Import Health Standard  
Issued under the Biosecurity Act 1993   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Phase 3 Mushroom Growing 
Medium  
 MPI.IHS.PHASE3  
14 December 2016  
 Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
 Draft for Consultation  14 December 2016  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  1 of 13 
TITLE  
Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Import Health Standard  comes into force on  [Effective Date]   
ISSUING AUTHORITY  
This Import Health Standard  is issued  under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993.  
 
Dated at Wellington this   ... day of  .........  
 
 
Stephen Butcher  
Manager , Import and Export Plants  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(acting under delegated authority of the Direc tor-General)  
 
Contact for further information  
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  
Regulation & Assurance Branch  
Plant Imports  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
Email: plantimports@mpi.govt.nz   
 Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  2 of 13 
Contents  Page 
Introduction  3 
Part 1:  Requirements  5 
1.1 Application  5 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  5 
1.3 Definitions  5 
1.4 General  5 
1.5 Exporting country systems  5 
1.6 Export Plans  5 
1.7 Transport requirements  6 
1.8 Biosecurity clearance  6 
Part 2:  Specific Requirements  7 
2.1 Commodity descripti on 7 
2.2 Pest list  7 
2.3 Basic Measures  7 
2.4 Targeted Measures  8 
2.5 MPI-Specified Measures  9 
2.6 Phytosanitary inspection  9 
2.7 Post clearance conditions  9 
Part 3:  Documentation requirements  10 
3.1 Import permit  10 
3.2 Phytosanitary certificate  10 
3.3 Manufacturer’s certificate  11 
Appendix 1 – Definitions  12 
Appendix 2 – Document history  13 
 
 
 Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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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 phase 3 mushroom growing medium from all 
countries, to manage the biosecurity risks which may be associated with these goods . 
Background  
The New Zealand Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) provides the legal basis for excluding, eradicating and 
effectively managing pests and unwanted organisms.  
IHSs issued under the Act set out requirements to be met to effectively manage biosecurity risks associated 
with importing goods, including the risks from incidentally imported organisms.  This IHS includes 
requirements that must be met in the exporting coun try, during transit, before risk goods are moved from a 
transitional facility (TF) or biosecurity control area (BCA) and before biosecurity clearance is given. This may 
include post clearance requirements.  
Additional information to the requirements is incl uded in guidance text boxes, or in the guidance doc ument 
that accompanies this IHS.  
Who should read this?  
This import health standard  applies to all importers of phase 3 mushroom growing medium, producers and 
exporters in the country of origin, and the  National Plant Protection Organisation representat ives in the 
country of origin.  
Why is this important?  
Importers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the goods comply with this IHS (section 16B of the 
Act).  
Consignments that do not comply w ith the requirements of this IHS may not be cleared for entry into New 
Zealand and /or further information may be sought from importers.  
The detection of regulated pests may result in treatment, reshipment or destruction of the consignment.  
Breach of a p ost clearance condition may lead to a penalty being imposed.  
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 Measures 
(ISPM), Publication No. 24: Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary 
measures (2011).  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  4 of 13 
Document History  
Refer to Appendix 2 for the Amendment Record for this IHS.  
Other information  
Guidance for this Import Health Standard  is provided in the Guidance Document: Phase 3 Mushroom Growing 
Medium   
The information contained within a border throughout this document is for guidance and is not part of the 
statutory requirements.  
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.   
All phase 3 mushroom growing medium will also need to m eet all requirements set out in the IHS for 
Processed Animal Manure Products and the IHS for Microorganisms from All Countries.  
The requirements for imports of other growing media of plant origin are prescribed in the IHS: 
MPI.STD.FERTGRO: Fertilisers and Growing Media of Plant Origin.  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  5 of 13 
Part 1:  Requirements  
1.1 Application  
(1) This import health  standard (IHS) applies to phase 3 mushroom growing medium from all countries as 
described in Section 2.1  Commodity descriptio n. 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  
(1) The following documents are incorporated by reference under section 142M of the Act:  
a) International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM);  
b) MPI Biosecurity Organisms Register for Imported Commodities (BORIC);  
c) ePest Database;  
d) Facility Standard for Transitional Facili ties for General Uncleared Risk Goods (MPI -STD-
TFGEN).  
(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 that has legal effect as part of those documents.  
1.3 Definitions  
(1) Definitions that apply to this  IHS are listed in Appendix 1.  
1.4 General  
(1) All phase 3 mushroom growing medium  must be free from regulated pests, extraneous organic 
materials  and must not contain any viable seeds .  
(2) All pac kaging associated with the mushroom growing medium  must be clean  and free from 
contaminants.  
1.5 Exporting country systems  
(1) Importers may only import from a country where the overseas N ational Plant Protection Organisation 
(NPPO) has provided evidence to the satisfaction of an MPI  Chief Technical Officer (CTO), or the CTO 
has gained satisfactory evidence,  of the national systems/programmes and standards used for export 
assurance in accor dance with ISPM 7: Phytosanitary Certification System . 
(2) The national programmes and standards are subject to audit by MPI.  
1.6 Export Plans  
(1) MPI and the exporting country NPPO may negotiate a country -specific Export Plan that demonstrates 
how Targeted and MPI - Specified Measures will be achieved before trade can commence.  
(2) If, for operational reasons, the NPPO of the exporting country is unable to negotiate an Export Plan, 
MPI may negotiate the Export Plan directly with another relevant party.  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  6 of 13 
(3) The Export Plan must  include detail of the activities that support the effective application of Targeted 
and MPI - Specified Measures. Supporting activities include product traceability, training, management 
of records, phytosanitary inspection, certification and phytosanitary  security.  
(4) The negotiated and agreed Export Plan is subject to review and audit by MPI.  
 
