Import Health Standard 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Truffles for Propagation  
MPI.IHS.TUBER  
23 August 2016  
 
 
Issued under the Biosecurity Act 1993  Import Health Standard: Truffles for Propagation  
 Draft for Consultation 18 July 201623 August 2016 
TITLE  
Import Health Standard Import Health Standard : Truffles for Propagation  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Import Health Standard Import Health Standard  comes into force on the date of issue.   
REVOCATION 
 This import health standard  revokes and replaces  Import Health Standard BNZ .IMP.TUBER: Importation into 
New Zealand of specified fresh and frozen Tuber  species (truffle) dated 1 February 2011.  
ISSUING AUTHORITY  
This Import Health Standard Import Health Standard  is issued  under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993.   
 
Dated at Wellington this …... day of August 2016 
 
 
Stephen Butcher Stephen Butcher  
Manager , Import and Export Plants  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(acting under dele gated authority of the Director -General)  
 Contact for further information  
Ministry for  Primary Industries (MPI)  
Regulation & Assurance Branch  
Plant Imports  
PO Box 2526,  
Wellington 6140  
Email: plant imports @mpi.govt.nz  
 
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  1 of 12 Import Health Standard: Truffles for Propagation  
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Contents  Page 
Introduction 3 
Part 1:  General Requirements  5 
1.1 Application 5 
1.2 Incorporation of material by reference  5 
1.3 Acronyms and definitions  5 
1.4 General  5 
1.5 Permit to import  5 
1.6 Transport requirements  6 
Part 2:  Specific Requirements 7 
2.1 Commodity description  7 
2.2 Pest list  7 
2.3 Basic Measur es 7 
Part 3:  Documentation Requirements  8 
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  8 
3.2 Phytosanitary certification  8 
3.3 Species validation  8 
Appendix 1: Acronyms and definitions  10 
Appendix 2: Amendment Record  12 
 
 
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Introduction 
This introduction is not part of the import health standard (IHS),  but is intended to indicate its general effect.  
Purpose  
This IHS specifies the requirements for the importation of truffles for propagation ( Tuber sp .) into New 
Zealand from all countries.   
Background 
The New Zealand Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) provides the legal basis for excluding,  eradicating and 
effectively managing regulated pests.  
Each IHS issued under the Act specifies requirements to be met for the effective management of risks 
associated with importing goods that may pose a biosecurity threat to New Zealand.  
This IHS includes requirements that must be met in the exporting country, during transit and importation, and 
before biosecurity clearance can be given.  
Additional information to the requirements is included in guidance text boxes.  
Who should read this import health sta ndard? 
This IHS applies to importers of truffles for propagation i nto New Zealand and outlines the import 
requirements that must be met .  
Why is this important?  
It is the importers responsibility to ensure the requirements of this IHS are met. Consignmen ts that do not 
comply with the requirements of this IHS may not be cleared for entry into New Zealand and further 
information may be sought from importers.  
If any viable regulated pests are intercepted on arrival in New Zealand, the consignment will be tr eated, 
reshipped or destroyed, and depending on the regulated pest intercepted, the pathway may be suspended .  
Importers are liable for all associated expenses.  
Equivalence 
MPI may consider a pre- export application for an equivalent phytosanitary measure  to be approved, different 
from that provided for in this IHS, to maintain at least the same level of protection assured by the current 
measures in this IHS.  
Equivalence will be considered with reference to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Meas ures 
(ISPM), Publication No. 24: Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary 
measures (2011).  
Document history  
Refer to Appendix 2 for the amendment record for this IHS.  
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Other Information   
Guidance  
• Truffles for consumption are eligible for import into New Zealand and are covered by IHS: Fresh and 
Frozen Truffles for Consumption:  MPI.IHS.FP.TRUFFLE.  
• Cooked, dried or processed truffles for consumption are eligible for import into New Zealand and are 
covered by IHS : Importation into New Zealand of stored plant products intended for human consumption:  
BNZ.NPP.HUMAN.  
 
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  4 of 12 Import Health Standard: Truffles for Propagation  
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Part 1:  General Requirements  
1.1 Application  
(1) This import health standard (IHS) applies to the goods described in Part 2.1: Commodity description . 
 
