Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010  Discussion Document for the 
Importation of Dried and Preserved  Plant Material
 
 
MAFBNZ Biosecurity New Zealand Discussion Paper 
 
 
 
 
 
 
February 2010  
Submissions 
 
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand invites comments on the options for managing risks for future imports 
of these commodities. 
 
This publication is available on the MAFBNZ website at www.biosecurity.govt.nz
 
Additional information on ‘Making a submission’  can also be viewed from this web page. 
 
 
Disclaimer 
 
While every effort has been made to insure that the information herein is accurate, the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Forestry does not accept liability for error of fact or opinion which may be present, 
nor for the consequences of any financia l decision based on this information. 
 
 
© Crown Copyright - Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
 
 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
1. INTRODUCTION 
The purpose of this document is to outline the risks associated with dried and preserved plant material 
and discuss how MAFBNZ considers these are mitigated by the requirements. The new Import Health 
Standard (IHS) is being developed to accommodate low risk plant products currently not included in 
other Import Health Standards. This IHS will serve as a framework for all forms of dried or preserved 
plant material and miscellaneous dr ied or manufactured plant items not intended for human or animal 
consumption, or generally not intended for fertiliser/growing media use, and not covered under an 
existing import health standard. 
 
This document discusses the risks associated with the following groupings of dried and preserved foliage into New Zealand, including:  
• powdered plant material and liquid extracts; 
• dried plant material for further processing;  
• dried cut flowers and foliage for ornamental purposes;  
• freeze dried flower arrangements/products for ornamental purposes; 
• miscellaneous dried floral items for ornamental purposes; and 
• miscellaneous processed items made from or incl uding dried plant material for various purposes. 
 
This standard does not cover the requirements fo r importation of the following commodity classes:  
• Importation of Fresh Cut flowers and foliage – MAFBNZ import health standards 155.02.04 and 
152.09.05; 
• Importation of non-perishable plant material  for human consumption – BNZ-NPP-HUMAN 
Importation into New Zealand of Stored Plant Products Intended for Human Consumption; 
• Importation of wood, wood products, bamboo, can e, willow and rattan, covered in various 
MAFBNZ import health standards for non-propagable forest produce; 
• Importation of dried flowers and foliage for laborat ory analysis/testing. A restricted biological 
products permit is required for such samples; 
• Miscellaneous highly processed items derived fro m plants, organic materials derived from 
minerals, fertilisers, composts and inorganic substances; and 
• Importation of any product containing live micr o-organisms e.g. legume/seed inoculants and 
mushroom spawn. These products may be imported under a permit to import for micro-organisms. 
 
2. BACKGROUND 
Under section 22 of the Biosecurity Act, the issue of  an import health standard for risk goods is 
necessary for the management of biosecurity risks.  While previous clearance in the absence of a 
suitable import health standard has been possible und er the Biosecurity Act generally by substantially 
confirming there is no risk, a wide ranging standa rd will allow for better management and record 
keeping in future. It is important that guidelin es are available to distinguish between those product 
groups or items which are considered to be of suffi ciently low risk that no biosecurity measures are 
required, and those products where biosecurity  requirements are considered necessary.  
 
Importation has been previously managed by inte rnal lists, permits to import, and official 
correspondence confirming biosecurity clearance assu ming basic information is provided. Many 
products covered under this IHS ha ve been imported for years and little change is being made to 
existing requirements. This framework will outline the requirements for various groupings of products. 
Most groupings are products that are considered to  be of extremely low biosecurity risk because the 
products are either processed to the point of little risk, or are dried and currently being either inspected or treated on arrival.   
 
Historically, where risk has been perceived in the past, either a permit to import will have been issued or entries made in the internal process procedures.  With some items or groupings where there is 
insufficient information available, a treatment is the preferred action. Inspection has been and will 
remain an important action and where necessary also a treatment for likely biosecurity risks. 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Treatments have been widely used to satisfy MAFBNZ that the products are clean and free of 
contamination from viable plant material.  
 
No formal risk analysis or compilation of pest lists has been undertaken for the commodities covered 
by this standard, apart from a risk analysis input into effects of dyeing, bleaching and freeze drying in 
this context. The products considered here are not a priority for a risk analysis because the products 
are highly processed and very few host-associated organisms are likely to be found with any of the products covered under this IHS. Consequently the treatments are adopted for devitalising all organisms over a wide scope. It is not sensible to  put resources into risk assessments for these dried 
products when compared with the higher risk pathways  of fresh plant material. Results of many years 
of inspections show that the most likely form of risk is contamination or viable material of untreated and unassessed new species.  
 
3. HAZARDS 
Hazards are organisms that could be introduced in to New Zealand and are capable of, or potentially 
capable of, causing unwanted harm. The hazard iden tification process often begins with the collation 
of a list of organisms associated with the commodity. This is usually derived from scientific literature on the organisms associated with the original plant or the commodity in each country of origin. This 
approach is not feasible for the dried and preserve d plant products pathway because it would be an 
uneconomic use of resources with regard to the risk and value of these products.  
 
An additional approach to hazard identification is to analyse records of border and post-border interceptions of organisms on imported dried and preserved plant products. This provides direct evidence of association with the pathway, but does not provide a complete list of potential hazards.  
 
One type of hazard associated with these products may be hitchhikers that become associated with the products during storage or transport like domestic p ests such as spiders and ants which can occur on 
imported products de pending on how and where they are stored  prior to export. Other hazards are 
unintentional importation of viable seeds of new, unwante d (prohibited) or regulated species as part of 
the item or as contamination, fungal diseases and soil contamination. Specific hazards for different 
commodity types are explained in Section 5.  
 
Interception and treatment records have been examined as a whole but as these depended on the 
information provided with the products, it has not been possible to summarize any treatment data 
meaningfully. A summary of live genera/species record ed in identification data for products directly 
related to this standard is given in Appendix 3, unsorted with regard  to the major product groupings of 
the standard. These identified organisms are listed in the identifications database which started in 2003, mostly relating to identifications made prior to about 2000 by the laboratories and subsequently 
entered. Policy changes in more recent years mean importers have been given choices of identification 
or treatment for interceptions at the border. Treat ment has often been chosen, reducing considerably 
the number of laboratory identifications available since 2001. Identifications not made below family 
level and data thought to relate to fresh ra ther than dried material are not included. 
 
4. REVIEW OF POTENTIAL BIOSECURITY MEASURES  
A number of measures are available to MAFBNZBNZ to mitigate the risks associated with dried and 
preserved plant products. These measures involve re questing certification including descriptions of 
processing systems, visual inspection, and various treatment methods.  In addition, periodic surveys 
can be undertaken by MAFBNZBNZ to check that requirements are still suitable or effective. The 
specific measures proposed for each commod ity type are discussed in section 3.  
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
4.1 Certification 
Phytosanitary Certificate 
The issuance of a phytosanitary certificate by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of 
the country of origin is a suitable condition to en sure that the requirements of the relevant import 
health standard have been met by the exporting country. A phytosanitary certificate can be used to ensure that the NPPO of the exporting country has visually inspected the consignment for the presence 
of regulated pests, where this is deemed necessary. 
Permit to Import  
A permit to import provides a way of managing the importation of these types of products on a case-by-case basis where desirable, allowing for assessm ent of a specific product. For example, if a 
particularly unusual form of processing or treatment h as been used with particular items in such a way 
that all risks will be mitigated but the situation falls outside the previously considered prescriptive 
requirements for that item, a permit could be used. Permits can provide extra control, allowing for a 
desk audit of processing information supplied at the time of application and providing opportunity to 
seek more information where necessary. Most importantly  they convey the approval to all parties: the 
importer, supplier and quarantine inspector. A permit can be usefully employed as a stepping stone to 
additions to the standard. 
Manufacturing Certificate 
A manufacturing certificate is a useful requirement to confirm that any processing parameters comply with the requirements of MAFBNZ and mitigate pos sible biosecurity risks. A certificate from the 
manufacturer can also be useful to confirm identity  and composition of the product. It is often not 
possible to have this information confirmed on a phytosanitary certificate (PC) either because the 
exporting country does not regard such a processed product as a risk material item or because the processing is beyond any government control with  the NPPO not in a position to confirm. 
 
Treatment Certificate 
 
In keeping with the acceptance of treatment certifi cates for some other products and pathways, they 
can be accepted in this standard for many of the products. 
4.2 Visual Inspection 
Visual inspection by a trained inspector can be used  in three main ways for managing biosecurity risks 
on goods being imported into New Zealand, as: 
• a biosecurity measure, where the attributes of the goods and hazard organism provide sufficient confidence that an inspection will be able to achieve the required level of detection efficacy; 
• an audit, where the attributes of the goods, h azard organisms and function being audited provide 
sufficient confidence that an inspection will conf irm that risk management has achieved the 
required level of efficacy; 
• a biosecurity measure in a systems approach, wher e the other biosecurity measures are not able to 
provide sufficient efficacy alone or have significant levels of associated uncertainty. 
Visual inspection can take place along a whole production pathway. Monitoring of a production system is considered good practice, but for most of th e products that come within this IHS the risks is 
too low for consideration of how  this can be managed offshore.  
Pre-export inspection:  MAFBNZ may require that the NPPO of the exporting country samples and 
visually inspects the consignment for all regulated pests.  
On arrival inspection:  This is carried out in the destination country on arrival. The purpose of these 
inspections is to determine whether any potential quarantine pests are associated with the consignment.  
Detection of regulated pests will result in the consignment being subjected to appropriate remedial 
action, which will reduce the risk to a very low le vel. This action would in volve any treatment known 
to be effective against the target pests or diseases.  
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
 
With the necessity in more recent years for approval and registration of premis es for the holding and 
inspection of risk goods, it is essential for trade that there be clarity over which goods require 
spection and in which circumstances. Fequent im portions by the same importer, may result in a 
ers 
firm 
ff” 
ment options are available for m itigating the risks of contaminants. These treatments 
or on arrival in New Zealand depending on their availability in 
 arthropods, 
y. Methyl bromide fu migation is available in many exporting countries or 
But in line with the Montreal Pr otocol, to phase out its use, methyl bromide will not 
d on 
ive fumigation with 
ethyl bromide (Biosecurity Australia 2002; C assells 1995). However, work carried out by 
ate 
 viability 
ignments to 
other contaminants. Heat trea tment at the rate of 85ºC core temperature for 15 
 is currently being used on a range  of plant products. This type of treatment is 
t 
 
 to be 
ed. 
 
