Risk Management Proposal:  
Amendment to  the Grain and Seeds for 
Consumption, Feed, or Processing  import 
health standard   
GCFP.IHS  
 
 
  Prepared for public consultation  
by Plant Product Imports  
Animal and Plant Health Directorate  
 
   
 
March  2023 
i Disclaimer  
While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this publication is accurate, 
the Ministry  for Primary Industries does not accept any responsibility or liability for error of 
fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, nor for the consequences of any decisions based on this information. 
This publication is also available on the Ministry for Primary Industries  website at  
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news -and-resources/publications/   
 © Crown Copyright – Ministry  for Primary Industries  
   
ii Contents  Page 
1 General information  3 
1.1 Purpose  3 
1.2 Background  3 
1.3 Timing and consultation 3 
2 Proposed changes  3 
3 Rationale for the proposed changes  3 
3.1 Summary of risk assessment  3 
4 Feasibility of proposed changes  4 
5 References  5 
Appendix 1: Proposed changes to the standard 6  
Ministry for Primary Industries   RMP: Amendment to GCFP.IHS  • 3  
1 General information 
1.1 Purpose 
 The purpose of this document is to:  
a) Outline  the proposed change s to the s tandard ,  
b) Explain how the proposed change s will manage risk , and  
c) Ask for feedback on the change s. 
1.2 Background  
 The import health st andard Grain  and Seeds  for Consumption, Feed, or Processing  was 
last issued on 2 February  2023, under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the 
Act), incorporating amendments made in accordance with section 24B(1)(a) of that Act.  
1.3 Timing and c onsultation  
 The proposed ame ndment to the import health standard G rain and Seeds for 
Consumption, F eed, or P rocessing  was released for consultation on 21 March  2023 and 
will remain open for consultation until 21 April 2023. 
2 Proposed changes  
 We propose  removing Anthracocystis  destruens  from the  pest list for Panicum  spp. We 
will also remove the requirements  to manage this pest.  
 The proposed changes are outlined in Appendix 1. 
3 Rationale for the proposed change s 
3.1 Summary of risk assessment  
3.1.1 Disease symptoms  
 Anthracocystis  destruens  is listed on the Official New Zealand Pest Register  as non-
regulated ( ONZPR ). It is not listed on any overseas quarantine lists a nd is not an 
unwanted organism for New Zealand.  
 Anthracocystis destruens  is a seedborne (Zhou et al., 2016) pathogen that causes 
systemic disease in plants. T he fungus  infects plants when they are  seedling s, then 
spreads  systemically in the host. I nfection can be identified by the presence of dark 
brown spores  (teliospores ) when  the plant  is flowering (Wu et al. 2022).  
 Anthracocystis  destruens  has a narrow host range (MPI, 2022)  that includes  Panicum 
miliaceum  (millet) , P. capillare , and  some  other Panicum  species.   
3.1.2 New Zealand status  
 Anthracocystis  destruens is not present in New Zealand.   
Ministry for Primary Industries   RMP: Amendment to GCFP.IHS  • 4 a) There is one report of A. destruens  in New Zealand. This is  a specimen taken from 
Ruakura Experimental Farm in 1938 and is recorded in  a Manaaki Whenua -  
Landcare Research database. Based on the data from  Biota  NZ, this seems to have 
been  a seedborne infection with no economic significance.  
b) As there are  no other  record s or detections of this fungus in New Zealand, we 
conclude that this fungus  is most likely not  established  here.  
3.1.3 Impacts  
 Under normal conditions, t he yield loss of A. destruens  in millet crops has been reported 
to range between 5 and 10%. In millet -producing areas of China under favourable 
climate conditions (arid and semiarid) , it exceeds 40% (Zhou et al. 2016).   
 If A. destruens  establ ishes a population in New Zealand, the impacts will be negligible. 
a) New Zealand does not grow Panicum  spp. commercially on a large scale 
(NZGSTA, 2022). Some small- scale producers grow millet  for birdseed and 
baking, although the  industry is not significant  for export or domestic production. 
b) There are several  Panicum  species native to New Zealand, but none are known 
hosts of A.  destruens , and none are classed as threatened.  
3.1.4 Conclusions  of risk assessment  
 MPI cannot require  measures  for pests unless it has evidence that a pest can enter 
New  Zealand, become established here and ha ve negative impacts on the New Zealand  
economy, environment, human health, or things of social or cultural value to 
New  Zealanders .  
 If this fungus becomes e stablished here, t he consequences will be  very low . Continuing 
to regulat e A. destruens  on Panicum  spp. is not justified.  
4 Feasibility of proposed changes  
 The proposed changes  will make it easier for importers to import Panicum  spp. seeds. 
Removing A.  destruens  from Panicum  spp. schedule is in keeping with MPI’s 
commitment to maintaining up -to-date and scientifically justified regulations.  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries   RMP: Amendment to GCFP.IHS  • 5 5 References  
MAF; MFAT; FSA (2009) Balance in Trade. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand, Food Safety Authority; Wellington, NZ. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/12576- balance- in-trade  
MPI ( 2022) Technical advice (2 4 September  2021 ). Review to determine whether 45 
regulated pests currently listed in the Panicum  (L.) spp. (millet) (Poaceae) schedule, Section 
2.14.4 of the Grain a nd Seeds for Consumption, Feed or Processing Import Health Standard 
2021, are associated with Panicum  seed.  Plant Pest and Emerging Risk Assessment, Animal 
and Plant Heath Directorate. Ministry for Primary Industries; Wellington, NZ.  
NZGSTA (2022) Personal  communication . New Zealand Grain & Seed Trade Association; 
Wellington, NZ. 
Wu, E; Liu, M; Wu, M; Yang, Q; Li, J; Han, X, Feng, B (2022) The life cycle and 
ultrastructure of the host response of the smut pathogen Anthracocytis destruens  on 
broomcorn millet . Phytopathology , 112( 5): 996- 1002 
Zhou, Y; Qu, Y; Zhu, M; Liu, J; Wang, Y; Song, H; Feng, B (2016) Genetic diversity and virulence variation of Sporisorium destruens  isolates and evaluation of broomcorn millet for 
resistance to head smut. Euphytica, 211: 59–70.  
Ministry for Primary Industries   RMP: Amendment to GCFP.IHS  • 6 Appendix 1: Proposed changes to the standard  
 
 
Ministry for Primary Industries   RMP: Amendment to GCFP.IHS  • 7 
 
Ministry for Primary Industries   RMP: Amendment to GCFP.IHS  • 8 
 
Ministry for Primary Industries   RMP: Amendment to GCFP.IHS  • 9