Import Health Standard  
Issued under the        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 F 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fresh Citrus  spp. for Human 
Consumption  
MPI.IHS.FP.CITRUS  
 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  1 of 11 TITLE  
Import  Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Import Health Standard  comes into force on  xxxx 2018  
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 Director -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 : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  2 of 11 Contents  Page 
Introduction  3 
Part 1:  General Requirements  4 
1.1 Application  4 
1.2 Incorporat ion of material by reference  4 
1.3 Definitions  4 
1.4 General  4 
1.5 Permit to import  5 
Part 2:  Specific Requirements  6 
2.1 Basic Measures  6 
2.2 MPI-Specified Measures  6 
Part 3:  Inspection, Verification and Documentation Requirements  8 
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  8 
3.2 Phytosanitary certification  8 
3.3 Additional declarations  9 
Appendix 1: Definitions  10 
Appe ndix 2: Amendment Record  11 
 
 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  3 of 11 Introduction  
This introduction  is not part of the Import Health Standard (IHS),  but is intended to indicate its general effect.  
Purpose  
An IHS specifies the requirements for importing risk goods into New Zealand from all countries . 
Background  
An IHS issued under the  New Zealand Biosecurity  Act (the Act) specif ies the requirements to be met to 
effective ly manage  biosecurity risks associated with importing goods , including the risks from incidentally 
imported organisms. IHSs include measures that must be applied in the exporting country before the goods 
are exported. IHSs also include requirements that must be met  by importers during importation including while 
the goods are in transit and held in a transitional facility, before biosecurity clearance can be given.  
Post-clearance conditions may also be specified in an IHS.  
Guidance accompanies an IHS as either a sep arate document or as guidance boxes throughout the IHS itself. 
Guidance provides information on how the requirements may be met.  
Who should read this?  
Anyone who is involved in the process of importing risk goods into New Zealand or who has an in terest in 
importing risk goods into New Zealand should read and be familiar with the relevant IHS.  
Why is this important?  
It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that risk goods comply with the requirements of the relevant 
IHS. Risk go ods that do not comply with the requirements of an IHS may not be cleared for entry into New 
Zealand and may be directed for treatment, re -shipment, destruction or further action deemed appropriate by 
a Chief Technical Officer (CTO). The pathway may be sus pended if certain types of viable regulated pests  or 
viable unwanted organisms  are intercepted on the consignment.  
Importers are liable for all associated expenses.  
Equivalence  
A CTO  may consider a n 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.  
Equivalence will be considered with reference to the International Standard fo r Phytosanitary Measures 
(ISPM)  24. Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equiva lence of phytosanitary measures . 
Document history  
Refer to Appendix 2 for the Amendment Record for this IHS.  
  Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  4 of 11 Part 1:  General Requirements  
1.1 Application  
(1) This Import Health Standard (IHS) applies to fresh Citrus aurant iifolia (lime) , C. limon  (lemon) , C. 
paradisi  (grapefruit) , C. sinensis  (orange) , C. reticulata  (mandarin/ tan gerine ), C. paradisi x reticulata  
(tangelo) , and C. maxima  (pomelo)  [Citrus spp.]  imported for human consumption (‘fresh  Citrus spp.’).  
(2) Fresh Citrus  spp. is defined as commercially produced Citrus  fruit which may include calyx and a small 
amount of stem but does not include leaves or larger twigs and shoots.  
 
Guidance  
 Frozen, cooked, pickled, pureed or dried Citrus  spp. may be  imported but are covered by MPI 
IHS BNZ.NPP.HUMAN: Importation into New Zealand of stored plant products intended for 
human consumption.  
1.2 Incorporation of material by reference  
(1) The following document s are incorporated by reference under section 142M of th e Act : 
 ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary terms . Rome, IPPC, FAO . 
 ISPM 7 . Phytosanitary certification system . Rome, IPPC, FAO . 
 ISPM 12 . Phytosanitary certificates  Rome, IPPC, FAO .  
 ISPM 23 . Guidelines for inspection . Rome, IPPC, FAO .  
 ISPM 26 . Establishment  of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae) . Rome, IPPC, FAO . 
 ISPM 28 . Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests . Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
 ISPM 31 . Methodologies for sampling of consignments . Rome, IPPC, FAO .  
(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 Definitions  
(1) Definitions are listed in Appendix 1.  
1.4 General  
(1) Importers may only import fresh Citrus  spp. from a country  where : 
a) the N ational Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO)  has provided evidence to the satisfaction of a 
Chief Technical Officer (CTO) that the exporting country has an Exporting Country System  that 
complies with ISPM 7. Phytosanitary certification system . The Exporting Country System  
(including programmes and s tandards) must demonstrate the process used to provide export 
assurance.  
b) an Export Plan  that details the activities and processes established to achieve the MPI-Specified 
Measures  identified in Part 2 of this IHS has been approved by the CTO.  
 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  5 of 11 Guidance  
 Countries that meet the requirements in Part 1.4 (1) a) and Part 1.4 (1) b) for Citrus  spp. are 
listed in  ePest  (www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/food/fresh -fruit-and-vegetables/requirements/epest ). 
 MPI intends to remove regulated pest lists from IHS’s  and include them in the new ePest 
database which will  be available on the MPI website. Transitioning to this database is ongoing  
(2) Importers may not import from a country where a CTO has:  
a) determined that the  Exporting Country System  no longer me ets the requirements of ISPM 7; or 
b) has revoked approval of the Export Plan .  
(3) The scientific name of fresh  Citrus  spp. ( Citrus auranti ifolia, C. limon , C. paradisi , C. sinensis , C. 
reticulata , C. paradisi x reticulata , or C. maxima ) must  be included in documentation (specified in Part 
3) accompanying the consignment.  
(4) In order to obtain biosecurity clearance a ll consignments of fresh Citrus  spp. into New Zealand must:  
a) be free of soil and extraneous material, including flowers and leaves of the plant;  
b) be free from viable regulated , including  viable  weed seeds;  
c) be packaged  in clean and either new  or refurbished  material ;  
d) be shipped in a secure manner to prevent contamination by regulated pests  and other unwanted 
organisms;  
e) meet the specific requirements in Part 2; and  
f) be accompanied by documentation that meets the requirem ents of Part 3.  
(5) Fresh Citrus  spp. must not be used for any purpose , such as propagation or animal feed, other than 
described in Part 1.1 (1).  
 