Gamma irradiation carried out at high doses (25kGy)  is an effective treatment for seeds and other 
organisms in non-edible products (Marsh, Wilkins, Wynn-Williams/Canensis), This rate is currently in 
use in the MAFBNZ standard: Importation of Grain/ Seeds for Consumption, feed or processing, Plant 
Health Requirements, but is not available in ma ny countries. Irradiation can devitalise seeds in a in
lower rate of inspection for some products ove r time. Unaccompanied goods requiring inspection 
becomes another cost to the importer. In comparison, for plant material accompanying passengthrough the border, inspection of each consignment fo r some products, as an action to visually con
cleanliness and freedom from contaminants is effective. The majority of these are small and “one-oconsignments. 
4.3 Treatments 
A series of treat
may be conducted either prior to export each of the countries.  
The effects of treatments on the commodity may in  some cases be damaging or alter the appearance. 
Where it is considered this is a possibility, a trial treatment should first be arranged. 
Methyl Bromide 
Methyl bromide fumigation is known to be effective against a range of pests, particularly
and is relatively easy to appl
on arrival in NZ. 
be listed as a pre-export requirement unless the requi rement has previously been in place e.g. for 
Melaleuca brushwood panels from Au stralia. Otherwise it will continue to be used as a treatment on 
arrival for arthropods intercepted during inspec tion, in accordance with the MAFBNZ Standard: 
Approved Biosecurity Treatments for Risk Goods Directed for Treatment.  The reported effectiveness of methyl bromide as a quarantine treatment for seeds is variable. Base
trials done on the devitalisation of seeds, many weed seeds are likely to surv
m
AsureQuality New Zealand (2002) to find methods  for devitalising seed contaminants in dried 
sphagnum for export to Australia showed that by using a rate of 80g/m3   for 72 hrs at 21 °C, adequ
effectiveness was achieved if applied correctly, but recent trials to test effectiveness on weed
in compressed coco peat proved the treatment to be inadequate (Bu llians et. al. 2009).  
Heat Treatment 
Heat treatment, involving either steam or low hum idity treatment maybe applied to cons
devitalise seeds or kill 
continuous hours
considered as a suitable alternative when faced with reshipment or destruction of a consignment. Hea
treatment has the advantage of treating both internal and external contaminants and those that may notbe identified in standard visual inspection procedures. Heat treatment at these rates is consideredan effective measure for the devitalisation of  seeds (MAFBNZ Treatment Standard, 2008). Heat 
treatment at lower rates, such as the forestry alte rnative to fumigation of more than 4 hours at a 
minimum continuous core temperature of 70°C, or the rate of 85°C core temperature used for some 
products when entering Australia, are suitable when there is no likelihood of seeds to be devitaliz
 Autoclave treatment is also listed in the standard as an option if contamination is found. Autoclaving
would be conducted at a minimum of 121ºC for 30 minutes at 100KPa. 
Irradiation 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
shorter timef rame than heat treatment and is less likely to cause damage to the product. Irradiation is 
an expensive treatment option, but can be used for specific high value products or ingredients. 
It is recommended that the process of dyeing dried foliage by fully immersing the item for 3 minutes 
ous dye whilst maintaining a near-boili ng temperature (between 80 and 100°C) will likely 
on-
 appropriate declaration to describe 
this proposed hot dyeing process, it is recommended that no further action will be required for entry 
 Zealand and an inspection fo r contaminants will not be required. 
 is recommended that the proposed bleaching treat ment, entailing soaking the material in a solution 
t no further action will be required for 
entry into New Zealand and an inspection for contaminants will not be required. 
 
n 
ut flowers commercially processed by freeze dyeing,  but not containing any cones, capsules, seed 
sed that this acceptance with 
documentation continue.  If the freeze dried cut flower s or other material are likely to contain cones, 
mmended that commercial freeze-drying be preceded by dipping 
al 
freeze 
ting chemicals into a liquid will greatly reduce 
 liquid form 
aterial 
without adequate documentation will be regarded as a risk. Freezing 
Deep freezing is currently accepted as an approve d treatment for insects directed for treatment on 
arrival and is outlined in the MAFBNZBNZ Treatment Standard.  
Dyeing 
in an aque
destroy any contaminating conidia and mycelia occurring on or in the plant part. Dyes that have a n
aqueous base can be applied without heat. If the paperwork has the
into New
 
Dyed ornamental plant material (no seeds) has previously been accepted without further treatment 
when declared to have been dyed  in this manner. See Appendix 4 for further notes and discussion of 
dyeing as a precautionary treatment for fungal contamination. 
Bleaching 
It
of 3% NaOCl at room temperature for at least 8 hour s, is likely to be sufficient to destroy many or 
most fungi occurring on dried plant material. If the paperwork has the appropriate declaration to 
describe the proposed bleaching process, it is recomme nded tha
 
Bleached ornamental plant material (no seeds) has prevsiouly been accepted without further treatmentwhen declared to have been bleached in this manner. See Appendix 4 for further notes and discussio
of bleaching as a precautionary treatment for fungal contamination. 
Freeze drying 
C
head or seeds, have been previously accepted when accompanied by a manufacturer’s certificate outlining the process involving vacuum freezing, as follows: frozen to -20ºC and then dried by 
changing the atmospheric pressure over a 10-14 day cycle. It is propo
capsules, seed head or seeds it is reco
in a pre-soak solution for at least 24 hours. It is considered this process will be sufficient to destroy 
seed viability for many types of seeds in consignmen ts intended to be exported as dried ornament
plant arrangements. If  the manufacturer’s certificate has the appropriate declaration to state the 
drying process and where seeds might be included, that the dried plant material has undergone the 
proposed pre-soak/imbibing process followed by fr eeze-drying, it is recommended that no further 
action will be required for entry into New Zealand.  See Appendix 4 for further notes and discussion of 
freeze drying for seed devitalisation. 
5.  COMMODITY SPECIFIC HAZARDS AND POTENTIAL MEASURES  
5.1 Dried material milled to a fine  powder and liquid plant extracts  
 
Grinding any material into a powder or extrac
biosecurity risks. Documentation is required to lis t the ingredient/s, declare the powder or
of a product and that it does not contain any liv ing organisms. Any powdered or ground m
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
An inspection of powders and liquids is regarded  as low value as they are unlikely to have any
associated pests or contamination. No intercepti ons or post border reports have been found for these 
products.  
.2 Dried plant material for further processing  
harmaceuticals and other preparations . Generally these are not intended for human 
ption. 
urrent Measures  
ection 
isms 
r prohibited material. 
des species currently known to have been imported or requested in recent 
ears for the purposes of further processing. A list will not be included in the standard, because 
ys be required. Instead a set of  guidelines will be used rather than attempts to 
ty 
n a 
 
 25kg.  
TF. With material that is commercially prepared and pack aged in quantities up to 
25kg being processed in a TF, a trained approved person will carry out the inspection at the TF. 
 
ll 
MAF 
rder. For non-flowering plant groups in the lower part of 
e plant kingdom, e.g. fungi and seaweeds,  MAFBNZ considers that because less may be  known 
 
in 
his section includes single items and multiple items but it is not always practical to separate the 
constituents of mixtures of species and types, when prepared into arrangements, bouquets, 
wreaths and other decorations.   5
 This section provides for the importation of dried plant material for further processing into health products, p
consumption, but may include finished products in  the form of capsules/tablets for consum
 
C
All material is inspected on arrival. Currently  a small number of importers are importing and 
processing their material under a permit and transitiona l facility. Others are importing with insp
on arrival, trusting that the material will be found clean and choosing not to import any new organ
o
 
Proposed measures 
A range of likely items imported for this purpose are included in Appendix 1 below to indicate the 
typical range and type of such material and species involved, which includes prohibited and new 
species. This table inclu
y
additions would alwa
analyse risk for each type of item.  A combination of inspection or processing in a transitional facili
fit for purpose based on assessment of the processi ng procedure will be used. A set of generic 
situations is provided where it is considered there is a greater risk and material must be processed itransitional facility. 
Almost all this material is commercially dried,  cut, chopped or shredded before packaging and 
therefore presents little risk. Typical package sizes for dried herbs are 500g, 1kg and bags up to
Inspection of material to check for contaminants at  the border is desirable if the consignment is not 
being processed in a 
Arthropod risk is considered to be too low to justify inspection at the border as well. Should any
motile pests be present and migrate from their packaging prior to processing, they can be treated by 
the facility operator under the TF operating manual in structions. Risks presented by fungi or seed wi
be removed through sufficient processing.   Consignments comprising seeds of the intended material which are regulated or prohibited in the 
Plant Biosecurity Index (PBI) will require processing in a TF. Contaminant seeds considered to be a 
new species can be also managed by requiring either suitable processing in a transitional facility or destruction by rendering non viable at the bo
th
about these “lower” groups, a generic approach of requiring fit for purpose processing in a TF is the 
best requirement. Commercially prepared and packag ed ground or finely chopped bark for processing
will be acceptable with inspection. Coarsely cut or la rger pieces should be heat treated or processed 
a TF. A recent consignment of Arnica Montana was not commercially packaged and was noticeably 
infested with insects. Size of pieces was about 10 cent pieces.  
5.3 Dried flowers, foliage, fruits and other plant parts for ornamental 
purposes, including pot pourri  
 
T
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Many lants and parts of plants can be used for decorative purposes. The range extends from 
leaves, stems, flowers, fruits (including be
oody fungi, dried mosses, lichens, and vegetables to any p dried 
rries, woody cones), seed heads, seeds (including grains), 
 part of a plant that can be dried and has 
m 
h 
NZ 
f fresh cut flow ers are based primarily on non-propagability of the 
l 
 listing for individually packaged dried cut 
 
on 
ot w
ornamental appeal. Flowers which dry well and have  attractive features make a listing different fro
those that are popular as fresh flowers, but there are some that are popular in both forms. Most fres
cut flowers harvested for their showy, colourful peta ls will not have mature seed at harvest. MAFB
egulations for the importation or
stems with inspection for freedom from insect pests.  
 
A list of examples of some of the popular dried flower s is provided in Appendix 2, to show the typica
range of such material. Environmentally undesira ble genera and those of high economic importance 
are well represented, showing the need for treatment  of viable material. The list has been compiled 
from web sites, Australian wild flower information and previous importations. 
 
Current Measures 
ost material is inspected on arrival. A small in ternal M
flowers has existed for more than 10 yrs, but h as never been updated. Since the introduction of the 
PBI, MAFBNZ inspectors have been referring to th is Index for determining any seed risk. Most pot 
pourri and other mixed products are heat treated on arrival. Only one permit to import has been issuedfor commercial consignments, which takes into account treatments carried out offshore and irradiati
n Australia. 
i
 
The naming of dried plant parts and pieces can traditionally be with a common name, a latin but n
scientific name or a generic or full scientific name. Different methods of drying and preserving are used from simple sun drying to freeze drying and soak ing in glycerine preparations. Dyeing is very 
common, usually done in very hot water to break dow n the wax surface of the cuticle which swells the 
plant fibres allowing for dye migration. 
http://www.dry-flowers.net/d yeing-dry-flowers.html . 
Bleaching is also used to contrast with dyed fo rms. Product fumigated with methyl bromide offshore 
ill generallyw  still require inspection on arrival fo r other contaminats, unless assessed material is 
n 
ertificates are provided. From other countries a treatment takes care of 
d 
 
by the 
rmit will allow for some flexibility.  imported with a permit. 
 
