IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 1 of 13 
   
 
 
Import Health Standard  
Commodity sub -class: Fresh fruit/vegetables  
 
 
Capsicum  
(Capsicum annuum ) 
From  
Australia  
 
ISSUED  
Issuance : 24 July 2023  
 
 IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 2 of 13 Commencement  
This import health standard comes into force on  24 July 2023 . 
Revocation  
This import health standard revokes and replaces  Commodity sub -class: Fresh 
fruit/vegetables Capsicum ( Capsicum  annuum ) From Australia  and all prior amendments to 
that standard . 
The amendment  history to this import health standard is set out in Appendix 2.  
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,  24 July 2023 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lisa Winthrop  
Manager, Plant Health  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
 
(acting under delegated authority of the Director -General)  
  
  
  IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 3 of 13 IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD: FRESH FRUIT/VEGETABLES  
 Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia.  
 
Contents  
  
Part A. Background  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  4 
Part B. General import requirements for all fresh fruit and vegetables for consumption  ........  5 
Part C. Additional requirements for capsicums from Australia  ................................ ............  5 
Part D. Phytosanitary certification  ................................ ................................ ......................  7 
Part E. Regulated pest list for capsicums from Australia  ................................ ...................  10 
Appendix 1: Verification activities on arrival in New  Zealand ................................ ...........  12 
Appendix 2: Document history ................................ ................................ .........................  13 
 
  
  IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 4 of 13 Part A. Background   
Scope  
This document describes the requirements to be met to enable biosecurity clearance to be 
given for fresh capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) for human consumption imported into 
New  Zealand from Australia.  
Commodity  description  
The commodity description “capsicum” for human consumption is defined as commercially 
produced bell pepper capsicums of any colour with calyx and peduncle, but without stems, 
leaves, roots or any other plant parts.   
Definitions  
The definitions of relevant phytosanitary terms used in this standard are consistent with the 
terms stated in the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No.5: 
Glossary of phytosanitary terms (2012), produced by the International Plant Protection 
Convention (IPPC), unless the context requires otherwise or the definition is stated below.  
Import health standard (IHS) – a document issued pursuant to section 24A of the Biosecurity 
Act 1993 on behalf of the Director General, permitting entry to New Zealand of a specific 
product under certain conditions.      
ISPM  – International standards for phytosanitary measures.  
MPI - the Ministry for Primary Industries which is responsible for regul atory biosecurity 
functions.  
Unit - one capsicum fruit.  
Regulated pest - means those organisms for which phytosanitary actions would be undertaken 
if they were intercepted/detected.  
Outcome  
The agreed pre -shipment phytosanitary measures for specific re gulated pests have been 
undertaken and the capsicums are free of all regulated pests.  
The specific regulated pests as listed in Part C  have undergone effective pre -shipment 
phytosanitary measures. Pre -export visual i nspection is required for all regulated pests in Part 
E.  
At a 95% confidence level, not more than 0.5% of the units in the consignment are infested 
(this equates to an acceptance level of zero units infested by regula ted pests in a sample size 
of 600 units).  IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 5 of 13 Verification activities associated with this performance measure are found in Appendix 1 .  
Equivalence   
MPI may consider a pre -export application for an equivalent phyt osanitary measure, different 
from that provided for in this standard, to maintain at least the same level of protection 
assured by the current measures in this standard. Equivalence will be considered with 
reference to ISPM 24: Guidelines for the determina tion and recognition of equivalence of 
phytosanitary measures  (2011).  
Part B. General  import requirements for all fresh 
fruit and vegetables for consumption  
The IHS 152.02: Importation and Clearance of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables into New Zealand  
contains  the phytosanitary requirements that must be met for all fresh fruit and vegetable 
commodities that are allowed to be imported into New Zealand. IHS 152.02 outlines transit 
requirements, inspections on arrival in New Zealand and actions taken on pest inter ceptions.  
IHS 152.02 can be found at the MPI website ( https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/1147 -
importation -and-clearance -of-fresh -fruit-and-vegetables -into-new-zealand -import -health -
standard ).  
Part C. Additional  requirements for capsicums from 
Australia  
Phytosanitary  measures  
Australia’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) is req uired to undertake specific 
phytosanitary measures that are effective against specific Risk group 2 (RG2) regulated pests 
and Risk group 3 (RG3) fruit fly species of economic significance to New Zealand, prior to 
the commodity arriving in New Zealand. Phyt osanitary certification will need to attest to this 
accordingly.  
Risk group 2 regulated pests:  
- Bemisia tabaci  (vector)  
- Conogethes punctiferalis * 
- Phyllophaga  spp. 
- Thrips palmi  (vector)  
*Specific pre -export phytosanitary measures for the RG2 pest Conogethes punctiferalis are 
required; either in -field pest control activities throughout the production season; or 
irradiation at a minimum dose of 289 Gy ; or methyl bromide fumigation at 18 g/m3 for 5 
hours  (or a concentration time (C T) product of 77 g ·h/m3 at ≥ 7 3% retention)  at 18 °C at a 
maximum of 33% chamber capacity ; or methyl bromide fumigation at 32  g/m3 for 2  IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 6 of 13 hours at 21  °C at a maximum of 50% chamber capacity .  
Risk group 3 regulated pests:  
- Bactrocera aquilonis  
- Bactrocera bryoniae  
- Bactrocera cucumis  
- Bactrocera jarvisi  
- Bactrocera neohumeralis  
- Bactrocera tryoni  
- Ceratitis capitata  
Specific pre -export phytosanitary measures for RG3 regulated pests are required: Appendix 2 
(pest free area); or Appendix 3 (methyl bromide fumigation);  or Appendix 3 (methyl 
bromide fumigation) and Appendix 10 (field control programmes); or Appendix 12 
(irradiation); these measures are to be carried out in accordance with IHS 152.02 and the 
bilateral quarantine arrangement.  
The application of Appendix 12 (irradiation) must also be carried out in accordance with 
ISPM 18: Guidelines for the us e of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure (2011); at the 
following irradiation doses:  
- RG3 regulated pests with a minimum dose of 150 Gy  
- Other IHS regulated arthropod pests1 with a minimum dose of 400 Gy  
Inspection of the consignment  
Australia’s NPPO is required to sample and visually inspect the consignment according to 
official procedures for all regulated pests including those listed in Part E . Where Appendix 
12 (irradiation) is the phytosanitar y measure to be undertaken, inspection will occur pre or 
post treatment. Where a regulated arthropod pest is detected on the commodity and Appendix 
12 (irradiation) is the intended pre -export phytosanitary treatment, appropriate irradiation 
dosages must be  applied by Australia’s NPPO. Alternative approved corrective actions may 
be conducted (e.g. methyl bromide fumigation), or the fruit will not be exported to 
New  Zealand.  
Inspection will occur after the following phytosanitary measures have been undertake n: 
Appendix 2; or Appendix 3.  
 
