Import Health Standard  
Issued under the Biosecurity Act 1993  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fresh Ginger ( Zingiber  
officinale  and Z. zerumbet ) for 
Human Consumption  
GINGER -IHS.FP  
29 January 2024  
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  1 of 14 
TITLE  
Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Import Health Standard  comes into force on  29 January 2024 .  
REVOCATION  
This Import Health S tandard revokes and replaces  the Import Health Standard: Fresh Ginger (Zingiber 
officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  20 December 2019.  
The document  history to this Import Health Standard is set out in Appendix 1 . 
ISSUING AUTHORITY  
This Import Health Standard  is issued  under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993  to incorporate 
amendments made pursuant to sections 24B and 166A of that Act . 
 
Dated at Wellington  this 29th day of January  2024. 
 
 
Janine Collier  
Manager , Plant Health  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(acting under delegated authority of the Direc tor-General)  
 
For more  information , contact  
Animal and Plant Health  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
 
Email: plantimports@mpi.govt.nz   
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  2 of 14 
Contents  Page 
Introduction  3 
Part 1:  General Requirements  5 
1.1 Application  5 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  5 
1.3 Definitions  5 
1.4 General requirements for fresh ginger  6 
Part 2:  Specific Requirements  7 
2.1 Basic measures  7 
Part 3:  Inspection, Verification and Documentation Requirements  8 
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  8 
3.2 Phytosanitary certification  8 
Schedule 1: Definitions  10 
Appendix 1: Document history  14 
 
 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  3 of 14 
Introduction  
This introduction is not part of the  Import Health S tandard (IHS ) but is intended to indicate its general effect.  
Purpose  
An import health standard  specifies the requirements for importing risk goods  into New Zealand . This Import 
Health Standard  specifies the  requirements that must be met when importing fresh ginger  into New Zealand.  
Background  
An import health standard  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. I mport health standard s include measures that must be 
applied in the  exporting country before the risk goods are exported. I mport health standard s also include 
requirements 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, bef ore biosecurity clearance can be given.  
Who should read this?  
This Standard  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 import ant?  
It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that risk goods (i.e. fresh ginger ) comply with the requirements 
of the relevant standard . Risk goods that do not comply with the requirements of an import health standard  
may not be cleared for ent ry into New Zealand and may be directed for treatment, reshipment , destruction or 
further action deemed appropriate by a chief technical officer (CTO)  of MPI . The pathway may be suspended 
if certain types of viable regulated pests or weed seeds are interce pted on the consignment.  
Importers  are liable for all associated expenses.  
Equivalence  
A chief technical officer  may consider an application for an equivalent phytosanitary measure to be approved, 
different from that provided for in this S tandard , 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  
Please refer to Appendix 1 for Document history.  
Other information  
This is not an exhaustive list of compliance requirements, and it is the importer’s responsibility to be familiar 
with and comply  with all New Zealand laws.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  4 of 14 
Guidance for this import health standard is provided in the guidance document Information on Clearance of 
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for Human Consumption . 
Guidance boxes are included within this IHS for explanatory purposes. The guidance included in these boxes 
is for information only and has no legal effect.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  5 of 14 
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 from the 
countries specified for that specie s below:  
a) Zingiber officinale  from Australia,  China, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Samoa and Vanuatu.  
b) Zingiber zerumbet  from Niue, Samoa and Tonga.  
 
Guidance  
• Hybrids between species can be imported but only when each species is an approved commodity, i .e. 
when an import health standard  exists for each species. The hybrid should meet the requirements in 
the standards  for each species in the hybrid.  For example, pluots ( Prunus domestica × P. armeniaca ) 
should meet the requirements in the standards  for plum s (P. domestica ) and apricot s (P. armeniaca ). 
• 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 Indust ries 
(MPI) ) can be found on the MPI website in “Processed” Fresh Commodities . These commodities are 
not risk goods and do not need to comply with the requirements of this standard . To apply to have a 
processed fresh commodity assessed to be listed, contact Plantimports@mpi.govt.nz . 
• Frozen, cooked, pickled, pureed or dried commodities fo r human consumption are covered by the 
import health standard Stored Plant Products for Human Consumption . 
• Import requirements for trade samples for evaluation are covered by  the import health standard  
Research samples (excluding animal samples) . 
• To see the i mport  requirements for importing private cons ignments for fresh fruits and vegetables , go 
to the import health standard  Personal Consignments of Products for Human Consumption and 
Personal Effects . 
 
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  (FAO); 
b) ISPM 7. Phytosanitary certification system  (FAO);  
c) ISPM 12. Phytosanitary certificates  (FAO); 
d) ISPM 23. Guidelines for inspection  (FAO);  
e) ISPM 31. Methodologies for sampling of consignments  (FAO); 
f) Official New Zealand  Pest Register  (ONZPR)  (MPI) ; 
g) Schedule of Regulated (Quarantine) W eed Seeds  (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 officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  6 of 14 
1.4 General  requirements for fresh  ginger  
(1) Importers may only import f resh 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) mu st demonstrate the process u sed to provide export assurance . 
(2) Consignments of fresh ginger  imported into New Zealand must:  
a) meet the specific requirements in “Part 2 : Specific Requirements ”; 
b) be free from contamination and other extraneous material;  
c) be packaged in clean and either new or refurbished material;  
d) be secured in a manner to prevent contamination; and  
e) be accompanied by documentation that meets the requirements of Part 3  Inspection, Verification 
and Documentation Requirement s. 
(3) A consignment of fresh ginger  may receive a biosecurity clearance if the fresh ginger  meets the 
requirements of this S tandard . 
 