1.2 Incorporation of material by reference  
(1) The following are incorporated by reference under section 142M of the Act:  
• MPI Biosecurity Organisms Register for Imported Commodities (BORIC) ; 
• International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM).   
(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 Acronyms and definitions  
(1) Acronyms and definitions are listed in Appendix 1 . 
1.4 General  
(1) All consignments of truffles imported for propagation into New Zealand must:  
a) meet the requirements of this IHS before receiving biosecurity clearance;   
b) be free from viable regulated pests based on official inspection;  
c) be packaged in clean , inert/synthetic  material ; and  
d) be shipped in a secure manner to prevent contamination by regulated pests.   
1.5 Permit to import  
(1) All consignments of truffles imported for propagation require a permit to import .   
(2) The permit application must include contact details of the tra nsitional facility that will conduct testing as 
specified in Part. 3.3.2: Molecular testing and report .  
(3) All permits will be issued as single use only.  
Guidance  
• Import permit application forms can be found on the MPI website using this link: 
https://mpi.govt.nz/document -vault/11488  
• The transitional facility must be approved to MPI Standard 155.04.03: A standard for diagnostic facilities 
which undertake the identification of new organisms, excluding animal pathogens.  
• MPI Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) is an approved transitional facility for diagnostic 
testing of truffles. Contact detai ls for transitional facilities can be found using this link: 
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/document -vault/1047 .   
 
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1.6 Transport requirements  
(1) If a c onsignment is either opened, stored, split up or ha s its packaging changed prior to arrival in New 
Zealand, a phytosanitary certificate for re -export is required, in accordance with ISPM 12: 
Phytosanitary Certificates, and must accompany each consignment.  
(2) Each container must be labelled with the common and scie ntific name of each truffle species. When 
more than one species is being exported in the same consignment, each truffle species must be 
separately wrapped.  
Guidance  
• Consignments in -transit to another country may be off loaded and reloaded onto another ves sel and 
do not require a phytosanitary certificate for re -export provided they : 
– remain in the original container and packaging;  
– are stored at the place of arrival; and  
– individually sealed packages have not been opened during transit.   
• Consignment s arrivin g in New Zealand without an import permit or certification or accompanied by 
incorrect certification, may be directed to a transitional facility until documentation is presented.  
• Truffles may be kept cool with ice pads. These may be replaced in -transit provided individual 
packages are not opened.  
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Part 2:  Specific Requirements 
2.1 Commodity description  
(1) This IHS specifies the requirements for the importation of truffles for propagation from al l countries . 
(2) Truffles for propagation are defined as clean truffles free of contaminating so il or other material.  
(3) The following four species are eligible for import into New Zealand:  
a) Tuber aestivum Vittad. (synonym T. uncinatum ) – Burgundy truffle;  
b) Tuber borchii (synonym T. albidum ) – Bianchetto;  
c) Tuber magnatum – Italian white truffle; and  
d) Tuber melanosporum – Périgord black truffle . 
 
Guidance  
• For the addition of truffle species to this IHS, please contact the Environmental Protection Agency 
using this link: http://www.epa.govt.nz/new -organisms/find- application -form/Pages/default.aspx .  
• It is an offence under the Act to use goods for any other purpose than intended end use.  
2.2 Pest list  
(1) The list of regulated pests known to be associated with truffles can be found on MPI website at this 
link: <insert link >.   
(2) The full list of regulated and non -regulated pests for New Zealand can be found in MPI BORIC  
(http://archive.mpi.govt.nz/applications/boric ). 
 
Guidance  
• If, during an official inspection, the verifying NPPO detects a pest that is not listed on BORIC  MPI may be 
contacted to establish the regulatory status of the pest.  
2.3 Basic Measures 
(1) All truffles  must be sourced from production sites that use standard cultivation  methods for commercial 
export truffle production; including pest -control, harvesting, sorting, cleaning , inspection and 
pack aging.   
 