Guidance  
 An Export Plan is only necessary when  Targeted  or MPI-Specified Measures  are required. 
Targeted  and MPI -Specified Measures are required to manage pests that are not sufficiently 
managed by basic measures, including commercial production practices and official pre -export 
phytosanitary inspection and certification by the exporting NPPO.  
 MPI endeavours  to negotiate the export plan with the relevant exporting NPPO. However if the 
NPPO of the exporting country is unable to negotiate an Export Plan, MPI may negotiate the 
Export Plan directly with another relevant party.  
 When export plans are developed for overseas exporting countries, recognised countries will 
be listed on the MPI website  at ePest database .  
1.7 Transport requirements  
(1) If a consignment is either ope ned, stored, 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 certificates , and must accompany each c onsignment.  
1.8 Biosecurity clearance  
(1) Phase 3 mushroom growing medium  that meet s the requirements of this IHS may be given a 
biosecurity clearance  subject to post clearance conditions as described in part 2.6: Post clearance 
conditions . Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Part 2:  Specific Requirements  
2.1 Commodity description  
(1) Phase 3 mushroom  growing medium means  growing medium that is produced using a mixture of horse 
manure, chicken manure, straw, gypsum and water and that is inoculated with mushroom ( Agaricus 
bisporus ) spawn  prior to export . 
 
Guidance  
 Information about how to meet the requirements of this IHS  is provided in t he guidance 
document which accompanies this standard.  
 Because phase 3 medium contains ingredients of animal origin, it must also meet all 
requirements set out in the IHS for Processed Animal Manure Products (ANMANURE.GEN).  
2.2 Pest list  
(1) A list of pests associated with phase 3 mushroom growing medium requiring Targeted or MPI -
Specified Measures is reproduced on the MPI website ePest database .  
 
