route to New Zealand.  
Incidentally imported new organism  
Definition as per the Act . 
Inspection  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanita ry terms   
Interception (of a pest) 
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM ) 
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms. The list of ISPMs  are available from: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/ispms/ .   
Nation al Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO ) 
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms  
Offic ial 
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
Organism  
Definition as per the Act   
Packaging  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Pathway  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Pest  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary terms . 
Phytosanitary certificate  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Phytosanitary certification  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Phytosanitary measure  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Phytosanitary procedure  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Phytosanitary security  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Plants  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Production site  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Quarantine  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Quarantine pest  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officin ale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  12 of 12 
Re-export (consignment ) 
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Regulated pest 
A pest that is identified as a regulated pest  in BORIC  or the Schedule of regulated (quarantine ) weed seeds . 
Risk goods  
Definition as per the Act . 
Seeds  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Transitional facility  
Definition as per the Act . 
Treatment  (including  treated ) 
Definition as per ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary  terms   
Viable regulated pest  
Any regulated  pest that is capable of reproduction and development, including insects, plants , seeds  and 
other organisms .