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 the 
MPI database  Product Import Export Requirements  (PIER).   
• The PIER database  also has a full  list of regulated pests associated with fresh ginger . 
• There is a  full list of regu lated and non -regulated pests for New Zealand in the Official New Zealand 
Pest Register  (ONZPR) . You can use this register to find out the quarantine status for an organism  and 
whether it is  regulated or non -regulated in New  Zealand.  
• You can also find out about weed seeds in the  Schedule of Regulated ( Quarantine) Weed Seeds . 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  7 of 14 
Part 2:  Specific Requirements  
2.1 Basic measures  
(1) Fresh ginger  must be sourced from a production site that uses standard commercial production 
methods.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  8 of 14 
Part 3:  Inspection, Verification and Documentation 
Requirements  
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  
(1) In this Standard, a sample unit  is an individual fresh ginger  rhizome . 
(2) The NPPO of  the exporting country must:  
a) sample  each homogeneous 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 , Table 1 ; 
b) visually inspect each sampl e unit according to official phytosanitary procedures 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 the consignment is free from de fects such as rot and damage;  
d) verify that basic measures  have bee n applied as outlined in “Part 2 : Specific Requirements ”;  
e) reconcile that the number of packages presented for inspection is consistent with documenta tion; 
f) verify that traceability labelling is complete; and  
g) verify that phytosanitary security is maintained for the consignment.  
(3) The NPPO must contact MPI to establish the regulatory status of any pests  that are found during an 
inspection but are  not listed in  ONZPR . 
 
Guidance  
• Typically, the sample size for the NPPO phytosanitary inspection is 600 units from each 
homogeneous  lot. 
• For information  on clearance  at the New  Zealand border , see the guidance document Information on 
Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for Human Consumption . 
 
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 consi gnment  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 chief technical officer of MPI : 
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 proce dures and are 
considered to be free from the quarantine pests specified by the importing contracting 
party and to conform with the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing 
contracting party, including those for regulated non -quarantine pests.”  
(3) If a consignment of fresh ginger  is opened, split up or has 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 certifi cates, and must accompany each consignment.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  9 of 14 
 
Guidance  
• Phytosanitary certificates should only list the scientific name s of the species of fresh ginger  that are 
being  imported in a particular consignment.  
• If viable regulated  pests are detected, a phytosan itary certificate should not be issued unless 
appropriate phytosanitary measures  have been applied.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  10 of 14 
Schedule  1: Definitions  
Definitions have the same meaning as defined in 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  
chief technical officer (CTO ) 
definition as per the Act  
commercial production  
process (system) where activities, such as in -field monitoring, in -field pest control activities, harvesting, 
cleaning, sorting, and  grading have been undertaken to produce a commodity that is free from defects such 
as broken skin, rot and damage. Depending on the systems in place, these activities can be undertaken at 
any stage from the point of planting to the point of export  
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  
entry (of a consignment )  
definition as per ISP M 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  (of a consignment, field or place of production ) 
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  
import  
definition as per the Act  
import health standard (IHS) 
definition as per the Act  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  11 of 14 
importation  
definition as per the Act  
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  phytosanitary 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/  
IPPC  
International Plant Protection Convention  
lot 
definitio n as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
Nation al Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO ) 
definition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
official  
definition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
Official New Zealand Pest Register (ONZPR)  
MPI database that identifies the quarantine status for an organism as either regulated or non -regulated for 
New Zealand. The register  is available at: https://onzpr.mpi.govt .nz/ 
organism  
definition as per the Act  
packaging  
definitio n as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
pathway  
defini tion as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
pest 
definition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
pest control activities  
activities such as cultural, chemical, biological, physical, genetic, behavioural for the purpose of pest control 
including phytosanitary measures  such as pest free area, in -field pest controls, phytosanitary treatment  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  12 of 14 
phytosanitary certificate  
defin ition 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  
defin ition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
place of production  
definition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
plants  
definition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
Product Import and Export Requirements (PIER) database  
MPI database that lists which countries are approved to export a sp ecific commodity to New Zealand, the 
pests associated with specific country:commodity combinations and the phytosanitary measures that have 
been agreed between MPI and the NPPO  of the exporting country to manage those pests. The database  is 
available at: https://piersearch.mpi.govt.nz/  
production site  
defin ition 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  
re-export (consignment ) 
definition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
regulated pest  
a pest that is identified as a regulated pest in ONZPR  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  
defini tion as per the Act  
treatment  
defin ition as per ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  13 of 14 
viable  (regulated pest)  
any regulated pest that is capable of reproduction and development, including insects, plants, seeds and other 
organisms  Import Health Standard : Fresh Ginger (Zingiber officinale and Z. zerumbet) for Human Consumption  29 January 2024  
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  14 of 14 
Appendix  1: Document history  
This S tandard  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  
• 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 description  
20 December 2019  All  New document  
29 January 2024  3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  
 
 
1.4 General requirements for 
fresh ginger  Changed ‘homogenous grower lot’ to 
‘homogenous lot’ to align with ISPM 31. Added 
guidance.  
Amended guidance.