Material used in pot pourri includes flower petals, flower buds, mini pods, nuts, kernels, citrus peel, 
fruits, and hard woody fruiting bodies like small cones and capsules. Pot pourri statistics for the last 5 
years show 72 entries. The majority of consignm ents came from Australia. The actual ingredients are 
usually imported into Australia, many from India,  and repackaged for NZ as required. As these 
ingredients receive a treatment of either heating to  similar specifications as NZ or irradiation, it is 
reasonable to allow consignments into NZ without further treatment if a manufacturer’s declaratio
nd copies of treatment ca
unknown risks.  
Proposed measures 
A generic approach has been taken here to provide guidelines for importation. Confirmation of a non-
viable state can be more difficult with the wide range  of material involved, but can be either worke
through with available guidelines or a precautionary  treatment given. In some circumstances a 
treatment will not be required. In other instances for large commercial importations of single items, a
provision for the issue of a permit based on consider ation given to detailed information supplied 
mporter for a pe
i
 
It is not desirable to attempt to maintain a list of allowable dried flowers and plant parts because the 
list would require constant additi ons with considerable name duplication and synonymy. An example 
of a detailed exercise to evaluate risks of specifi ed species of dried cut flowers can be seen in the 
Biological Dossier on Dried Australian and Folia ge for Export (BA and AQIS 2003).  In this 
document such factors as seed maturity at the time of harvest, inherent dormancy, and specific 
requirements for germination and climatic differences between the supplying and importing countries 
re considered.  a
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Mixtures are much harder to inspect and label accurately with ingredients. The use of freeze 
drying involving a rapid freezing and subsequent drying  for bouquets is increasing and seen
MAFBNZBNZ as a valuable treatment for both bouquets or single flower types when carrie
out by commercial operators with appropriate doc umentation. With pot pourri also, considering 
the range of typ by 
d 
ical ingredients, products shoul d be treated to save resources involved with 
ttempting to work through possibl e requirements for each mix. 
ing 
f 
s 
l the 
o allowing for a permit to be used to 
elp piece together documentation when complex o ffshore treatment arrangements are accepted by 
iruses. In general these are not thought to not remain viable within dried non viable material. But 
 see 
ungi.  Viable material of a few fungal types may still be associated with dry plant material e.g. 
iable Fruits/mature seed heads/pods/capsules/seeds/fern spores.  Reference to the PBI can be made 
kely 
t 
n be 
mine if viable seeds are present e. g. sedges, rushes and gr asses. Within such types 
here there is also a strong weed record, a precautionary treatment removes the risk. Lagurus ovatus , a
 
Conversely, single items comprising homogenous indi vidually wrapped or packaged items, includ
bunches of dried stems/foliage/flowers/fruiting part s, may be imported in accordance with the list o
guidelines. For biosecurity purposes naming to speci es level is not necessarily important in all case
but a name to genus level should be required to help inspectors work through guidelines. In genera
same reasoning can be applied to pot pourri as other mixtures, als
h
MAFBNZ on a case by case basis. 
 
Arthropods . Dried material will be much less attractive to motile pests than fresh material. With this 
sort of material an inspection can be carried out  for motile pests. If a treatment has been applied 
offshore within a reasonable time span prior to importation, and acceptable documentation is provided, 
an inspection for arthropods alone is not justified. 
 
V
with material considered to be of a high value cr op or of high value for other reasons, e.g. grapevine 
(Vitis) or hop (Humulus) material, a treatment give n as a cautionary approach is considered wise,
also under seed paragraph. 
 
F
sporulating rusts, but the signs should be eviden t by inspection. As with the comment for viruses 
above, a precautionary treatment will be require d for some high value material, see under seed 
paragraph.  
V
to determine if a species is likely to be new to NZ, or if it has a prohibited status, or if there are lito be plant health issues associat ed with seed e.g. many important grass species. Within some plan
types that have quite insignificant small flowers, but attractive fruiting bodies or seed heads it cadifficult to deter
w
Briza , Miscanthus  and other grasses listed as basic for seed in the PBI 
http://www1.MAFBNZ.govt.nz/cgi-bin/bioindex/bioindex.pl  can be permitted with only inspection. 
Use of the PBI is also desirable to determine the genera which are regarded  as economically importa
and within these those which if imported as fresh (i.e . nursery stock) have more  stringent requirement
for plant diseases, denoted by a L3 nursery stock re quirement or option in the PBI (listed as L3 or 
L2,L3). While it is considered that virus diseases will not be an issue for dried material, and in general 
fungal diseases can be detected by inspection, it is co nsidered wise, in t
about dried forms, to stipulate a precautionary tr eatment in case of undetected fungal contamination 
for all these genera. For example, pine needles a nd cones, whether fresh or dried, have been 
historically regarded as risk material based on their economic importance.  
Viable material other than seeds . Any dried plant part material that  is found on inspection to be dried 
to only a questionable degree should be given a treatment. 
 
Dried fungi, mosses, lichens and seaweeds . As there is a high level of unknown risks a treatm
considered the best action. Viable material in such groups may be difficult nt 
s 
he absence of full information 
ent is 
to detect. 
bility within a short time in a dry 
tmosphere (Quintanilla et al 2002; Christina et al  2004). Assuming spores may be viable, a treatment  
Dried ferns . References to the viability of stored spores s how that some spores can remain viable for 
one or more years, although it is considered many  loose via
a
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
should be given where sporangia/spore presence is se en or suspected and the species would be new t
NZ. o 
Brushwood fencing, roof ing and screening products  
 treatment, 
gardless of progress towards inclusion in an impor t health standard. Prod ucts made from bamboo, 
y to be associated with 
restry and wood products. Depending on degrees of  similarity of product and risk, fencing and 
 
nt 
ther 
e been 
reviously requested. However, other similar produc ts made from dried stems of other plant types 
ard, 
ment sec tion of15 hours at a minimum continuous core 
mperature of 85ºC at a relative humidity of 40%,  as against the heat treatment option available for  
Dried palm material . Generally this comprises fronds/leaves with no fruits or seeds and is unlikely to 
have associated risks. Inspection should suffice as a suitable biosecurity measure. 
 
5.4 
 
Brushwood fencing, roofing and scr eening panels have been imported into New Zealand for many 
years as commercial consignments. MAFBNZ has always required a precautionary
re
willow and cane were included in the set of forestry  import health standards developed in 2003. The 
emphasis with these standards was the mitigation of an y pests considered likel
fo
roofing products made from other plant material coul d be placed either in this standard or in a wood
products standard. It has been decided to group them  together into a separate section in this pla
products standard to reduce any inconsistenc ies with the treatment of these products. 
 The biosecurity risks are seen as low, but treatments are desirable because of the difficulties of 
inspection inherent with all large consignments and products of plant material already bound toge
into a finished product of this nature.  The scope of the section is for products that ar e known to be currently imported or hav
p
intended for outdoor use as fencing, screening or roofing panels can be imported under the standprovided they are given the longer 15 hour heat treatment, unless further assessed. This is the heat 
treatment mentioned in the above treat
te
wood products: more than 4 hours at a minimum continuous core temperature of 70°C. 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz /regs/imports/plants/forest
This latter treatment is more specifically applied fo r killing arthropods and devitalising fungi. But it is
not considered sufficient for rendering all seeds non-viable, and has not been researched for the 
purpose of rendering stems unable to develop roots or  shoots. Heat treatment is the only effecti
treatment available in NZ to devitalise seeds in a large consignment. The ISPM15 treatment rate of 
56ºC for 30 minutes for wood packaging is considered not suitable for these products astreatment intended to cover invertebrates and fungi on  a p 
ve 
 a pre-export 
recautionary basis, some of which do have a 
 
 
ch may have been deposited after heat treatment. 
 
 
most records were entered only as “brush wood” rather than a particular type; 
nterceptions sent for identification, extracted from the Quancargo database 
ing 
 fly rough bark covering. 
 
As with other plant products, treatments applied o ffshore will require the appropriate entries on the
accompanying phytosanitary certificate. Inspection on  arrival could be required when treatment is 
carried out offshore, but a level of trust in the docum ents is desirable.This may be up to the discretion
of inspectors. Inspection may be carried out period ically to confirm the treatment was effective and 
check for feathers whi
 
Risks associated with arthropods and other mobile hitchhikers will vary a little between products andorigins but their presence is considered a likely risk. No pest list is available for any of the productsthough, partly because:  
- precautionary treatments have been applied rather than identification if any arthropods have been 
found;  
- 
- the general policy with low risk products, as mentioned previously.  
 Records of the very few i
between 2003 and 2008, show only the following 4 records, all from “brushwood” ex China, includpost border reports: 
- brushwood ex China, 1 adult Melang yna novaezelandiae, a NZ endemic hover
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
- brushwood ex China, 1 larva Coleopter a: Coccinellidae, not identifie d further 
brushwood ex China, 1 adult Ectops ocus vachoni, a new species of booklice 
dered a risk associated with any likelihood of stem pr opagability of the plant 
od of presence of 
nlikely, there is a 
te should methyl 
ted from Africa and made from the following dried stems (without 
aves or roots): Hyperthelia dissoluta (yellow thatching grass) family Poaceae, or reed stems of 
hamnochortus  insignis  product. The species would be new to 
Z. The families Poaceae and Restionaceae are likely to  have species of weed potential. Dried stems 
as 
t 
o years with no interceptions. 
routed and the species were to establish it would be new to NZ and 
any associated diseases could pose a ri sk to the endemic NZ Myrtaceae species. Continuation of the 
ushwood ex China have been imported in the last two years, from which spiders were 
tercepted from two or three and two have required treatment following the find of feathers. If the 
 bark 
y 
 
onifer related to Pinus . The bark exfoliates in strips and could be a sheltering place for seed 
recommended. The number of consignmen ts imported in last two years and interceptions 
 unknown exactly as these products have been included in Brushwood ex China generally. 
. 
ing. No 
onds are involved. Even assuming there could be new species involved, there is no likelihood of 
The 
r 
ethyl bromide at the rate suitable for arthropods  or heat treatment for more than 4 hours at a 
minimum continuous core temperature of 70°C. The number of consignments imported in last two - 
- brushwood ex China, 1 juvenile Steatoda gr ossa, comb footed house spider, non-regulated 
 
Where there is consi
products, the plant product rate of heat treatment will eliminate the risk. The likeliho
seeds is discussed within each type. Where these two ri sks are considered to be u
treatment option given of fumigation or heat treat ment at the forest products ra
bromide no longer be available. 
 
There has been one report in an AQIS bulletin (M arch/April 2008) of brushwood stems sprouting 
shoots, but it is unknown what type of product was involved. The following is a discussion of 
brushwood products currently imported.  Thatch roofing panels/tiles impor
le
Thamnochortus insignis (Dekriet, thatching reed, Albertina thatching reed), family Restionaceae. 
 
Seed heads and seed have been seen on T
N
of these plants are not propagable. These products have been importer into NZ for over 12 years. Continuation of the current requirement of the 15 hour heat treatment is recommended. A permit h
been issued in the past, but will no longer be required. Six consignments have been imported in las
tw
 
Brushwood fencing imported from China, made from dried stem s of Baeckea frutescens (family 
Myrtaceae).  
 
No seeds have been detected on this product. The species can be propagated by cuttings so if seeds were ever present or the stems sp
current requirement of the 15 hour heat treatment  is recommended. A total of 119 consignments 
recorded as Br
in
feathers were present before heat treatment any risks would have been mitigated, but there is also a possibility the contamination was later. There was a post clearance anecdotal report of a spider. 
 