Guidance  
• Basic Measures  are required to manage pests and other regulated organisms that present a risk to New 
Zealand on this pathway . 
• Evidence of soil and bacterial rot will be visible to the naked eye. A 10x magnification lens may be used 
for more detailed surface inspection t o detect signs of infestation by burrowing pests.  
• Washing may remove soil and other contaminants, including pest eggs and larvae.   
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  7 of 12 Import Health Standard: Truffles for Propagation  
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Part 3:  Documentation Requirements  
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  
(1) The NPPO must:  
a) sample and visually inspect each consignment according to official procedures and in 
accordance with ISPM 23: Guidelines for Inspection for all the regulated pests required by New 
Zealand ; 
b) verify that Basic Measures  have been applied as outlined in Part 2. 3: Basic Measures ;  
c) reconcile the number of packages presented for inspection is consistent with documentation;  
d) verify that traceability labelling is complete; and  
e) verify that phytosanitary security is maintained for the consignment.   
3.2 Phytosanitary certification   
(1) The NPPO must issue a nd supply a  phytosanitary certificate in accordance with ISPM 12: 
Phytosanitary Certificates  to accompany each consignment of fresh and frozen truffles exported to 
New Zealand with the following declaration:  
a) “This is t o certify that the plants, plant 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 New Zealand and to co nform with the current 
phytosanitary requirements of New Zealand, including those for regulated non -quarantine pests”.  
(2) Phytosanitary certificate s must contain sufficient detail to enable identification of the consignment and 
its component parts. Informati on must include country/place of origin and meet all requirements listed 
in Part 2 : Specific Requirements  and Part 3:  Documentation  Requirements . 
Guidance  
• A phytosanitary certificate should not be issued if viable regulated organism(s) are detected, unless  the 
consignment is effectively treated.  
• Country/place of origin is defined as a country where the plants, from which the plant products are 
derived, were grown or , place of origin; where the commodity was grown or produced.  
3.3  Species validation  
3.3.1 Morphological examination and report  
(1) All truffles must undergo morphological examination to confirm species identity. The examination must 
be conducted pre- export and undertaken by persons trained to identify truffle species by visual and 
aroma characteristics.  
(2) An examination report is required and must be issued on the company letterhead by a person authorised to act on behalf of the company and must include the following information:  
a) authorised person’s name, signature, job title and date of issue;  
b) truffle spe cies and genus; and  
c) MPI import permit number.  
(3) The report must contain the following statement:  
a) “Each truffle has been identified as a species eligible for import under the MPI import health 
standard:  Truffle s for Propagation : MPI.IHS .TUBER .”  
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3.3.2 Molecular testing and report  
(1) Each truffle must undergo molecular testing  to confirm that the species matches that which is stated on 
the phytosanitary certificate.  
(2) Upon arrival in New Zealand, t he consignment will be directed to the diagnostic  facility stated on the 
permit .  
(3) A report from the diagnostic facility will be provided to the importer and MPI Plant Imports. The report 
must contain the following statement s:  
a) “ Each truffle has undergone molecular testing ; ” 
 AND 
b) “Each  truffle  has been identified as a species eligible for import under the MPI import health 
standard : Truffle s for Propagation : MPI.IHS .TUBER .”  
(4) The report must include the relevant MPI import permit number.  
Guidance  
• Polymerase chain reaction (P CR) and DNA sequence analysis  are used to confirm species identity.  
• Detection of any truffle species  not included in this IHS may result in the permit being revoked or further 
permit applications  from the same supplier  being declined.  
• The importer is responsible for all costs incurred . 
 
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Appendix 1: Acronyms and d efinitions  
Definitions have the same meaning as defined by the Act and ISPM 5: Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms 
(2012), unless set out below:  
Arrival (in New Zealand)  
in relation to goods, means to reach land within New Zealand  territory after a flight or voyage originating 
outside New Zealand territory . 
Basic Measures  
Commodities must be commercially produced using standard cultivation, pest -control, harvesting, inspection 
and packing activities. Basic Measures  are applied to all fresh produce to manage the associated regulated 
pests.  
BORIC  - Biosecurity Organisms Register for Imported Commodities  
MPI database which informs on the regulatory status for an organism as either regulated or non- regulated for 
New Ze aland. BORIC is available at http://archive.mpi.govt.nz/applications/boric . 
Consignment  
One lot imported by one importer, on one conveyance at one time, and covered by one phytosanitary 
certific ate. 
Country / place of or igin  
Country/place of origin is defined as country where the plants, from which the plant products are derived, were grown or place of origin; where the commodity was grown or produced.  
IPPC  
International Plant Protection Convent ion. 
 
ISPM  
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures . The list of ISPMs are available from: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/ispms/
.  
MPI-Specified Measures  
MPI- Specified Measures  are prescribed measures set out by MPI in the import health standard. They are 
reserved for pests presenting a very high risk to New Zealand, such as economically important fruit flies, and 
have known efficacy to detect, remove or kill those pests.  
 
NPPO  
National Plant Protection Organisation – the official organisation established by a government to discharge 
the functions specified by the IPPC.  
 
Non-regulated pest  
Non-regulated organisms are those organisms for which phytosanitary actions would not be u ndertaken if they 
were intercepted/detected. These may include new organisms which could not establish in New Zealand.  
 
Pathway  
A series of activities that, when carried out according to documented procedures, form a discrete and 
traceable export system.   
 Pest   
Any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plant or plant products [IPPC].  
 Regulated Pest  
A quarantine pest or a regulated non -quarantine pest as stated in BORIC.   
 
 
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Targeted Measures  
Targeted Measures  may be  proposed by the exporting country and must be negotiated with MPI. The 
Targeted Measure  must be effective in reducing the risk of the regulated pest associated with the commodity 
to an acceptable level. The details of any  Targeted Measure  should be incorp orated into the Export Plan.  
Viable  
Any organism that is capable of development and/or reproduction, including insects, plants, seeds and other 
organisms that have not been through a de -vitalisation or sterilisation treatment.  
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Appendix 2: Amendment Record 
The following table provides a summary of the amendments to this import health standard.  
 
Number:  Details:  Date:  
   
 
 
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