Guidance  
 For the purpose of this IHS, organisms requiring Targeted Measures are Trichoderma 
aggressivum and Mushroom virus X disease.  
(2) The full  list of regulated and non -regulated pests for New Zealand can be found in BORIC 
http://mpi.govt.nz/news -and-resources/resources/registers -and-lists/biosecurity -organisms -register -for-
imported -commodities . 
2.3 Basic Measures  
(1) Phase 3  mushroom growing medium  must be sourced from a production facility  that use s the following 
standard production  methods for commercial grade product : 
a) the production system must include regular audits by an external official accreditation body;  
b) phase  1 comp osting must be done in enclosed bunkers during which time all raw ingredients 
must be composted at a minimum temperature and time combination of either 60°C for 12 hours, 
or 65°C for 8 hours;  
c) the following hygiene measures must be used:  
i) dedicated equipment  and machinery must be used for different stages of production;  
ii) covered conveyors, or clean enclosed trucks must be used when transporting material 
between different areas of a production facility;  
iii) procedures must be in place to remove all traces of compos t debris from tunnels, 
conveyors, winches, and other equipment between batches . 
d) all phase 3 mushroom growing medium must be packaged in clean, impermeable material after 
spawning. If phase 3 mushroom growing medium is transferred to another site for packag ing this 
must be done using clean machinery and the medium must be covered during transport.  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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2.4 Targeted Measures  
(1) In relation to each of the pests in ePest databa se identified as requiring Targeted Measures , one (or 
more) of the following Targeted Measures  must be applied prior to export to New Zealand.  
a) Country freedom. No additional measures are required where ‘country freedom’ status is 
recognised for the exporting country  (refer to Part 2.4.1);  
b) Pest free area. MPI will audit the management of pest free areas for compliance with ISPM 4: 
Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas  (refer to Part 2.4.1) ; 
c) Systems approach. The components of a systems  approach , including the particular production 
facilities,  should  be documented in the Export Plan . MPI will audit the management of a systems 
approach for compliance ISPM 14: The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for 
pest risk management . 
 
Guidance  
 Country freedom will be listed on the MPI website at ePest database  
 Specific production facilities recognised as eligible to export product to New Zeal and will be 
listed on the MPI website at ePest database . 
2.4.1 Country freedom or Pest free area  
(1) Exporting countries must comply  with ISPM 4: Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas 
to ensure ‘ country freedom’ or ‘pest free area’ status is recognised  for the pests requiring targeted 
measures . Refer to the certification requirements listed in Part 3: Documentation Requirements .  
2.4.2 Systems approach  
(1) The negotiated  Export Plan  must describe how measures  used as part of a systems approach  will be 
applied for the pests requiring targeted measures .  
(2) Where a systems approach is used as a Targeted Measure , the Export Plan must include the following 
components:  
a) stringent hygiene measures that are applied throughout production including:  
i) steaming phase 2 and 3 production tunnels at a minimum of either 60°C for 12 hours, or 
65°C for 8 hours between each batch;  
ii) cleaning and chemical disinfectio n of other part s of phase 2 and phase 3 production areas 
between batches;  
iii) maintaining positive air pressure during spawning;  
iv) HEPA filtration of spawning areas;  
v) isolating spawning from other stages of production;  
vi) restricting entry to production tunnels;  
vii) using clean clothing and footwear when entering production areas.  
b) testing to ensure freedom from Trichoderma aggressivum  that must include:  
i) testing samples of phase 3 mushroom growing medium taken during tunnel emptying for 
the presence of T. aggressivum ; 
ii) routine testing of debris on production equipment (conveyors, winches, mixers, ground, 
trucks, dispatch area etc.)  for the presence of T. aggressivum ; 
iii) routine testing of air plates positioned throughout the facility (for example beneath tunnels 
that are being  emptied, on winches, in dispatch halls etc.) for the presence of T. 
aggressivum ; 
iv) post production monitoring (at local mushroom production facilities who receive material 
from the s ame batch of growing medium) to determine any presence of  T. aggressivum . Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  9 of 13 
c) the identity of any species of Trichoderma identified during testing must be confirmed using PCR 
or DNA sequencing;  
d) samples from each batch of phase 3 medium must be tested for the presence of signs or 
symptoms of Mushroom virus X disease . 
2.5 MPI-Specified Measures  
(1) There are no pests associated with this commodity which require an MPI-Specified Measure . 
2.6 Phytosanitary inspection  
(1) The NPPO  of the exporting country must:  
a) sample and visually inspect each consignment according to official procedures in accordanc e 
with ISPM 23: Guidelines for Inspection  for all the regulated pests required by New Zealand;  
b) verify that the appropriate measures listed in this IHS have been applied;  
c) reconcile that the number of packages presented for inspection is consistent with doc umentation;  
d) verify that traceability labelling is complete; and  
e) verify that phytosanitary security is maintained for the consignment.  
2.7 Post clearance conditions  
(1) Phase 3 mushroom growing medium must be imported into a transitional facility that is approved b y 
MPI and subject to verification inspections by MPI in accordance with the MPI facility standard for 
Transitional Facilities for General Uncleared Risk Goods (MPI -STD-TFGEN).  
(2) Phase 3 mushroom growing medium mus t only be used for the purpose of growing com mon 
mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus ) and must be retained at  transitional facility unless  a steam cookout has 
been  applied that ensures all spent growing medium reaches a minimum temperature of 65°C for a 
minimum of 8 hours.  
 