Product from China made fr om Cunninghamia lanceolata family Taxodiaceae (also known as fir
screening). 
 
This product is thicker than fern or bamboo screen ing and has bark. The species can be propagated b
cuttings and while not a new species to NZ, there would be risks with nursery stock, especially a
c
contamination or bark beetle infestations. Continuation of the current requirement of the 15 hour heat treatment is 
is
 Fern screening panels imported from China. These screening panels are made from the wire-like dried stems of genera such as Coniogramme , Dicranopteris, Gleichenia, Pteris and Pteridium
  It is not possible or necessary to be certain of the exact fern species involved, especially considering taxonomic variations. The product is one layer of dr ied stems wired, similar to bamboo screen
fr
stem propagability as propagation of these fern types is from division of rhizomes or from spores. 
current requirements have been for the longer heat  treatment. The proposed requirement is eithe
m
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
years and interceptions is unknown exactly as these products have been included in Brushwood ex 
China generally. 
 
Australian brushwood fencing made from plant stems (without leaves or roots) of Melaleuca uncinata 
(family Myrtaceae). Also known as broombrush.  
 
The thickness of this product is usually about 12m m, sometimes 25mm but one different style produ
has been imported with stems of about 48mm. No seed heads or seeds have been detected, but the 
species would notct 
 be new to NZ. The risk of wind- blown contaminant seeds is considered no more 
kely than with many other plant products not treated for this possibility. Melaleuca  can be 
, see:  
http://www.avongro.com.au/Webpages/documents/GrowingBroombush.pdfli
propagated by half-ripe lateral shoots with a heel (RHS Dictionary), but the more usual method is 
from seed. For other information about Melaleuca
Stem propagability is not considered very likely because the stems will almo st always be mounted 
within a timber frame, usually 150mm x 50mm, after importation and therefore will not be in conta
with the soil. The risks should any stem sprout growth, would be similar to those of nursery stock ofMelaleuca  uncinata . However there is a possibility of a new sp ecies being introduced if the s
not M. unicinata.  
 ct 
 
pecies is 
umigation will mitigate 
 
ons of bark beetles to be present. The current requirement is 
eatment with methyl bromide at 240g for 24 hours, to mitigate arthropods  and in the hope that this 
ore 
een 
ied as Trichoderma  viride , a non-regulated fungus that assists in the decay of 
ellulose, known to commonly occur on wood. It was attributed to condensation forming at on the 
ried leaves of Alang-alang or Bali grass (Impera ta cylindrica) as gazebo roof thatching from 
 
 risks are other seed cont amination and arthropods. Dried leaves that are 
unched together are more of a risk and harder to  inspect than a woven item of only one layer. The 
ds is 
ended. Only two consignments have been  recorded in the last 2 years but others may 
ave been recorded under another heading. On e consignment was contaminated with seeds of Cyprus  
ing The thick version of this product (around 48mm) will have associated bark. F
risks of arthropods, but not fungi. The thicker the stems, it could be argued that the closer the commodity comes to being regarded as a wood produc t that is not bark-free and should not enter NZ 
under the same requirements as most other bark-free w ood products, but the bark  of this product is 
reasonably smooth. Wood or stems greater than 30 mm in width may harbour wood boring insects andbark on wood may allow infestati
tr
would render any stems unable to sprout. The proposed  requirement is either methyl bromide at the 
rate suitable for arthropods or heat treatment fo r more than 4 hours at a minimum continuous c
temperature of 70°C.   
Between July 2006 and July 2008, 28 consignments  (average consignment size is 28 pallets) have 
been imported. Over 600 tonnes of this fencing is imported annually. 
 
No interceptions of arthropods have been made as all were fumigated with methyl bromide either offshore or on arrival. One interception of a mould was made in 1995, and anecdotally there have b
others. This was identif
c
ceiling of the container.  
D
Indonesia.  
 
There is no issue with propagability of dried grass leaves. Seed of Imperata  cylindrica  currently has a
status of basic in the PBI, because regardless of being a known weed of concern, the species is not 
under control in NZ. The
b
current requirement is inspection on arrival. Heat treatment for arthropods and inspection for see
now recomm
h
sp. and dead ants, the other had a fungal disease recorded. This product also has timber frame 
components packed separately which are im ported under the wood standard products. 
 Other Brushwood/Screening Products 
 
There are other products that may possibly be importe d as fencing, panels, roof thatching or screen
rolls e.g Phragmites  australis , Calluna  vulgaris  and other reeds and grasses. These will be rendered 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
safe from the risks of propagability of new, regul ated or prohibited species, or associated live 
organisms, if the 15 hour heat treatment is given. 
For sample product illustrations see Appendix 5. 
d as possible to avoid many minor amendments. 
e of the items listed in this section are not likely to 
e altered and need to be liste d this way, under the existing standards framework. Where possible 
o s 
d 
urpose 
ut leaves are likely to be 
ported and the preferred precautionary approach is to heat treat. 
 interception records for tobacco/c igarettes/cigars the following insects are listed: 
asioderma  serricorne  (Cigarette beetle) and Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth). 
nprocessed vegetable fibres are not commonly imported commercially for direct use. If imported for 
d 
artially 
rocessed form ready for general uses e.g. balls or tw ine or fibre. Inspection is considered appropriate 
anufactured items woven including straw. (e.g. hats, and bags, furniture 
us 
x mats from the Islands are 
 
 leaf 
ect holes in the leaf material and are treated as a 
recaution. For these reasons inspection of private co nsignments (mostly personal effects) of plant  
5.5 Miscellaneous dried or processed items for various other uses made 
from or including dried plant material  
 
It is intended that the standard be as outcome base
owever, the prescriptive treatments listed for somH
b
comm dities that are assessed to be of such low ri sk that no specific documentation or inspection i
required, they will be added to the list “Approved processed plant product commodities” (see also under Certification on p. 4 above). 
 
Dried Hops. The risks are not known for dry material, but hops are an economic crop. The preferreprecautionary approach is to require heat tr eatment. If commercially packaged, pelletised, and 
compressed it is known that sufficient heat and pressure have been involved. 
 
Only one historic interception record has been located for hops. The insect belonged to the genus 
Macrosiphini  sp. 
 
Dried Tobacco.  Shredded, cut leaves, commercially packed for retail use are thought to be of very 
low risk. It is considered highly unlikely that this form of tobacco would be used for any other por be exposed in any substantial way to the environm ent. Other forms e.g. unc
im
 From the very few
L
 Processed vegetable fibres (e.g. Palm fibres, Cotton ( Gossypium  hirsutum ), Flax ( Linum  
usitatissimum ), Hemp ( Cannabis  sativa ), Jute ( Corchorus  spp.),  Ramie ( Boehmeria  nive a), 
Sisal (Agave  sisalana )) 
U
further processing this is best handled in a TF under a permit. Most fibres have already been processe
into mats, baskets, bags, hats a nd furniture woven parts, but some  may be imported in a p
p
for risks associated with storage and transport.   Basket ware, Matting, M
parts, frames made from Flax ( Linum  usitatissumum  or Phormium  tenax ) 
(Cannabis  sativa ), Jute ( Corchorus  spp.),  Ramie ( Boehmeria  nivea), Sisal (Agave sisalana), Palm 
leaves e.g. Arenga spp, Coconut ( Cocos  nucifera ), Raffia ( Raphia  spp), Bassine ( Palmyra , Borass
spp), Pandanus ( Pandanus  spp), Corypha , Water Hyacinth ( Eichhornia  crassipes ), Abaca  
(Undersheath of Musa  textilis  ), Seagrass.) 
 
MAFBNZ Inspectors have reported that passenger carried flax hats, frequently imported as personal 
effects from the Pacific Islands, are seldom properly dried. Ceremonial fla
usually imported privately as unaccompanied or accompanied baggage, rather than commercially. 
These mats can have ants and other live insect pests present and often need fumigation. They may also
have undyed chicken feathers. Some handicrafts in baggage from the Islands (usually dried
picture frames) have been found to have ins
p
fibres and manufactured items derived from plant fibres is necessary.  
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Seagrass is a term that refers to flowering plants  belonging to the following plant families and genera 
within these families (ICON): 
 
amilies and genera F
Zosteracea Cymodoceacea Hydrocha ritaceae Ruppiaceae Zannichelliaceae 
Alga Amphibolus Anacharis Udora  Althenia 
Heterozost era Cymodocea Blyxa Lepilaena 
Nanozostera Diplanthera Dominia Zannichellia 
Phyllospadix H alodule Egeria  
Zostera Pectinella Elodea  
 Syringodium  Enhalus  
 Thalassoderd ron ila Haloph 
  Hydrilla  
  Hydroch aris  
  Lagaros iphon  
  Maidenia   
  Najas  
  Ottelia  
  Schizotheca  
  Thalassia  
  Udora  
  Vallisn eria  
 
S
otraw is a term used for a variety of dried grasses/cereals. As such there is a greater risk 
f associated fungal diseases than with the above fibr es. However, over the last 20 y rs the visual 
leanliness of the finished products gener led to  the decision that the fibres involved with these 
roducts are thought  be of very low bio .  Inspection is considered appropriate for these 
s for risks associ e products like many hats have also been 
rough a heat moulding process in manufacture.  Inspection is not required for these items in 
rded 
mostly to commercial consignments. 
 
ch also includes Pandanus  mats. Entries from 
 
e  cut stalks  of 
ea
c ally has 
p
item to
ated with storage and transporsecurity risk
t. Som
th
commercial consignments when the process is known. 
 Items made from maize and straw leaves are best heat treated if the fibres have not been bleached, 
dyed, heated or otherwise processed. In some inst ances e.g. single items through the mail, a 100% 
inspection could be carried out in lieu of a treatment.  Notably, a large number of items are dealt with as personal effects and were not formally reco
ver the years. The following notes about data entries refer 
o
 
Data entries for “Mats” over the last 5 years show that of 458 listings specifically mentioning mats,
381 were from Tonga, many being Tapa mats.  Others  recorded as straw, flax or raffia comprise 20 
rom China, 19 from Vietnam and 23 from Samoa whif
other countries are all less than 5. These entries exclude specifically erosion mats or table mats.  
Erosion matting can be of coir or straw products. Th e latter have always been heat treated in case of
ereal diseases, regardless of the dry nature of the products. c
 Data entries for baskets or basket  ware over the last 5 years show about 70% have originated from 
China, made from flax, straw or seagrass and about  28% from Australia, most entered as seagrass. Th
majority of fibre hats imported have been form ed into shape under heat and are not inspected. 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
 
Many fibre based items are entered as handicrafts. 
 