Guidance  
 A list of pests associated with fresh Citrus  spp. can be found in ePes t 
(http://mpi.govt.nz/importing/food/fresh -fruit-and-vegetable s/requirements/epest ). 
 The full list of regulated and non -regulated pests and other unwanted organisms for New 
Zealand can be found in the Biosecurity Organisms Register for Imported Commodities  
(BORIC)  (http://mpi.govt.nz/news -and-resources/resources/registers -and-lists/biosecurity -
organisms -register -for-imported -commodities/ ) .  
– BORIC is a Ministry for Primary Industries ( MPI) database which informs of the 
quarantine status for an organism as either regulated or non -regulated for New 
Zealand .  
 The Schedule of regulated (quarantine) weed seeds   can be found on the MPI w ebsite  
(https://www.mpi.govt.nz/document -vault/7111 ). 
 If, during  an official inspection, the NPPO detects a pest that is not listed in ePest  or BORIC , 
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  should b e contacted to establish the regulatory status of 
the pest.  
 Further information  can be found in MPI Guidance Document: Fresh Produce for Consumption  
(http://mpi.govt.nz/document -vault/13831 ). 
1.5 Permit to import  
(1) A permit to import is not required unless specified in Part 3: Inspection, Verificat ion and Documentation 
Requirements . 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  6 of 11 Part 2:  Specific Requirements  
2.1 Basic Measures  
(1) Fresh Citrus  spp. must be sourced from a production site that uses standard cultivation methods for 
commercial export -quality product; including pest -control, harvesting, sorting, cleaning, inspection and 
packaging.  
2.2 MPI-Specified Measures  
(1) The pest s that require MPI-specified measures  are: 
 Bactrocera zonat a 
 Ceratitis capitata  
(2) At least one of the following measures must be applied in relation to fresh Citrus  spp. to manage the 
pest listed in 2. 2(1): 
a) Country Freedom : a CTO is satisfied that a country has country freedom status in relation to the 
pest. No additional measures for that pest are required .  
b) Pest Free Area : Citrus  spp. is sourced from a p est free area established i n accordance  with 
ISPM 26 . Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae) . 
c) Cold disinfestation treatment : Citrus  spp. is treated by cold disinfestation treatment  prior to arrival 
in New Zealand  (including in -transit)  as specified in  section 2.2.1 . 
(3) The Export Plan must record the agreed procedures used for the  application of these measures.  
2.2.1 Cold Disinfestation Treatment  
(1) Fresh  Citrus  spp. must be treated with a cold disinfestation treatment in accor dance with the Export 
Plan and Tables 1 and 2 as applicable.  
 
a) Bactrocera zonata  
Table 1 : Cold Disinfestation Treatment  for Citrus  spp. 
Maximum f ruit pulp temperature (°C)  Minimum e xposure period (consecutive days)  
1.67 18 
 
b) Ceratitis capitata  
 
Table 2: Cold Disinfestation Treatment options for Citrus  spp. 
 