Guidance  
 The import of Phase 3 mushroom growing medium is subject to post clearance conditions under 
section 27A of the Act as detailed in the relevant CTO direction, and described in the guidance 
document that accompanies this standard.  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  10 of 13 
Part 3:  Documentation requirements  
3.1 Import permit  
(1) A permit to import is required.  
3.2  Phytosanitary certificat e  
(1) All consignments of  phase 3 mushroom growing medium  must  be accompanied by a phytosanitary 
certificate.   
(2) The phytosanitary certificate must include the scientific name (Genus and species) of the mu shroom 
spawn with which the phase 3 mushroom growing medium has been inoculated.  
(3) If the exporting NPPO is satisfied that the pre -shipment inspection activities have been carried out 
effectively, the following certification statement must be provided:  
a) “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 procedures and are considered to 
be free from the quarantine pests specified by the importing contracting party  and conform with 
the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing contracting party , including those for 
regulated non -quarantine pests.”  
(4) The phytosanitary certificate must be:  
a) issued by the exporting country National Plant Protecti on Organisation (NPPO) in accordance 
with ISPM 12: Phytosanitary certificates; and  
b) include any additional declaration(s) as required under Part 3. 2.1: Additional Declarations.  
(5) If visually detectable regulated pests are found which are not listed in this IHS, ePest,  or BORIC, the 
NPPO must establish their regulatory status pri or to issuing the certificate  by contacting MPI .  
3.2.1 Additional declarations  
(1) The NPPO must include one of the following additional declaration s on the phytosanitary certificat e 
appropri ate to the targeted measure(s)  selected under Part 2.4 of this IHS.  
Country freedom  
(1) If the phase 3 mushroom growing medium is sourced from a country free from the pests requiring  
targeted measures, t he NPPO must also include the following additional declaration  on the 
phytosanitary certificate:  
a) “The phase 3 mushroom growing medium in this consignment has been produced in a country 
free from Trichoderma aggressivum  and/or  Mushroom virus X  disease ”. 
Pest free area  
(1) If the phase 3 mushroom growing medium is sourced from a pest free area free from the pests 
requiring  targeted measures, t he NPPO must also include the following additional declaration  on the 
phytosanitary certificate:  
a) “The phase 3 mushroom growing medium in this consignment was produced  in a pest free area 
for Trichoderma aggressivum  and/or  Mushroom virus X  disease ”.  
 
Guidance  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  11 of 13 
 If country freedom or pest free area status is obtained for only  one of the above organisms, 
then additional Targeted Measures (systems approach) will still be re quired to manage the risk 
associated with the organism for which country freedom or pest free area status does not apply . 
Systems approach  
(1)  If the phase 3 mushroom growing medium was produced using a systems approach according to an 
Export Plan negotiated  between MPI and the NPPO of the exporting country, t he NPPO must also 
include the following additional declaration  on the phytosanitary certificate:  
a) “This consignment was produced and prepared for export in accordance with the agreed Export 
Plan” 
 