Broom millet  
This category includes brooms and brush material  ready for processing into brooms made from dried 
stems of Sorghum  and other related grasses. Sorghum st ems may occasionally have flower head s 
ssociated. As Sorghum grain has many associated plant diseases, it is considered appropriate to 
hat no seed heads are present, an 8 
our heat treatment combined with an inspection for seeds is an option. 
g 
tors.  
 
regardless of the risk of viable 
eed reducing over time. One exception that has been pe rmitted is that of Lavender sprigs in closed 
ose (unc ontained) Lavender seed or sprigs inspected and 
eiling or wall building panels containing straw or  other plant fibres present little risk, especially if 
 
b pieces (not fine 
rits) for coarse machine polishing material should be  treated in case of any residual fungal agents. 
 present 
ported under this standard if the risks are first assessed e.g. Lycopodium  spores as pollen diluents. 
 food will specifically 
ention that it does not cover algae.  
l 
Pet litter and bedding a
require a heat treatment for products not bleached. If it is known t
h
 
Items filled with plant material or seeds The risks are very minimal, depending to some extent on the likelihood of the item tearing or bein
opened soon after importation. 
There is a risk of live insect infe station, reported from inspec
If the list of ingredients shows a possibility of prohi bited seeds being present or a high percentage of a
regulated crop seed, a treatment to render non-viable is considered best, 
s
pouches. A treatment will be required for lo
found to contain seeds, but in pouches/pillows th e presence of seeds and the chances of seeds being 
infected with Coniothyrium  lavandulae  or Phoma  lavandulae is considered a risk too low for concern. 
 
Another area of exception is wheat packs manufactur ed in New Zealand or Australia, imported by 
passengers. Where it is accepted, based on verbal declaration from the importer, that  the items have 
been used previously it is cons idered that the repeated microwav ing will have devitalized the seeds . 
 Building panels 
C
the straw is steamed first. Manufacturer’s information about the processing with each consignment should be accepted. Specific brande d products could be first impor ted under a permit with inspection 
and then later added to the a pproved processed products list. 
 
Smudge sticks 
Bundled vegetation (inc. grasses, conifers etc) bound with string for spiritual smoking use. These are
ignited and allowed to smoulder. Smoke is claimed to have a beneficial effect. A treatment may be 
required if insects or insect damage is seen. Where there is a possibility of pathogens associated with 
grasses, coniferous material or unknown plant species a treatment will be required.  
 
Corn Products 
Products specifically made from Zea mays cobs require specific mention, because of the high 
economic value of the plant in NZ and high number  of associated pests with the fresh material.  
 Corn dollies,  dried corn husk items imported for ornamental use and unprocessed co
g
 
Corn cobs with kernels, lacquered, for genetic teaching laboratories in universities and schoolsno risk provided manufacturer’s documentation declares the lacquering. 
 
Other miscellaneous dried /processed products 
Other items comprising non-viable plant material or  derived from plants or plant material can be 
im
Non-viable algae for processing or aquaculture feeding can also be included here, rather than under the 
animal feeds of plant origin standard. The animal  related standard for fish
m
 
A few regularly imported products have been considered  to be of no risk and are gathered in a fina
entry in the tabulation. 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
The few products historically imported for this purpose have been assessed by manufacturer’s 
processing details and approved by M AFBNZ.  These ha ve generally been highly products derived 
om wood or clay. Name branded products can be  included in the standard, as they are easily 
y 
prior to approval. Furthe r inspection is considered unnecessary. New pet litter 
nd bedding products assessed and initially imported under a permit with inspection may be added to 
med as satisfactory. 
 
y the containment facilities.  
p f the required containment facility and to 
rovide a document to accompany consignments that  will reduce any possible delays on arrival. If the 
nce with the perm it and ERMA approval, an inspection can be 
 and research, including 
NA analysis.   
s, 
t have a 100% inspection by an insp ector of MAFBNZ on arrival in New Zealand unless 
tated otherwise on a permit for a particular purpose. In  some cases it is not possible to be exactly sure 
chniques could be employed. Having experimental material held in post entry control 
ion 
.7 Plant material preserved in  alcohol and other preservatives 
 
ination before finally 
ducing it to zero. This may be due to faster soft ening or breakdown of some seed coats with alcohol. 
n of content(s) 
d fr
identified on document, commercially prepared, packag ed ready for retail sale and have been initiall
inspected by MAFBNZ 
a
the standard when confir
5.6 Dried foliage for research purposes 
 
Dried Herbarium Specimens 
The risks associated with viability of material have been addressed in the Environmental Risk 
Management Authority (ERMA) approval NOC002466. The risk of associated hitchhikers like storage
pests is handled by the procedures fo llowed b
 An im ort permit is used for confirmation and iden tity o
p
documentation is not in accorda
undertaken.  
Dried plant material imported for all other laboratory testing, analysis
D
This includes clean dried non-viable material for DNA analysis imported for identification purpose
which requires only a low level of post entry contro l through to diseased material where the intention 
is to study, propagate or carry out analyses on the disease, requiring a containment facility. All 
material mus
s
of the risks associated with dried material, includi ng when used in experimental environments where 
new molecular te
with required destruction at the finish of the project  or testing and other appropriate controls removes 
the need to investigate risks in de tail. It can also be desirable to allow for samples to be imported 
without official documentation that might otherw ise be required and difficult to obtain in some 
circumstances. Having material directed to a cont ainment or transitional facility is best accomplished 
by a permit.  
 
Plant nucleic acids and Plant micro-organisms 
These items should be imported under the MAFBNZ standards: Import Health Standard for the 
Importation of Biological Products into New Zeala nd and Import Health Standard for the Importat
of Micro-organisms into New Zealand  (just issued or under preparation).  
 
5
Plant material preserved in alcohol or other recognised preservatives. Plant material immersed in
alcohol will generally render living organisms non-viable if not instantly, over a short period of time. 
No minimum strength is stipulated, but 70% is commonly used, and a recommended range is within 
50 to 75%. With some seeds, however, a short i mmersion can increase germ
re
To allow safely for such a possibility, any seeds or fruits containing seeds should be immersed for at 
least 48 hours before clearance is given to be sure of complete inhibition.  A declaratio
issued by a recognised institution or government department stating the date of immersion in the alcohol should accompany the material to verify the period of immersion.  
Microscope slides of plant tissue (including micro-organisms fixed onto glass microscope slides an
sealed under glass cover slips) are considered to present no risk.  
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
6. SUMMARY 
AFBNZ encourages an outcome of imported clean products that are entirM ely free of pests and 
t 
n, permits and post entry control in 
ansitional facilities. Distinction between accompan ied goods and unaccompanied will be made where 
ed 
ucts 
tine and Inspection Service import conditions database (ICON database):  
Biosecurity Australia (2002) Import Risk Analysis for the Importation of bulk maize ( Zea mays  L.) 
es of America. Biosecurity Australia, Canberra. 
 Biological 
tralian Flowers and Folia ge for Export, Lim K. & Saverimuttu N. 
e 
lication). 
 Conditions in Four 
MAFBNZBNZ Risk Analysis notes for dyeing, bl eaching and freeze drying (2009), discussion of 
Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington. 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/stds/bnz-std-abtrt.pdfcontaminants. The draft import health standard ou tlines the requirements for dried and preserved plan
products that are not listed in other import health  standards. Suitable biosecurity measures are an 
ppropriate combination of inspections, treatments,  documentatio a
tr
considered necessary.  
Import requirements have been separated into 7 major product/use groupings, and further separat
into groupings depending on their perceived biosecurity risk. A permit to import will be required for specific products which MAFBNZ must assess on a case-by-case basis. Approved processed prodwill be added to the IHS to allow for importation of products approved by MAFBNZ to be of minimal biosecurity risk.   
REFERENCES: 
AsureQuality New Zealand (2002) Devitalising seed contaminants using methyl bromide. 
Unpublished report. 
ustralian QuaranA
from the United Stat
Biosecurity Australia (BA) & Australian Quarantin e and Inspection Service (AQIS) (2003)
Dossier on Dried Aus
Bromide Compounds Ltd. Methyl bromide soil fumigation: Use and application.  
Bullians, M. S., Alison V., and Sarty M. (2009) NZ Plant Protection Society Journal . Methyl Bromid
Funigation of weed seeds in compressed  coco peat (submitted for pub
Cassells, J., Collins, P.J. & Banks, H.J. (1995). Devitalisation of maize and sorghum by methyl 
bromide and chloropicrin. CSIRO Division of Entomology Technical Report No. 61. 
Christina F., Pangua A, Pangua E (2004). Spore Viab ility Under Different Storage
Rupicolous Asplenium L. Taxa. American Fern Journal 94(1): 28-38  
Fields, P.G. (1992) The control of stored product insects and mites with extreme temperatures. Journal 
of Stored Products Research 28(2): 89-118.  
literature and references (the conc lusions from this work are incorporated into these discussion notes 
for the standard) – available on request. 
MAFBNZBNZ Treatment Standard (2008) Approved Biosecurity treatments for risk goods directed 
for treatment BNZ-STD-ABTRT. MAFBNZ 
  
Quintanilla L. G., Amigo J., Pangua  E., Pajaron S. (2002) Effect of Storage Method on Spore Viability 
RHS Dictionary) (1992). Marsh, Wilkins, Wynn-Williams/Canensis (2005) Evaluation of Irradiation as a Phytosanitary Treatment (held on MAFBNZ files).  
in Five  Globally Threatened Fern Species. Annals of Botany  90(4): 461-467. 
Royal Horticultura Society Dictionary Dictionary of Gardening (
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
APPENDIX 1:  
Commonly used plant pieces (cut herbs) import ed for Further Processing b y name, scientific 
chillea millefolium  (Yarrow); Whole plant  
dhatoda) See Justicia adhatoda  
lant  
); Whole plant  
d 
s 
nt  
ant  
ots 
Roots 
nt  
 root); Roots 
 Whole plant  
s) (Cayenne) ; Fruit 
oots 
ole plant  name (common name) and dried part of pl ant used (usually fine cut or powdered)  
 
