Risk Management Proposal:  
Amendments to the import health  standard  
Importation of Nursery Stock  (155.02.06 ) for 
Alstroemeria  tissue culture  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared for  public consultation   
by Plant Germplasm Imports  
Animal and Plant Health Directorate  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 2022 
 
 
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 Primar y Industries   
i Contents  Page 
 
Submissions  1 
 General information  3 
1.1 Purpose  3 
1.2 Background  3 
1.3 Timing and consultation  3 
1.4 Background and context to consultation  Error! Bookmark not defined.  
 Amendment  to the import requirements for Alstroemeria  tissue culture  4 
2.1 Background  4 
2.2 Amendments  to the standard       
 Risk assessment  5 
 Rationale for the proposed change to the standard  7 
 Feasibility of the proposed change to the standard  7 
 References  8 
 Appendix  9 
7.1 Appendix A: Table of host families and species susceptible to broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV -2) 9 
7.2 Appendix B: Proposed amendments to the import health standard Importation of Nursery Stock  
(155.02.06)                                                                                                                                      11                              
Ministry for Primary Industries  RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alstroemeria tissue culture  • 1 Submissions  
The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries ( MPI) invites  formal  comm ent on the 
amended import health standard Importation of Nursery Stock  (155.02.06 ) (the standard). MPI 
would like feedback on  the amended standard which includes:  
• The inclusion of India and South Africa as approved countries for exporting 
Alstroemeria  tissue culture to New Zealand; and  
• Proposed phytosanitary measures for Broad bean wilt virus 2  on Alstroemeria  tissue 
culture from all approved countries . 
 
An import h ealth standard (IHS) “specifies requirements to be met for the effective 
management of risks associated with importing risk goods, including risks arising because 
importing the goods involves or might involve an incidentally imported new organism.” 
(sectio n 22 Biosecurity , Act 1993) . 
 
Please send your comments electronically and include the following :  
•   The title of this consultation document (Amendments to the Importation of Nursery 
Stock standard (155.02.06) for Alstroemeria tissue culture  in the subject line of your 
email  
• Your name and title  
• Your organisation’s name (if applicable)  
• Technical information that supports your submission  
 
To help us better understand your comments:  
• Make your comments specific to a section/requirement of the standard.  
• Provide reasons, data and supporting published references to support your comments.  
• Use examples to illustrate your points.  
 
Send submissions to PlantImports@mpi.govt.nz  by 5pm 27 January 2023 . 
 
If you would like to send your submission by post, you can mail it  to: 
 
Plant Germplasm Imports  
Animal and Plant Health  Directorate  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
New Zealand  
 