1 These regulated pests include those listed on this IHS that are not known to vector diseases.  IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 7 of 13 When no regulated pests are detected or corrective actions have taken place and all 
preshipment requirements of the IHS have been met, a phytosanitary certificate will be issued 
in accordance with ISPM 7: Phytosanitary certif ication system (2011) and ISPM 12: 
Phytosanitary certificates (2011). If organisms are found which are not listed in Part E , 
Australia’s NPPO must establish their regulatory status by consulting the Official 
New  Zealan d Pest Register (ONZPR) , online at https://onzpr.mpi.govt.nz/ . If an organism is 
not listed in ONZPR , Australia’s NPPO must contact MPI to establish the regulatory status of 
the organism.  
Part D. Phytosanitary  certification  
Activities required  for phytosanitary certification  
A completed phytosanitary certificate issued by Australia’s NPPO must accompany all 
capsicum consignments exported to New Zealand. The phytosanitary certificate must be in 
English and must be an original. Bilingual certificates are acceptable as long as English is 
one of the languages. The phytosanitary certificate also requires the following certification 
statement as aligned to ISPM 12  (2011);  
“This is to certify that the plants, pla nt 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 requirements of the importing contracting 
party, including those for regulated non -quarantine pests.”  
Before a phytosanitary certificate is issued, Australia’s NPPO must be satisfied that the 
following activities have been under taken.  
The capsicums have:  
(i) been inspected in accordance with appropriate official procedures and found to be 
free from regulated pests, specified by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary 
Industries  
AND  
(ii) undergone appropriate pest control activities that ar e effective against those Risk 
group 2 (RG2) regulated pests specified by NZ MPI.  
AND   
(iii) been treated by irradiation at a minimum absorbed dose of 289 Gy for  Conogethes 
punctiferalis   
OR  
(iv) been managed using in -field controls for Conogethes punctiferalis  
OR IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 8 of 13 (v) been fumigated with methyl bromide to achieve a minimum concentration time 
product (CT) of 77 g·h/m3 and minimum concentration of 13.2 g/m3 at ≥18 °C for 5 
hours for Conogethes punctiferalis  
OR 
(vi) been fumigated with methyl bromide at 32 g/m3 for 2 hours a t 21 °C for Conogethes 
punctiferalis  
AND   
(vii) been treated in accordance with Appendix 2; or Appendix 3;  or Appendix 3 and 
Appendix 10;  or Appendix 12 of the arrangement between the New Zealand 
Ministry for Primary Industries and the Australian Department of Agriculture, 
concerning the access of host material of fruit fly species of economic significance 
into New Zealand from Australia.   
Additional  declarations  to the phytosanitary certificate  
If satisfied that the pre -shipment phytosanitary mea sures have been undertaken effectively, 
Australia’s NPPO must include the following additional declarations on the phytosanitary 
certificate:  
The capsicums in this consignment have:  
(i) been inspected in accordance with appropriate official procedures and fou nd to be 
free from regulated pests, specified by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary 
Industries.  
NOTE: Compliance with this additional declaration is not necessary for arthropods 
if the Australian NPPO certifies export of this consignment under Appendix 12.  
 