A
Achyranthes  spp (Chaff-flower); Roots 
Adhatoda vasica  (A
Aesculus hippocastanum  (Horse chestnut); Seed 
Agrimonia eupatoria  (Agrimony); Leaves 
gropyron repens  (Couch); Roots A
Albizzia lebbeck  (Albizzia); Bark, Seed 
hole p Alchemilla vulgaris  (Lady's mantle); W
Aletris farinosa  (Unicorn); Roots 
Alisma  spp (Water Plantain); Roots 
Allium sativa  (Garlic); Roots 
; Roots Althaea officinalis  (Marshmallow)
Andrographis paniculata  (Andrographis
Angelica gigas  or archangelica (Angelica); Roots 
ots Angelica sinensis  (Dong quai); Ro
Apium graveolens  (Celery seed); See
ots Arctium lappa  (Burdock); Ro
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi  (Bearberry); Leave
Armoracia rusticana  (Horse radish); Roots 
Arnica montana  (Arnica); Flowers 
hole plant  Artemisia absinthium  (Wormwood); W
Artemisia annua  (Qing Hao); Whole pla
hole pl Artemisa vulgaris  (Mugwort); W
Asclepias tuberosa  (Pleurisy Root); Roots 
Asparagus racemosa  (Shatavari); Roots 
alus); Ro Astragalus membranaceous  (Astrag
Atractylodes macrocephalae  (Atractylodes or oat); 
Avena sativa  (oat); Whole plant  
Bacopa monniera  (Bacopa); Whole plant  
la Ballota nigra  (Black Horehound); Whole p
Baptisia tinctora  (Baptisia); Roots 
Barosma betulina (Buchu); Leaves 
Berberis aristata  (Indian Barberry); Bark  
k  Berberis vulgaris  (Barberry); Bar
Biota orientalis  See Platycladus orientalis   
Bupleurum falcatum  (Bupleurum); Roots 
lowers  Calendula officinalis  (Calendula); F
Chamaelirum luteum  (False unicorn
Capsella bursa-pastoris  (Shepherds purse);
itescen Capsicum minimum  (=Capsicum fru
Caulophyllum thalictroides  (Blue Cohosh); R
t  Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola); Whole plan
Chelidonium majus  (Greater Celandine); Wh
Cimifuga racemosa  (Black Cohosh); Roots 
Cinnamomum zeylanicum  (Cinnamon); Bark  
Cnicus benedictus  (Holy thistle); Whole plant  
Cocos nucifera  (Coconut); Ground coconut shell 
Codonopsis pilosula  (Codonopsis); Roots 
Cola nitida (Kola nut); Nuts 
Coleus forskohlii  (Coleus); Roots 
Collinsonia canadensis  (Stoneroot); Roots 
Commiphora molmol  (Myrrh) ; Resin 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Corydalis ambigua  (Corydalis); Roots 
Crataegus monogyna  (Hawthorn); Fruit 
Crataeva nurvala (Crataeva);  Roots, bark 
le plant  
ts 
n ginseng); Roots 
ant  
Poppy); Whole plant  
e plant  
t  
e plant 
t  
lant  
); Leaves 
); Roots 
ots 
nt  
); Whole plant  
 hulls (fruit rind) 
hole plant  
Flowers 
e plant  
hole plant  
 plant  
le plant  
t  Curcuma longa  (Turmeric); Roots 
Cyanara scolymus  (Globe Artichoke); Who
Cynodon dactylon (Couch grass); Roots 
Dioscorea villosa  (Wild Yam); Roots 
Echinacea angustifolia  (Echinacea); Roo
Echinacea purpurea  (Echinacea); Roots 
Eleutherococcus senticosus  (Siberia
Epilobium parviflorum  (Willow herb); Whole plant  
Equisetum arvense  (Horsetail); Whole pl
Eschscholtzia californica  (Californian 
Eugenia caryophyllus  (Clove); Flowers 
Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset); Whol
Eupatorium purpureum (Gravelroot); Roots 
Euphorbia hirta  (Euphorbia); Whole plant  
Euphrasia officinalis  (Eyebright); Whole plan
Filipendula ulmaria  (Meadowsweet); Whole plant  
Foeniculum vulgare  (Fennel); Seeds 
Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack seaweed); Whol
Galega officinale  (Goats Rue);  Aerial parts 
Galium aparine (Cleavers); Whole plant  
Gentiana lutea (Gentian); Roots 
Geranium maculatum  (Cranesbill); Roots 
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo); Leaves 
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice); Roots 
Grindelia camporum  (Grindelia); Whole plan
Gymnema sylvestre  (Gymnema); Whole p
Hamamelis virginica  (Witchhazel
Harpagophytum procumbens  (Devils Claw
Hedera helix  (Ivy); Leaves 
Hemidesmus indicus  (Hemidesmus); Ro
Hibiscus sabdariffa  (Roselle); Flowers 
Humulus lupulus (Hops); Catkins (strobiles) 
Hydrastis canadensis  (Golden seal); Roots 
Hypericum perforatum  (St. John’s Wort); Whole pla
Hyssopus officinalis  (Hyssop
Inula helenium  (Elecampane); Roots 
Iris versicolor  (Blue flag); Roots 
Juglans  nigra  (Black Walnut); Leaves, Green
Juniperus communis (Juniper); Berries 
Justicia adhatoda  (Adhatoda); Leaves 
Lactuca virosa  (wild lettuce); Whole plant  
Lamium album  (White deadnettle); W
Lavandula officinalis  (Lavender); 
Leonurus cardiaca  (Motherwort); Whole plant  
Lindera  spp (Spice bush); Roots 
Lycopus virginicus  (Bugleweed); Whol
Lycium barbarum  (Lycium); Fruit 
Mahonia aquifolium  (Oregon Grape); Roots 
Marrubium vulgare  (White Horehound); W
Matricaria recutita  (Chamomile); Flowers 
Medicago sativa  (Alfalfa); Whole
Melissa officinalis  (Lemon balm); Whole plant  
Mentha piperita (Peppermint); Who
Menyanthes trifoliata  (Bogbean); Whole plan
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Mitchella repens  (Squaw Vine); Whole plant  
Myrica cerifera  (Bayberry); Bark  
Nepeta cataria (Catnip); Whole plant  
Olea europea  (Olive); Leaves 
Origanum dictamnus  (Dittany of Crete); Leav es 
ots 
g); Roots 
eaves 
 
 
wood); Stem, bark  
arts 
 or Chinese arborvitae);  Foliage 
es 
m); Roots 
ts 
ots 
ves 
s 
le plant  
t  
s 
t  
Roots 
it 
e plant  
llcap); Whole plant, roots 
almetto); Fruit 
 
lant  
t  
) (Pau D’Arco); Bark  
); Leaves 
ves 
ts 
t  Paeonia lactiflora (Peony);  Roots 
Panax ginseng or quinquifolium  (Ginseng); Ro
Panax notoginseng (Tienchi ginsen
Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower); L
Peumus boldo  (Boldo); Leaves
Phyllanthus amarus  (Phyllanthus); Whole plant  
Phytolacca decandra  (Poke); Roots
Picrorrhiza kurroa  (Katuka); Roots 
Pimpinella anisum  (Aniseed);  Fruit or seed 
Piper methysticum  (Kava); Roots 
Pistacia erythrina  Jamaican Dog
Plantago lanceolata  (Ribwort, Plantain); Aerial p
Platycladus orientalis  (Oriental thuja
Pogostemon patchouli  (Dilem); Leav
Polygala tenuifolia  (Polygala); Roots 
Polygonum multiflorum  (Polygonu
Poria cocos  (Poria); Mycelium 
Prunus serotina  (White Cherry); Bark 
Pueraria  spp (Kudzu); Roots 
Quercus robur  (Oak); Bark  
Rehmania glutinosa  (Rehmania);  Roo
Rhamnus purshiana  (Cascara); Bark  
Rheum officinale  (Rhubarb); Ro
Rhodiola rosea  (Rhodiola); Roots 
Rosa  x damascene  (Rose); Lea
Rosa  (Rose hip); Fruits, seed
Rosmarinus officinalis  (Rosemary); Who
Rubus idaeas  (Raspberry); Whole plan
Rumex crispus  (Yellow Dock); Root
Ruta graveolens  (Rue); Whole plan
Salix alba (Willow); Bark  
Salvia miltorrhiza  (Dan shen); 
Salvia officinalis  (Sage); Whole plant  
Sambucus nigra  (Elderberry); Roots 
Schizandra chinensis  (Schisandra); Fru
Scrophularia nodosa  (Figwort); Whol
Scutellaria baicalensis  (Scu
Serenoa repens  (= S. serrulata ) (Saw P
Silybum marianum  (Milk thistle); Seeds
Smilax  spp (Sarsaparilla); Roots 
Solidago virgaurea  (Golden rod); Whole p
Stachys officinalis  (Wood Betony); Whole plan
Stellaria media  (Chickweed); Whole plant  
Symphytum officinale  (Comfrey); Leaves and root 
Tabebuia impetiginosa  (syn. T. avellanedae
Tanacetum parthenium  (Feverfew
Tanacetum vulgare  (Tansy); Aerial parts 
Taraxacum offinicalis (Dandelion); Roots and Lea
Thuja occidentalis  (White cedar); Aerial par
Thymus vulgaris  or serpyllum (Thyme); Whole plan
Tilia  spp (Lime); Flowers 
Tribulus terrestris  (Puncturevine); Seed 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Trifolium pratense  (Red clover); Flowers 
Trigonella foenum  –graecum  (Fenugreek); Seeds 
Trillium erectum  (Bethroot); Roots 
Tropaeolum majus  (Nasturtium); Whole plant  
Turnera diffusa  var.aphrod isiaca  (Damiana); Whole plant  
eaves 
ole plant or leaves  
es/flowers 
 plant 
t 
 
ickly Ash); Bark 
hole plant 
 Seed 
 Tussilago farfara  (Coltsfoot);  Flowers, l
Ulmus fulva  (Slippery elm); Bark  
Uncaria tomentosa  (Cats Claw); Bark, roots  
Urtica dioica  (Perennial nettle); Wh
Vaccinium myrtillus  (Bilberry); Berries 
Valeriana officinalis  (Valerian); Roots 
Vanilla planifolia  (Vanilla); Seed 
Verbascum thapsus  (Mullein); Leav
Verbena officinalis  (Vervain); Whole plant  
Viburnum opulus  (Cramp bark); Bark  
Viburnum prunifolium  (Black Haw); Bark  
Vinca minor  (Lesser periwinkle); Whole
Viola odorata  (Violet); Whole plan
Viola tricolor  (Heartsease); Whole plant 
Vitex agnus -castus  (Chaste berry); Fruit 
Viscum album  (Mistletoe); Whole plant
Withania somnifera  (Ashwagandha); Roots 
Zanthoxylum americanum  or clava -herculis  (Pr
Zea mays  (Cornsilk, corn); Stigmas, W
Zingiber officinale  (Ginger); Roots 
Ziziyphus jujuba  var. spinosa  (Zizyphus);
Ziziphus spinosus ; Seed 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
APPENDIX 2:  
Examples of genera and species commonly used as flowers and plant parts for ornamental 
purposes.  
 