Submissions received by  5pm 27 January  2023  will be considered during the development of 
the amended standard . Submissions received after the clos ing date may be held on file for 
consideration when the issued standard  is next revised/reviewed.  
  2 • RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alst roemeria tissue culture  Ministry for Primary Industries  Official Information Act 1982  
Please note that your submission is public information , and it is NZ MPI  policy to publish 
submissions and the review of submissions on the NZ MPI  website. Submissions may also be 
the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The 
OIA specifies that information is to be made available to  requesters unless there are sufficient 
grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA. Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for 
withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as information being  
commercially sensitive or perso nal. Any decision to withhold information requested under the 
OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman .   
Ministry for Primary Industries  RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alstroemeria tissue culture  • 3 
 General information  
1.1 Purpose  
 The purpose of this document is to:  
• Propose amendments to the standard for Alstroemeria  tissue culture ;  
• Explain why we are proposing these  amendments; and  
• Ask for  feedback on the proposed amendments . 
1.2 Timing and consultation  
 The proposed amendments to the import health standard Importation of Nursery Stock  
(155.02.06 ) were released for consultation on  19 December 2022 and will remain 
open for consultation until 27 January  2023 . 
1.3 Background  
 The standard was issued under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993. It is a 
composite standard that applies to nursery stock imported into New Zealand from 
foreign countries and territories.  
1.4 Context to consultation  
1.4.1 International regulation of risk goods  
 “The World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) sets in place  rules that protect each 
country’s sovereign right to take the measures necessary to protect the life or health 
of its people, animals, and plants, while at the same time facilitating trade. It 
embodies and promotes the use of science -based risk assessment s to manage the risks 
associated with the international movement of goods. The SPS Agreement guides 
how New Zealand sets standards and makes decisions related to biosecurity.” (MAF 
et al., 2009, p. 1)  
 “In particular, [it is] important to maintain the stand ards of transparency and scientific 
rigour required by the SPS Agreement and to make decisions as quickly as possible. 
This will encourage other countries to comply with the rules of the SPS Agreement 
and also demonstrate that New  Zealand’s strict controls  are justified to countries that 
challenge them.” (MAF et al., 2009, p.  13) 
1.4.2 Domestic regulation of biosecurity risks associated with risk goods  
 The New Zealand biosecurity system is regulated through the Biosecurity Act 1993 
(the Act). Section 2 4 describes  an import health standard and requires all risk goods 
entering New Zealand to be managed by one. NZ MPI  is the New Zealand 
government ministry responsible for maintaining biosecurity standards for the 
effective management of risks associated with the impo rtation of risk goods and craft 
into New  Zealand (Part 3, Biosecurity Act 1993). NZ MPI  is committed to the 
principles of transparency and evidence -based technical justification for all 
phytosanitary measures, new and amended, imposed on importing pathways . NZ MPI  
periodically reviews all import health standards, related documents and other 
standards so that the legal requirements are clear, and information is consistently 
presented and as easy as possible to understand.  4 • RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alst roemeria tissue culture  Ministry for Primary Industries  
 Amendment  to the import requirements for Alstroemeria  
tissue culture  
2.1 Background  
 Currently, the standard allows Alstroemeria  to be imported as whole plants, dormant 
bulbs and tissue culture from 19 approved countries.  
 MPI received requests to add India and South Afr ica to the approved countries list for 
the importation of Alstroemeria  tissue culture.  This is because:  
a) The Netherlands pathway where most Alstroemeria  tissue culture is imported 
from has become restricted . 
b) Alstroemeria  tissue culture p roduction has moved offshore to countries such as 
India and South Africa.  
2.2 Amendments to the standard  
 MPI’s  risk analysis identified three pests that naturally infect  Alstroemeria  tissue 
culture and are not managed by current import requirements for this commodity : 
• Candidatu s Phytoplasma asteris  (16SrI group aster yellows)  
• Clover phyllody phytoplasma (16SrI group aster yellows)  
• Broad bean wilt virus 2  (BBWV -2) 
 
 As BBWV -2 has been reported from all continents (except Antarctica ), the amended 
standard includes phytosanitary measures for Broad bean wilt virus 2  on Alstroemeria  
tissue culture from all approved countries, including India and South Africa.  
 Measures will only apply to tissue culture because  symptoms may not be visible i n 
tissue culture.  
 Proposed phytosanitary measures for  ‘Candidatus  Phytoplasma asteris ’ and clover  
phyllody phytoplasma (16SrI group aster yellows) are not included in th is risk 
management proposal.  
a) There is an upcoming consultation for proposed phytosani tary measures for 
phytoplasmas  on plants for planting that includes Alstroemeria  as a host . 
b) MPI is proposing a 12 -month implementation period from the date the 
amendments for Phytoplasmas come into effect . Therefore, Alstroemeria  trade 
can continue without meeting measures for phytoplasmas until this time.  
 All evidence provided below is from MPI’s  risk analysis ( MPI, 2021), unless 
otherwise cited.  
 The draft amended standard can be viewed on the consultation webpage . See 
Appendix B  of this document for the draft amended Alstroemeria  schedule.   
 Alstroemeria  tissue culture is currently imported under ‘Standard Entry Conditions 
for Tissue Cultures’, section 2.2.2 of the Nursery Stock  standard   
 MPI proposes adding  India and South Afric a to the list of countries approved  to 
export  Alstroemeria  tissue culture  to New Zealand . This will allow stakeholders to 
import tissue culture of approved species of Alstroemeria  from these countries.   
Ministry for Primary Industries  RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alstroemeria tissue culture  • 5 
 BBWV -2 will be added as a quarantine pest in the Alstr oemeria  schedule.  
 MPI proposes requiring  the following phytosanitary measures for BBWV -2 on 
Alstroemeria tissue culture . 
a) Alstroemeria  tissue culture can be i mport ed from a ‘pest -free area’ (PFA) 
where Broad bean wilt virus 2  is not known to occur.  A PFA officially confirms 
that the pathogen is not present in the area being considered and includes 
requirements for the use of measures to maintain and verify freedom from the 
specified pathogen (FAO, 2017) . A PFA for BBWV -2 will reduce the likelihood 
of BBWV -2 entering New  Zealand on Alstroemeria  tissue culture to negligible, 
with low uncertainty , and will reduce the overall level of risk to negligible, with 
low uncertainty. Guidelines for determining  a PFA are in the Internation al 
Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM)  4. 
b) Alstroemeria  tissue culture can be i mport ed if it is  derived from  parent  plants 
that have been tested by PCR OR ELISA and found free from Broad bean 
wilt virus 2 . The additional declaration stating that the Alstroemeria  tissue culture  
has been found  free from BBWV -2 via parent plant testing will provide assurance 
that the plants are free of this pathogen. Diagnostic testing of parent  plants will 
reduce the likeliho od of BBWV -2 entering New Zealand  on Alstroemeria tissue 
culture to negligible. This will reduce the overall level of risk to negligible, with 
low uncertainty.  
 