The consignment may contain live (but infertile, inactive or unable to emerge from 
pupation) regulated arthropod pests.    
AND  
(ii) undergone appropriate pest control activities that are effective against those Risk 
group 2 regulated pests specified by NZ MPI.  
AND   
(iii) been treated by irradiation at a minimum absorbed dose of 289 Gy for  Conogethes 
punctiferalis   
OR IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 9 of 13 (iv) been managed using in -field controls for Conogethes punctiferalis  
OR 
(v) been fumigated with methyl bromide to achieve a minimum concentration time 
product (CT) of 77 g·h/m3 and minimum concentration of 13.2 g/m3 at ≥18 °C for 5 
hours for Conogethes punctiferalis  
OR 
(vi) been fumigated with methyl bromide at 32 g/m3 for 2 hours at 21 °C for Conogethes 
punctiferalis  
AND   
(vii) been treated in accordance with Appendix 2; or Appendix 3;  or Appendix 3 and 
Appendix 10;  or Appendix 12 of the arrangement between the New Zealand 
Ministry for  Primary Industries and the Australian Department of Agriculture, 
concerning the access of host material of fruit fly species of economic significance 
into New Zealand from Australia.  
NOTE  : Full details of the irradiation or fumigation treatment, includin g dosage, 
must be included in the “Disinfestation and/or Disinfection Treatment” area of the 
phytosanitary certificate or as an endorsed attachment to the phytosanitary 
certificate.   
IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 10 of 13 
  Part E. Regulated pest list for capsicums from 
Australia  
Scientific name   Organism 
type  Common name   Actions on 
interception   
Alternaria alternata f. sp.   
lycopersici   Fungi   -  2  
Cercospora capsici  Fungi  cercospora spot  2   
Cladosporium sp.  Fungi  cladosporium mould  2  
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.  
vasinfectum  Fungi  fusarium wilt  2  
Glomerella cingulata var. minor 
(anamorph Colletotrichum 
gloeosporioides var. minor )  Fungi  anthracnose  2  
Nectria haematococca var.  
brevicona  Fungi  dry rot  2  
Peronospora tabacina  Fungi  downy mildew  2  
Phytophthora capsici  Fungi  buckeye rot  2  
Pythium aphanidermatum  Fungi  cottony leak  2   
Stemphylium solani  Fungi  stemphylium spot  2  
Aleurodicus dispersus  Insect  spiralling whitefly  2 or 4  
Atherigona orientalis  Insect  muscid fly  2 or 4  
Austroasca viridigrisea  Insect   vegetable leafhopper  2 or 4  
Bactrocera aquilonis  Insect   Northern Territory fruit fly   3 or 4  
Bactrocera bryoniae  Insect   fruit fly  3 or 4  
Bactrocera cucumis   Insect   cucumber fruit fly   3 or 4  
Bactrocera jarvisi  Insect   Jarvis’ fruit fly  3 or 4  
Bactrocera neohumeralis  Insect  lesser Queensland fruit fly  3 or 4  
Bactrocera tryoni  Insect  Queensland fruit fly  3 or 4  
Bemisia tabaci (vect.)   Insect  sweet potato whitefly  2a   
Ceratitis capitata  Insect  Mediterranean fruit fly  3 or 4  
Chloropulvinaria psidii  Insect  guava scale  2 or 4  
Conogethes punctiferalis  Insect  yellow peach moth  2a or 4  
Cryptoblabes gnidiella  Insect  Christmas berry webworm  2 or 4  
Dindymus versicolor  Insect   harlequin bug  2 or 4  
Dirioxa pornia  Insect   island fruit fly  2 or 4  
Dysmicoccus brevipes  Insect   pineapple mealybug  2 or 4  
Frankliniella schultzei (vect.)  Insect  tomato thrips  2  
Gonocephalum carpentariae  Insect   false wireworm   2 or 4  
Helicoverpa assulta  Insect   cape gooseberry budworm  2 or 4  
Helicoverpa punctigera  Insect   oriental tobacco budworm  2 or 4  
Icerya seychellarum  Insect   Seychelles scale  2 or 4  
Leptocoris mitellatus  Insect   Leptocoris bug  2 or 4  
Nysius vinitor  Insect   Rutherglen bug  2 or 4  