Abelmoschus esculentus  (Okra) 
Acacia  spp 
Acer spp (Maple) 
Achillea  spp (Yarrow) 
Aconitum napellus  (Monkshood) 
Actinotus helianthi  (Flannel flower) 
Adenthos  (Jugflower) 
Agonis  spp (Myrtle) 
Agrostemma githago  (Corn-Cockle) 
Aira spp (Silver hairgrass) 
Alcea  rosea  (Althaea, Hollyhock) 
Alchemilla mollis  (Lady’s Mantle) 
Allium  spp (Onion) 
Alyssum  spp 
Amaranthus  (Cat tail) 
Ammobium alatum  (Winged everlasting) 
Ammophila arenaria  (Marram grass) 
Anaphalis  spp (Pearly everlasting) 
Andersonia caerulea 
Anemone  spp 
Anethum graveolens  (Dill) 
Anigozanthos  spp (Kangaroo paw) 
Anthemis  spp (Chamomile) 
Aphyllanthes  spp 
Arctotis  spp 
Armeria  spp 
Artemisia  (Wormwood) 
Arundinaria gigantean  (Giant reed) 
Astilbe  spp 
Avena sativa  (Oat) 
Banksia  spp 
Bariza  spp 
Beaufortia  spp 
Bellis perennis  (Lawn daisy) 
Betula pendula  (Birch) 
Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) 
Boronia heterophylla 
Briza maxima  (Quaking grass) 
Bromus  spp (Brome grasses) 
Buxus sempervirans  (Boxwood) 
Calamus rotang  (Rattan palm) 
Calendula  spp (Pot marigold) 
Callistemon  spp (Bottlebrush) 
Capsicum  spp (Peppers) 
Carex spp (Sedges) 
Carlina  spp (Carline thistle) 
Carthamus tinctorius  (Safflower) 
Caustis dioica  (Chinese puzzle sedge) 
Caustis recurvata 
Celastrus  spp 
Celosia  spp (Cockscomb) 
Chammaemelum nobile  Chamomile) Chasmanthium latifolium  (Sea oats) 
Choisya ternate  (Mexican orange blossom) 
Chrysanthemum parthenium (Feverfew) 
Chrysocephalum apiculatum  (Everlasting) 
Clematis tangutica 
Cladium angustifolium 
Cocos nucifera  (Coconut) 
Conospermum  spp  
Consolida  spp  
Corymbia calophylla  (Port Gregory Gum) 
Cotinus coggyria  (Smoketree) 
Craspedia  spp (Woollyheads) 
Cymbidium  spp 
Cynara cardunculus  (Cardoon) 
Cyperus papyrus  (Paper sedge) 
Cytisus scoparius  (Common broom) 
Dahlia  spp 
Daviesia cordata (Bookleaf) 
Delphinium  spp (Larkspur) 
Dendranthema  spp (Chrysanthemum) 
Dianthus caryophyllus  (Carnation) 
Dipsacus  spp (Teasels) 
Dryandra  spp 
Dryopteris filix-mas  (Male fern) 
Echinops ritro  (Blue Globe Thistle) 
Elephantopus mollis  (Tobacco weed) 
Erica cinerea  (Bell heather) 
Eryngium planum  (Sea holly) 
Eucalyptus  spp (Gum) 
Fagus  spp (Beech) 
Fern fronds 
Festuca  spp (Fescue grasses) 
Galeopsis angustifolium  (Hemp-nettle) 
Gaultheria shallon  (Salal) 
Gomphrena globosa (Globe Amaranth) 
Goniolimon tataricum  (German statice) 
Grevillea  spp  
Gypsophila  spp (Baby’s breath) 
Hakea  spp 
Hedera helix  (Ivy) 
Helianthus annuus  (Sun flower) 
Helichrysum bracteum  (Strawflower) 
Helipterum  spp (Everlasting daisy) 
Hordeum vulgare (Barley) 
Hydrangea macrophylla 
Hibiscus sabdariffa  (Roselle) 
Humulus lupulus (Hops) 
Iberis umbellate  (Globe candytuft) 
Iris spp 
Ixodia achilleoides 
Juncus  spp (Rushes) 
Lachnostachys eriobotrya 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Protea  spp  Pink Ice Lachnostachys verbascifolia 
Ptilotus  spp  Lagenaria siceraria  (Calabash, African bottle 
gourd) Quercus  spp (Oak)  
Ranunculus  spp (Buttercups) Lagurus ovatus  (Hare’s tail) 
Reseda lutea  (Wild Mignonette) Lamarkia aurea  (Golden top grass) 
Rhodanthe chlorocephala  (Straw flowers) Lapsana communis  (Nipplewort) 
Rosa  spp (Rose) Lavandula (Lavender) 
Rudbeckia  spp (Coneflower) Leptospermum  spp (Tea tree) 
Leucodendron  spp Rumex  spp (Docks and sorrels) 
Leucopogon verticillatus  (Tassel flower) Salvia farinacea (Blue Salvia) 
Lecythis usitata , nuts Scabiosa stellata  (Star scabious) 
Liatris  spp (Blazing star) Selaginella lepidophylla  (Resurrection plant) 
Selaginella spp (Club mosses) Lichen, dried 
Lilium  spp Sesamum indicum  (Sesame) 
Setaria macrochaeta  (Green millet) Limonium bellidifolium  
Limonium latifolium  (Sea Lavender) Setaria verticillata  (Hooked bristlegrass) 
Limonium sinuatum  (Statice) Schinus molle  (Peruvian pepper tree) 
Linum usitatissimum  (flax) Scirpus  spp (Club-rushes) 
Lomandra  spp (Mat rushes) Silene latifolia (White campion) 
Lonas inodora  (Lona) Solidago  spp (Goldenrods) 
Lunaria  spp (Honesty) Sphagnum, moss 
Lychnis  spp Stachys byzantina  (Lamb’s ear) 
Lysinema ciliatum  (Curry flower) Stirlingia latifolia  (Blue boy) 
Matricaria recutica  (Chamomile) Tagetes patula  (Marigold) 
Meeboldina scariosa (Velvet rush) Tanacetum parthenium  (Feverfew)  
Micromrytus ciliata Templetonia retusa 
Miscanthus sinensis  (Maiden grass) Thryptomene denticulata 
Molucella laevis  (Bells of Ireland) Tilia  spp (Linden) 
Tillandsia usneoides  (Spanish moss) Moss 
Nelumbo nucifera  (Lotus) Tragopogon spp 
Nigella  spp (Love in the mist) Triticum  (wheat) 
Origanum laevigatum  (Oregano) Typha spp (Bulrush) 
Ozothamnus diosmifolius  (Pink rice flower) Uniola  spp 
Paeonia  spp Verbascum  spp (Mullein) 
Panicum miliaceum  (Broomcorn millet) Verbena  spp 
Papaver spp (Poppy) Verticordia brownii 
Pennisetum glaucum  (Pearl millet) Verticordia nitens 
Waitzia  spp Persoonia longifolia 
Phaenocoma  spp Xanthorrhoea australis  (Black Boy) 
Phalaris arundinacea  (Reed canarygrass) Xeranthemum annuum  (Everlasting) 
Phalaris canariensis  (Annual canarygrass) Xerochrysum bracteatum  (Strawflower) 
Phleum pratense  (Timothy grass) Xylomelum angustifolium  (Woody pear) 
Phlomis  spp  Xylomelum occidentale 
Phragmites australis (Common reed) Zea mays  (maize) 
Physalis alkekengi  (Chinese lantern) Zinnia elegans 
Pinus sylvestris  
Pithocarpa corymbulosa  
Plagianthus  spp (Ribbonwood) 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
APPENDIX 3:  
Summary of live genera/species reco rded in identification data 
(Records from 1988 to April 2009.) 
 