 See Appendix  B for the proposed additional declarations.  
 Risk ass essment   
 MPI propose s manag ing BBMV -2 on Alstroemeria  tissue culture for the following 
reasons.  
a) BBWV -2 (and its strains) is a regulated quarantine pest for New Zealand 
(ONZPR, 2021).  
 
b) It is associated with Alstroemeria  tissue culture and many horticultural and 
ornamental crops  of significance to New Zealand . 
 
c) It is present in at least one of the exporting countries, India, and South Africa and 
currently approved countries in the standard. Testing for the virus is limited on 
ornamental plants, and so it is likely that BBWV -2 is present in more countries 
than reported.  
 
 BBMV -2 is likely to establish a population  in New Zealand  if the risk is not managed.  
 The known distribution of the virus in cludes countries with a similar climate to 
New Zealand. This suggests that there would be no climatic barriers preventing 
establishment.  
 
 Plant hosts are widely available for BBWV -2 to establish in New Zealand due to 
its ability to naturally infect a wide range of plants. Currently, BBWV -2 is known 
to infect  48 plant species from 41 genera and 24 families (see Appendix A).  As 
Alstroemeria  plants are regularly planted in home gardens, they are likely to 
transfer this virus to other suitable hosts.  
 6 • RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alst roemeria tissue culture  Ministry for Primary Industries  
 BBWV -2 can also infect weedy species present in New Zealand . These species  
may act as a reservoir or means of spread for the disease. The infection of 
perennial plants and weedy species will provide ongoing sources of inoculum that 
would likely make eradic ation of the virus unfeasible.  
 
 The virus can be transmitted by aphids that  are present in New Zealand : 
Acyrthosiphon pisum  (pea aphid), Aphis craccivora  (cowpea aphid), Aphis 
gossipii  (cotton aphid), Macrosiphon euphorbiae  syn. Macrosiphon solanifolii  
(potato aphid) and Myzus persicae  (green peach aphid). Aphis gossypii  and Myzus 
persicae  transmit the virus very efficiently , with an infection rate of 60 –90%.  
 BBWV -2 can also be transmitted by mechanical inoculation and may be spread 
by grafting and the move ment of infected propagative material . 
 
 An incursion of BBWV -2 could negatively impact New Zealand’s plant production 
industries . 
a) BBWV -2 can infect crops with economic importance to New Zealand , including 
beets, eggplant, celery, pepper, tomato, spinach, broad bean, pea, field mustard 
and lettuce. Outbreaks of the virus can be expected to cause a significant 
reduction in the economic value of these crops.  
b) Visible symptoms will affect flower quality , and flowers may need to be 
destroyed , reducing s aleability in the cut flower, seed and ornamental industries 
for Alstroemeria .  
 The virus could have negative environmental, social, and cultural impacts . 
 Natural infection of BBWV -2 is reported in 24 different plant families, of which 
16 include species native to New Zealand . Genera of New Zealand native species 
with environmental value that may be susceptible to infection by BBWV -2 
include Carmichaelia  (New Zealand brooms), Clianthus, Sophora  (kōwhai), 
Tetragonia , and Veronica.  
 
 MPI proposes mana ging BBWV -2 with PFA  or parent plant  testing for the following 
reasons.  
 BBWV -2 may not be detected by visual inspection alone , and there is potential 
for the virus to enter New Zealand.  
 
 While only symptomatic infection has been reported in Alstroemeria , symptoms 
are variable and may not be observable on tissue culture. Asymptomatic 
infections have been reported in other host plant species.  
 
 Infected asymptomatic (i.e., plants showing no symptoms) parent  plants may 
unknowingly be used to produce tissue culture, thereby transmitting the virus to 
the progeny.  
 
 Alstroemeria  tissue culture cannot go into post -entry quarantine (PEQ) for 
inspection.   
 Alstroemeria  is a five-month crop from receipt of tissue culture to sale  in 
New  Zealand . Plants are hardened off into plants over a period of 5 to 12 
weeks.  
  