Citrus  species  Maximum fruit pulp 
temperature (°C)  Minimum exposure 
period (consecutive 
days)  Reference  
C. auranti ifolia 
 0 13 MPI approved rates  
1 16 
C. limon  2 16 ISPM 28 PT 26: Cold treatment 
for Ceratitis  capitata on Citrus 
limon  3 18 Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  7 of 11 Citrus  species  Maximum fruit pulp 
temperature (°C)  Minimum exposure 
period (consecutive 
days)  Reference  
C. sinensis  2 16 ISPM 28 PT 24:  Cold treatment 
for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
sinensis  3 20 
C. reticulata  2 23 ISPM 28  PT 28 : Cold treatment 
for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
reticulata  
C. paradisi x reticulata  2 23 ISPM 28  PT 28 : Cold treatment 
for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
reticulata  
C. maxima  
 0 10 MPI approved rates  
0.55 11 
1.11 12 
1.66 14 
2.22 16 
 
Guidance  
 To establish that the commodity is sourced from a pest free area, the phytosanitary measures 
and officially approved procedures used for the establishment and maintenance of a pest free 
area should  be documented in accordance with ISPM 26.  MPI will review this information 
before accepting that this measure can be used.   
 Cold treatment can be initiated offshore and completed in -transit on -route to New Zealand.  
 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  8 of 11 Part 3:  Inspection, Veri fication and Documentation 
Requirements  
3.1 Phytosanitary inspection  
(1) The NPPO of the exporting country must:  
a) sample  each homogeneous grower lot of fresh  Citrus  spp. The minimum sample size for 
inspection must be based on a 95% confidence level that not more t han 0.5% of the units i n the 
lot are infested, as set out in Appendix 2 of ISPM 31 . Methodologies for sampling of 
consignments ; 
b) visually inspect each sample unit  according to official procedures in accordance with ISPM 23. 
Guidelines for inspection  for all  pests  and unwanted organisms  regulated by New Zealand .  
c) verify that the Basic Measures and MPI-Specified  Measures  have been  applied as outlined in 
Part 2;   
d) reconcile that the number of packages presented for inspection is consistent with documentation;  
e) verify that traceability labelling is complete; and  
f) verify that phytosanitary security is maintained for the consignment.  
 
Guidance  
 A sample unit for the purpose of this IHS is considered to be a single Citrus  fruit from one 
species.  
3.2 Phytosanitary certification  
(1) Each consignment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO in 
accordance with ISPM 12. Phytosanitary certificates  and meeting the specified requirements set out in 
this Part.  
(2) The phytosanitary certificate must incl ude: 
a) sufficient detail to enable identification of the consignment and its component parts. Information 
must include country/place of origin;  
b) full details of any end point treatments applied to fresh Citrus  spp. in the “Disinfestation and/or 
Disinfection T reatment” area of the phytosanitary certificate or as an NPPO -endorsed attachment 
to the phytosanitary certificate. All details of the treatment must be recorded  including  for 
example,  minimum irradiation dose, duration and temperature, chemical (active in gredient) and 
concentration ; 
c) the following declaration:  
“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 to conform with 
the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing contracting party, including those for 
regulated non -quarantine pests .” 
(3) When the consignment is treated  in-transit, t he certificate must state “Treated in -transit” in the 
“Disinfestation and /or Disinfection Treatment” area of the phytosanitary certificate.  
(4) If a c onsignment of fresh Citrus  spp. is stored  in another country in transit to New Zealand or opened , 
split up or ha s 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 , and must 
accompany each consignment . 
 
 Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  9 of 11 Guidance  
 A phytosanitary certificate should not be issued if viable regulated pests and viable unwanted 
organisms are detected, unless an appropriate phytosanitary  measure has been applied . 
3.3 Additional declarations  
(1) The phytosa nitary certificate must also include the following additional declaration when MPI-Specified 
Measures  (Parts 2.2) are required :  
a) “This consignment was produced and prepared for export in accordance with the agreed  Export 
Plan. ” 
(2) Unless Part 2.2(2)(a) applie s, the following additional declaration  must also be included on the 
phytosanitary certificate for each MPI-Specified Measure  (Part 2. 2) used and the specified pest/s:  
a) “The consignment was [select applicable] { produced and packed in a pest free area; subjected to 
cold disinfestation treatment for {Name of Pest/s} .” 
 
Guidance  
 This additional declaration should be repeated for each measure and pest combination.  
 Recognised pest free areas are listed in ePest  (http://mpi.govt.nz/importing/food/fresh -fruit-and-
vegetables/requirements/epest ) and recorded in the Export Plan . Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  10 of 11 Appendix 1: Definitions  
Definitions have the same meaning as defined by the Act  or ISPM 5 . Glossary of phytosanitary terms , unless 
set out below:  
FAO  
Food and Agriculture Organization of  the United Nations.  
ISPM  
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures. The list of ISPMs are available from: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/ispms/ . 
NPPO  
National Plant Protection Organisation.  
Pest  
Definition as per ISPM 5 . 
Viable  
In relation to a pest or unwanted organism, means capable of reproduction and/or development.  Import Health Standard : Fresh Citrus spp. for Human Consumption   
 Final Draft  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  11 of 11 Appendix 2: Amendment Record  
The following table provides a summary of the last amendment to the IHS for fresh Citrus  spp. for Human 
Consumption.  
 
Section(s)  Details  Date