G/SPS/N/NZL/618  
 
14 February 2020  
(20-1188) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
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):  Species of the genus Ficus that are eligible to be imported into 
New Zealand as whole plants, cuttings and tissue culture  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Import Health Standard 155.02.06: Importation of 
Nursery Stock . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 389 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/NZL/20_1214_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The import health standard describes import specifications and 
entry conditions for nursery stock/plants for planting imported into New Zealand . 
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.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The import 
requirements for whole plants, cuttings and tissue culture of the genus Ficus have been 
urgentl y amended to apply measures for the management of the bacterium 
Ralstonia  pseudosolanacearum . This decision is based on the identification of Ficus carica 
as a host for Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum in the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) 
emerging risk  system and the change in regulatory status for the bacterium in 
October  2018.  
MPI will undertake further risk assessment to ensure that the continued use of these 
measures for Ralstonia  pseudosolanacearum  are justified. Once completed, this will be 
sent o ut for consultation.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number 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) : 1 G/SPS/N/NZL/618  
 
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  [ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international s tandard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
7 February 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. 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 o ther 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/over view/access -and-trade-into-new-
zealand/world -trade-organization -notifications/