Ministry for Primary Industries  RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alstroemeria tissue culture  • 7 
 Rationale for the proposed change to the standard  
 The purpose of the amendment is to protect:  
 New Zealand Alstroemeria  industries ; 
 domestic growers of Alstroemeria ; and 
 other hosts plants of economic, sociocultural or environmental  significance to 
New Zealand.  
 Managing the risk of BBWV -2 will allow Alstroemeria tissue culture  to be traded 
safely . 
 Adding  India and South Africa to the approved countries list will:  
 enable tr ade by opening pathways that are already producing Alstroemeria  tissue 
culture ; 
 
 increase the variety of product s available to  the N ew Zealand  consumer and 
floristry industry ; and  
 
 ensure New Zealand florists have continued access to products, as many global 
plant breeders have moved their operations to India and South Africa.  
 Feasibility of the proposed change to the standard  
 MPI considers adding the requirements of additional declarations and parent plant 
testing to be feasible. The proposed measures offer  multiple options for importers to 
continue import ing Alstroemeria  tissue culture from countries where : 
 BBWV -2 is known to occur , through parent plant  testing .  
 BBWV -2 has not been recorded as present , a PFA  declaration or  parent plant  
testing can confirm absence.  
 While it is recognised that the proposed measures will incur an extra cost to 
importers, they will provide an appropriate level of protection and assurance that 
imported Alstroemeria  tissue culture is free from BBWV -2. Measures are necessa ry 
to prevent establishment in New Zealand.   8 • RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alst roemeria tissue culture  Ministry for Primary Industries  
 References  
FAO (2016) International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 27. Diagnostic 
protocols for regulated pests. Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, 
Food and Agricult ural Organization of the United Nations; Rome, Italy.  
 
FAO (2017) International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 4. Requirements 
for the establishment of pest free areas. Secretariat of the International Plant Protection 
Convention, Food and  Agricultural Organization of the United Nations; Rome, Italy . 
 
NZ MPI  (2021 ) Import risk analysis: Tissue culture of Alstroemeria  spp. from India and 
South Africa . Ministry for Primary Industries; Wellington, NZ.  
 
ONZPR (2021) Official New Zealand Pest Register. https://pierpestregister. NZ 
MPI.govt.nz/PestsRegister/ImportCommodity/  Accessed 10 March 2022.  
 
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alstroemeria tissue culture  • 9 
 Appendi ces 
7.1 Appendix A: Table of host families and species susceptible to Broad  bean 
wilt virus 2  (BBWV -2) 
 
Family  Species (common name)  
Acanthaceae  Megaskepasma  erythrochlamy  (Brazilian red cloak)  
Aizoaceae  Tetragonia  tetragonoides  (New Zealand spinach)  
Alstroemeriaceae  Alstroemeria  ligtu (Peruvian lily)  
Amaranthaceae  Achyranthes  bidentata  
 A. japonica  (oriental chaff flower)  
 Beta vulgaris  (beet)  
 Gomphrena  globosa  (globe amaranth)  
 Spinacia  oleracea  (spinach)  
Apiaceae  Apium  graveolens  (celery)  
 Buplerum  chinense  
Apocynaceae  Catharanthus  roseus  (periwinkle)  
Asteraceae  Atractylodes  macrocephala  
 Echinacea  purpurea  (purple coneflower)  
 Gynura  japonica  
 G. procumbens  (longevity spinach)  
 Lactuca  indica  (Indian lettuce)  
 L. sativa  (lettuce)  
 Tagetes  erecta  (marigold)  
 Zinnia  elegans  (common zinnia)  
Basellaceae  Ullucus  tuberosus  (ulluco)  
Brassicaceae  Brassica  rapa (field mustard)  
 Sisymbrium  irio (London rocket)  
Caryophyllaceae  Pseudostellaria  heterophylla  (false starwort)  
Chenopodiaceae  Chenopodium  amaranticolor  
 C. quinoa  (quinoa)  
Cornaceae  Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)  
Dioscoreaceae  Dioscorea  oppositifolia  (Chinese yam)  
Fabaceae  Glycine  max (soybean)  
 Phaseolus  vulgaris  (common bean)  
 Pisum  sativum  (pea)  
 Vicia  faba (broad bean)  
 Vigna  unguiculata  (cowpea)  
Gentianaceae  Eustoma  russellianum  (Texas bluebell)  
 Gentiana  scabra  (Japanese gentian)  10 • RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alst roemeria tissue culture  Ministry for Primary Industries  Family  Species (common name)  
 G. trifloral  
Iridaceae  Gladiolus  hybridus  (gladiolus)  
Lamiaceae  Leonurus  sibiricus  (honeyweed)  
 Perilla  frutescans  (perilla)  
 Pogostemon  cablin  (patchouli)  
 Salvia  officinalis  (common sage)  
Liliaceae  Lilium  spp. (lily) 
Orobanchaceae  Rehmannia  glutinosa  
Pedaliaceae  Sesamum  indicum  (sesame)  
Plantaginaceae  Digitalis  lanata  (foxglove)  
 Plantago  lanceolata  (plantain)  
 Veronica  gentianoides  (gentian speedwell)  
Ranunculaceae  Helleborus vesicarius  
 Ranunculus  asiaticus  (buttercup)  
Solanaceae  Capsicum  annuum  (red pepper)  
 C. frutescens  (tabasco pepper)  
 Datura  stramonium  (jimsonweed)  
 Nicotiana  benthamiana  
 N. clevelandii  
 N. debneyi  
 N. glutinosa  
 N. occidentalis  
 N. rustica  
 N. tabacum  (tobacco)  
 Petunia  spp. 
 Physalis  floridana  (ground cherries)  
 Solanum  lycopersicum  (tomato)  
 S. melongena  (eggplant)  
Tropaeolaceae  Tropaeolum  majus  (nasturtium)  
Valerianaceae  Valeriana  fauriei  
 Valeriana  officinalis  (valerian)  
Verbenaceae  Verbena  sp. (verbena)  
 