Guidanc e 
 This additional declaration is not required in cases where the Export Plan is negotiated 
between MPI and a party other than the NPPO.  
3.3 Manufacturer’s certificate  
(1) A manufacturer’s certificate is required and must be signed by a n authorised person  within the 
company and must include all the following information:  
a) name and address of manufacturer;  
b) name and address of supplier (if phase 3 mushroom growing medium is supplied by a third party 
organisation);  
c) date;  
d) a full description of the product inclu ding:  
i) a list of all ingredients used to produce the phase 3 mushroom growing medium;  
ii) a statement that there has been no change to the manufacturing process for the phase 3 
mushroom growing medium since the import permit was issued.  
e) a statement that either:   
i) monitoring and/or testing for Trichoderma aggressivum  and Mushroom virus X disease  has 
been completed as required in the IHS , and that neither organism has been  detected, OR;  
ii) the phase 3 mushroom growing medium was produced in a pest free area /country  free 
from Trichoderma aggressivum  and/or Mushroom virus X, and that this has been verified 
by the NPPO of the exporting country on the phytosanitary certificate that accompanies the 
consignment.  
f) the full scientific name of the mushroom spawn, the name of the company that produced the 
spawn, and a declaration that:  
i) the spawn is a pure strain;  
ii) the identity of the spawn has been verified using either molecular or morphological 
characterisation (the certificate must identify which method was used);  
iii) the spawn h as been produced under sterile conditions on sterile substrate and has been 
kept free from any contamination.  
g) details linking  the manufacturer’s certificate to the product (for example a bill of lading, container 
numbers, batch/serial number or invoice).  
(2) In cases where the Export Plan is negotiated with a relevant party who is not the NPPO, the 
manufacturer’s certificate must also include the following statement:  
a) the phase 3 mushroom growing medium in this consignment was prepared and produced for 
export in  accordance with the agreed Export Plan.  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  12 of 13 
Appendix  1 – Definitions  
Definitions have the same meaning as defined by the Act and ISPM 5: Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms 
(2012), unless set out below:  
Biosecurity Clearance  
A clearance under section 26 of the New Zealand Biosecurity Act 1993 for the entry of goods into New 
Zealand.  
Biosecurity Organisms Register for Imported Commodities (BORIC)  
A register of organisms that may be associated with plants or plant products that are imported into New 
Zealand. The q uarantine status for each species is indicated i.e. regulated or non -regulated.  
Chief Technical Officer   
A person appointed by the Director General of MPI as a chief technical officer under section 101 of the 
Biosecurity Act 1993.  
Contaminant  
A contamina nt is considered a quarantine contaminant if it is any one of the following:  
a) a regulated organism (including viable weed seeds);  
b) a viable seed which is a new organism or potentially a new organism (species name unknown);  
c) material  (including soil, debris) that may harbour unwanted or new organisms.  
Import health standard  
A document issued under section 2 4A of the Biosecurity Act, which specifies the requirements to be met for 
the effective management of risks associated with impor tation of risk goods, before those goods may be 
imported, moved from a biosecurity control area or transitional facility or given a biosecurity clearance.  
IPPC  
International Plant Protection Convention.  
NPPO  
National Plant Protection Organisation the offi cial organisation established by a government to discharge the 
functions specified by the IPCC.  
Pest  
Any species, strain, or biotype of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent injurious to plant or plant products [IPCC].  
Procedure  
A document that specifies, as  applicable, the purpose and scope of an activity; what must be done and by 
whom; when, where, and how it must be done; what materials, equipment, and documentation must be used; 
and how it must be controlled.  
Regulated pest  
A quarantine pest or a regulate d non -quarantine pest listed in BORIC as being regulated for New Zealand.  
Note: If an intercepted organism is not listed in BORIC, the NPPO must contact MPI to establish the 
regulatory status.  
Sample  
Method of collecting a representation of a commodity ba sed on a sampling plan in order to ascertain pest 
levels or for other testing (e.g. germination).  
  Import Health Standard : Phase 3 Mushroom Growing Medium   
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Appendix 2 – Document history  
No. Version Date  Section Changed  Change(s) Description  
1 TBA New import health standard  Import requirements for phase 3 
mushroom growing medium