Orosius argentatus (vect.)  Insect  common brown leafhopper  2  
Orosius orientalis (vect.)  Insect  common brown leafhopper  2  
Phthorimaea operculella (strain)   Insect  potato tuber moth  2 or 4   
IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 11 of 13 
  Phyllophaga spp.  Insect   crown girdler  (Scarab 
beetle )  2a or 4  
Planococcus minor  Insect   Pacific mealybug  2 or 4  
Plautia affinis  Insect   green stink bug  2 or 4  
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona  Insect  white peach scale  2 or 4  
Pulvinaria urbicola  Insect  cottony maple scale  2 or 4  
Scirtothrips dorsalis (vect.)  Insect   chilli thrips  2  
Spodoptera littoralis  Insect   beet armyworm  2 or 4  
Thrips palmi (vect.)   Insect  palm thrips  2a   
Trialeurodes vaporariorum 
(vect.)   Insect  greenhouse whitefly  2  
Unaspis citri  Insect  citrus snow scale  2 or 4  
Eutetranychus orientalis  Mite  pear leaf blister mite  2 or 4  
Tomato big bud phytoplasma 
[VO]  Phytoplasma  -  2  
Potato spindle tuber viroid [VO]   Viroid   -  2  
Capsicum chlorosis virus [VO]  Virus  -  2  
Tobacco leaf curl bigeminivirus 
[VO]  Virus  -  2  
Tomato torrado virus [VO]  Virus   -  2  
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus 
[VO]  Virus  -  2  
VO = vectored organism  
Vect. = vector  
Actions on interception  
1 Removal of trash – organisms are associated with other plant parts 
and/or soil.  
2 Treat, resort, reship or destroy.  
2a Treat, reship or destroy. Suspend pathway.  
3 Reship or destroy. Suspend pathway.  
4 Action dependent on pest interception and irradiation dosage certified 
as the pre -export measure.  
Note: The suspension of the pathway could be at the grower, packhouse, treatment facility, state or 
country level, depending on the significance of the pest interception.   
IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 12 of 13 
  Appendix  1: Verification activities on arrival in 
New  Zealand  
Verification inspectio n on arrival in New Zealand  
MPI will inspect documentation on arrival in New Zealand. In addition, MPI may inspect a 
sample from each lot on arrival in New Zealand to verify requirements of the IHS have been 
met. 
Actions  undertaken upon interception of ir radiated 
regulated pests   
As the required response of regulated arthropod pests that have undergone the irradiation 
treatment is prevention of adult emergence or adult sterility (not mortality) a possibility exists 
that live (but unfertile, inactive or unable to emerge from pupatio n) regulated arthropods may 
be present in a consignment.   
In accordance with section 8.3 of ISPM 18 (2011) when mortality is not the required 
response, the detection of live stages of regulated pests in import inspection should not be 
considered to repres ent treatment failure resulting in non -compliance unless evidence exists to 
indicate that the integrity of the treatment system was inadequate.  
MPI reserves the right for an analysis to be conducted on the detected regulated pest to verify 
treatment effica cy.  
IHS Fresh Fruit/Vegetables  Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum ) from Australia  24 July 2023  
(Biosecurity Act 1993)     Page 13 of 13 
  Appendix 2 : Document  history  
This document history lists amendments since 2019 . 
Version date  Section changed  Change description  
15 March 2019  Part C; Part D  Updated irradiation dose for 
Conogethes punctiferalis  
17 December 2021  Part C; Part D  Removed dimethoate dip as 
a phytosanitary measure  
24 July 2023  Part C; Part D; Part E  Added additional  methyl 
bromide treatment schedule; 
removed Bactrocera 
frauenfeldi, B   kraussi and 
B. musae  from the regulated 
pest list ; and listed 
B. bryoniae  as an RG3 pest