   
Ministry for Primary Industries  RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alstroemeria tissue culture  • 11 7.2 Appendix B: Proposed amendments to the import health standard  
Importation of Nursery Stock  (155.02.06 ) 
Note: Red text indicates amendments  and proposed changes , 
 
Alstroemeria  
Note:  The entry conditions in this schedule only apply to species in the Plants Biosecurity 
Index listed under Import Specifications for Nursery Stock as “see 155.02.06 under 
Alstroemeria ”, and are additional to those specified in sections 1, 2 and 3 of the impo rt 
health standard.  
 
GENERAL CONDITIONS:  
 
Approved Countries :  Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, 
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, 
Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of Am erica . 
 
Quarantine Pests: Broad bean wilt virus 2,  Frankliniella occidentalis , Liriomyza  spp. 
 
Entry Conditions: Basic;  with variations and additional conditions as specified below:  
 
A. For Whole Plants  
PEQ:  Level 2  
Minimum Period:  3 months  
a. Conditions for Frankliniella occidentalis  and Liriomyza  spp. 
Additional Declaration : “The plants have been inspected in accordance with appropriate 
official procedures and found to be free of Frankliniella occidentalis  and Liriomyza  
spp.”  
 
B. For Dormant Bulbs  
OPTION 1:  
No import permit is required  
PEQ: None  
 
a. Additional Declaration s 
i) For bulbs produced under an MPI -approved Dutch bulb propagation scheme:  
- “In addition to inspection of the dormant bulbs prior to shipment, the imported bulbs 
meet the requirements of the NAKtuinbouw Elite (Class SEE or EE) or Select (Class A  
or E) [choose one] bulb certification scheme.”  
   
 
OR 
ii) For bulbs NOT produced under an MPI -approved bulb propagation scheme:  
- “In addition to inspection of dormant bulbs prior to shipment, the crop from which the 
bulbs were derived was inspected during th e growing season according to appropriate 
procedures, and considered free of quarantine pests, and practically free from other 
injurious pests. ” 
   
 
OPTION 2:  
PEQ: Level 1  12 • RMP: Amendments to Importation of Nursery Stock (155.02.06) for Alst roemeria tissue culture  Ministry for Primary Industries  Minimum Period: 3 months  
 
 
C. For Tissue Cultures  
 
Approved Countries : Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, 
Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, South 
Africa , Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America.  
 
 As for  Standard Entry Condition s for Tissue Cultures  - see Section 2.2.2.  
PLUS  
a. Conditions for Broad bean wilt virus 2  
One of the following Additional Declarations must be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate:  
i) “The [insert plant species] plants in tissue culture in this consignment have been 
produced in a ‘pest -free area’, where Broad bean wilt virus 2  is not known to occur.”  
OR 
ii) “The [insert plant species] plants in tissue culture in this consignment derive from 
plants that were tested by [PCR OR ELISA] and found free from Broad bean wilt 
virus 2 .”