 
Pest Taxonomy Pest Scie ntific Name  Regulatory 
status if 
determined Recorded Hosts and Countries of Origin 
Mites & spiders Arachnida   
Acarina: Phytoseiidae Amblyseius sp.  Basketware; Niue 
Araneae: Dysderidae Dysdera crocata  
 Sacking navigation bag; Fiji 
Araneae: Lamponidae Lampona sp.  Floor mat; USA 
Acarina: Acaridae Lardoglyphus konoi  
 Dried Lotus leaf; HONG KONG 
Araneae: Araneidae Metepeira sp.  Freight bag; USA 
Acarina: Tetranychidae Oligonychus sp.  
 Conifer twigs; Unknown country 
Acarina: Ascidae Proctolaelaps pygmaeus 
(Acarid mite) 
 Non-regulated 
 Pine Bark; Japan 
Araneae: Theridiidae Steatoda sp.  Bag; USA 
Actinedida: Tetranychidae Tetranychus sp. (Schoenei spider mite)  
 Dried Citrus leaves, medicinal leaves; Samoa and Tonga  
Insects Insecta   
Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae Adoretus sp.  
 Basketware; Samoa 
Lepidoptera: Noctuidae Agrotis sp. (Cutworm) 
  Straw matting; China 
Coleoptera: Silvanidae Ahasverus advena 
(Foreign grain beetle) Non-regulated Buri matting; Philippines 
Medicinal herbs; Taiwan 
Coleoptera: 
Scarabaeidae Anomala sp.(Scarab beetle)  Pot pourri; China 
Hymenoptera: Formicidae Anoplolepis gracilipes (Yellow crazy and) Regulated Medicinal Palm Oil Extract; Malaysia 
Coleoptera: 
Dermestidae Anthrenus sp.  Basket; Zimbabwe 
Coleoptera: 
Dermestidae Apsectus sp.  
 Flax; Indonesia 
Coleoptera: Anthribidae Araecerus fasciculatus (Coffee bean weevil) Regulated Chinese herbal medicine; China and 
Singapore 
Coleoptera: Staphylinidae Atheta coriaria  
 Hay/straw; Netherlands 
Coleoptera: 
Dermestidae Attagenus fasciatus 
(Warehouse beetle) Regulated Herbal medicine; China 
Coleoptera: Dermestidae Attagenus sp.  Herbal medicine; Singapore 
Hemiptera: 
Pseudococcidae Balanococcus diminutus  
 Flax; USA 
Blattodea: Blattellidae Blattella germanica (German cockroach) Non-regulated Dried flowers; Australia 
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Cadra cautella (Tropical 
warehouse moth) Non-regulated Chinese medicine, dried flower, dried 
ginseng roots; AUSTRALIA, CHINA, KOREA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, 
TAIWAN 
Hymenoptera: 
Formicidae Camponotus sp. (Carpenter ant) 
  Basketware; Australia, India 
Coleoptera: Nitidulidae Carpophilus sp. (Sap 
Beetles)  Dried ginseng; TAIWAN 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Hemiptera: Coccidae Coccus sp.  Flax; Tonga 
Coleoptera: Cucujidae Cryptolestes pusilloides 
(Flat grain beetle) Non-regulated 
 Ginseng and herbal medicine; Hong Kong 
Coleoptera: 
Tenebrionidae Cryptolestes sp nr turcicus  
 Medicines; China 
Coleoptera: Silvanidae Cryptolestes sp. (Grain 
beetle)  
 Basketware; Niue 
Coleoptera: 
Cryptophagidae Cryptophagus sp. (Cryptophagid fungal 
beetle)  
 Dried straw samples; Australia 
Lepidoptera: 
Tortricidae Cydia pomonella (Codling moth) Non-regulated Cork pl acemat; Unknown country 
Hemiptera: Miridae Cyrtorhinus sp. (Plant bug)  
 Dried leaves with fungus; Indonesia 
Coleoptera: 
Dermestidae Dermestes maculates (Hide beetle) Non-regulated Chinese medicine , Dried lotus leaves, rolled 
leaf cigarettes; Cambodia, China, Hong 
Kong,  
Coleoptera: 
Anthribidae Doticus palmaris  
 Dried plant material; Australia 
Psocoptera: 
Ectopsocidae Ectopsocus briggsi (Psocid) Non-regulated Buri matting; Philippines 
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Ephestia elutella (Tobacco moth) Non-regulated Dried wild flowers, ginseng root; Australia, 
china 
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Ephestia figulilella 
(Raisin moth) Regulated Dried plant material; China 
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Ephestia kuehniella (Mediterranean flour 
moth) Non-regulated Dried flowers; AUSTRALIA 
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Ephestia sp.  
 Chinese herbs, medicinal roots; China, 
Philippines 
Orthoptera: Gryllidae Gryllus sp. (Crickets)  Straw packing; India 
Lepidoptera: Noctuidae Heliothis sp. (Budworms)  
 Dried Lilac flowers; Australia 
Insecta: Lepidoptera: 
Oecophoridae Hofmannophila pseudospretella Non-regulated Dried cereal s and flower heads; UK 
Insecta: Coleoptera: Anobiidae Lasioderma serricorne 
(Cigarette beetle) Non-regulated Chinese herbs,  cigarettes, Cigars, Coffee 
seeds, dried cabbage, dried Chrysanthemum 
flowers, dried leaves, ginseng root, 
medicinal leaves/roots,  pot pourri, reed 
basket, dried rose buds, sacking basket, 
tobacco; Asia, China, Hong Kong,  Indonesia, Malaysia, PNG, Philippines, 
Singapore;  Taiwan, UK, USA, Vietnam 
Insecta: Coleoptera: 
Trogossitidae Lophocateres pusillus (Siamese grain beetle) Regulated Dried flower buds; China 
Insecta: Coleoptera: Lathridiidae Microgramme sp  Medicinal herbs; Taiwan 
Insecta: Coleoptera: 
Silvanidae Monanus concinnulus (Flat bark beetle) Regulated Dried plant material; Niue 
Insecta: Hymenoptera: 
Formicidae Monomorium floricola (Ant) Regulated Sugar cane; Fiji 
Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae Monomorium pharaonis (Pharaoh ant) Non-regulated Chinese medicine; Bangladesh; China  
Insecta: Hymenoptera: 
Formicidae Monomorium sp. (Ants)  Basketware, Chillie leaves; Indonesia, 
Tonga 
Coleoptera: 
Cerylonidae Murmidius ovalis  Herbal medicine; China 
Hemiptera: Aphididae Myzus sp.  Medicine and Chillie leaves; Tonga 
Coleoptera: Cleridae Necrobia sp  Dried flowers; Egypt 
Hemiptera: Diaspididae Oceanaspidiotus pangoensis Regulated Medicinal leaves; Samoa 
Coleoptera: Silvanidae Oryzaephilus Mercator Non-regulated Herbs and leaves; PNG 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
(Merchant grain beetle) 
Coleoptera: Silvanidae Oryzaephilus 
surinamensis (Sawtoothed grain 
beetle) Non-regulated Chinese medicine, Ginseng, sacking; China, 
Hong Kong, Korea, Sth Africa 
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Aramyelois transitella 
(Navel Orangeworm) Regulated Ginseng; USA 
Hymenoptera: Formicidae Pheidole megacephala (Bigheaded ant) Non-regulated Medicinal bark  and leaves; Samoa, Tonga 
Hymenoptera: 
Formicidae Pheidole sp. (Large-
headed ant) Regulated Cocoa pods, medicinal leaves; Samoa, 
Tonga, India 
Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Plodia interpunctella 
(India meal moth) Non-regulated Dried plant material/medicines, Coffee 
seeds, dried Marigold flowers, dried 
seaweed, felt and straw hat, ginseng, tree 
nut necklace,  pot pourri; AUSTRALIA, CHINA, EGYPT, HONG KONG, INDIA, 
INDONESIA, JAPAN, KOREA, 
SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN 
Coleoptera: 
Bostrichidae Rhyzopertha dominica (Lesser grain borer) Non-regulated Medicines, toy with wheat; Australia, Hong 
Kong 
Coleoptera: Silvanidae Silvanus bidentatus Regulated Sugar cane; Fiji 
Coleoptera: 
Curculionidae Sitophilus granarius (Granary weevil) Non-regulated Soft toy filled with wheat; Unknown 
country 
Coleoptera: 
Curculionidae Sitophilus oryzae (Rice 
weevil) Non-regulated Chinese herbs, mail bags; China, Hong 
Kong 
Coleoptera: 
Curculionidae Sitophilus sp.  Ginseng; China 
Coleoptera: Curculionidae Sitophilus zeamais (Maize weevil) Non-regulated Mail bags, herbal medicine; China, Hong 
Kong 
Coleoptera: Anobiidae Stegobium paniceum 
(Drugstore beetle) Non-regulated Dried flowers, ginseng, medicinal herbs; 
Australia, China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka 
Hymenoptera: Formicidae Tapinoma melanocephalum (Ghost 
ant) Regulated Sraw, medicinal leaves; Samoa and Tonga  
Coleoptera: Ostomidae Tenebroides mauritanicus (Cadelle) Non-regullated Herbal medicine; China 
Coleoptera: Cleridae Thaneroclerus buqueti  Herbal medicine; China, Hong Kong 
Insecta: Coleoptera: 
Tenebrionidae Tribolium castaneum (Red flour beetle) Non-regulated Ginseng, Medicine; China, Indonesia 
Insecta: Coleoptera: Dermestidae Trogoderma glabrum (kharpra beetle) Regulated Herbal medicine; China 
Insecta: Hymenoptera: 
Vespidae Vespula germanica (German wasp) Non-regulated Medical supplies; Germany 
Insecta: Hymenoptera: 
Anthrophoridae Xylocopa sp.  Herbal medicine; Malaysia 
Reptiles Reptilia   
Squamata: Scincidae Eutropis sp.  Plant fibres woven bag; Vietnam 
Fungi    
Ascomycetes: 
Pleosporales: 
Pleosporaceae Alternaria sp. (leaf spot)  Dried Citrus leaves; Papua New Guinea 
Ascomycetes: Incertae 
sedis: Apiosporaceae Arthrinium sp.  Flax; Samoa 
Ascomycetes: 
Eurotiales: 
Trichocomaceae Aspergillus niger (black 
mould) Non-regulated Tobacco; Tanzania 
Ascomycetes: 
Eurotiales: 
Trichocomaceae Aspergillus sp.  
(Aspergillus rot)   Yellow dock leaves; INDIA 
Ascomycetes: 
Pleosporales: 
Pleosporaceae Cochliobolus sativus 
(leaf spot) Non-regulated Dried grass re search sample; Portugal 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Zygomycetes: 
Mucorales: 
Mucoraceae Mucor sp.  Herbal medicine; India 
Ascomycetes: 
Trichosphaeriales: 
Incertae sedis Nigrospora sphaerica 
(squirter disease) Non-regulated Herbal Aconitum; UK 
Ascomycetes: Eurotiales: 
Trichocomaceae Paecilomyces variotii Non-regulated Pine Bark; Japan 
Ascomycetes: 
Eurotiales: 
Trichocomaceae Penicillium sp.  Tobacco; Tanzania 
Ascomycetes: Xylariales: 
Amphisphaeriaceae Pestalotia sp.  Flax; Samoa 
Ascomycetes: 
Diaporthales: 
Valsaceae Phomopsis sp. (rot)   Flax; Samoa 
Ascomycetes: Sordaria fimicola (dung 
fungus) Non-regulated Tobacco; Brazil 
Ascomycetes: Hypocreales: 
Hypocreaceae Trichoderma viride  Pine bark; Japan 
Zygomycetes: 
Mucorales: 
Mucoraceae Mucor sp.  Herbal medicine; India 
Seeds    
Malvaceae Hibiscus esculentus  Pot pourri; Australia 
Poaceae Avena sativa   Dried cereals and flower head; UK 
Sterculiaceae Cola acuminate   Sacking pay bag; Nigeria 
Ranunculaceae Delphinium sp.  Dried cereals and flower head; UK 
Arecaceae Elaeis guineerisis  Pot Pourri; Australia 
Rubiaceae Galium aparine   Plantain leaves; USA 
Malvaceae Gossypium sp.   Cotton balls; USA 
Lamiaceae Lavandula sp.   Dried cereals and flower heads; UK 
Poaceae Lolium sp.   Plantain leaves; USA 
Poaceae Oryza sativa   Straw packaging; China 
Papaveraceae Papaver sp.  Dried cereals and flower heads; UK 
Solanaceae Physalis alkekengi   Dried arrangement; UK 
Cyperaceae Scirpus sp.  Pot Pourri; Australia 
Poaceae Triticum aestivum  Dried cereals and flowerheads; UK 
Fabaceae Vicia sp.   Plantain leaves; USA 
Poaceae Avena sativa  Dried cereals and flower head; UK 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
APPENDIX 4: 
Review of dyeing, bleaching and freeze drying treatments 
 
Dyeing, bleaching and freeze-drying are practises that may be used in the manufacture of dried plant 
products. The following assessments have been made to determine whether these treatments can help 
mitigate the risks associated with potential contaminants namely fungi or viable seed. Please note that these assessments are highly context-specific and cannot be extended to cover other commodities 
without further research. 
 
Dyeing 
 
Overview of dip-and-rinse dyeing: 
Dip-and-rinse dyeing involves immersing a portion or a ll of a dried plant part into an aqueous or non 
water-based dye solution for a period of time so that  the dye is taken up into the plant tissues directly 
from solution ( http://www.dmcolor.com/products/?id=32 ). This is different to the systemic dyeing 
method of flower dyeing whereby the flower stem is placed in a warm dye solution and the plant’s 
functional xylem then draws the dye up the stem to the petals (
http://www.preservedgardens.com/flower-dye.htm ). Flower dyeing by the latter method alone has no 
value in eliminating fungal pathogens because only a small part of the plant is immersed and the 
temperature must be relatively low to avoid da maging the plant. In contrast the dip-and-rinse 
treatment, when applied to the entire plant part , may have considerable potential as a means of 
eliminating fungal pathogens from the commodity.  
 
Dip-and-rinse dying treatments can potentially have fungicidal properties in two ways. Firstly, there is the chemical consideration, ie the constituents of the dye compound itself. Secondly, because the 
retention of plant viability is not required for dyeing dried plant material, there is the potential to use 
heat. 
 
Fungicidal properties of dye chemicals: 
It is possible that the dyeing compound itself could be made to be intentionally fungicidal, or (if not) it 
could have compounds with fungicidal properties. A fungicidal dye could be desired by manufacturers 
of ornamental presentations, baskets and furniture as it would provide the fi nished product with a 
degree of resistance to mould. There is one non-a queous dip-and-rinse commercial flower dye called 
Design Master ‘Dipit’; although the only listed ingredient is 5% sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (an emulsifier which may or may not have fungicidal pr operties), because ‘Dipit’ is solvent-based it is 
very likely to have a fungicidal capacity.  
 
A chemical compound called 2-phenylphenol is used primarily as an agricultural fungicide, but it is 
also used in the manufacture of dyestuffs ( http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4722736.html ). Another 
example (although now banned in many countries because of its toxicity) is malachite green, which is 
used as a fungicide and to dye paper, silk and leather (Papinutti et al. 2006).  
 
Some compounds are used in small amounts to reduce fungal pathogens in conjunction with hot water treatments for produce and cut flowers (eg. ethanol , calcium (1%), sodium bicarbonate (2%), benomyl 
or thiobendazole (200mg per L); Tang et al. 2007, Jar oenkit & Paull 2003), and it is possible that some 
of these compounds may be incorporated into dy estuffs. However some traditional dyeing processes 
will utilise naturally available extracts (eg Morindone, an intense red dye popular in India, is obtained 
from the root bark of a local plant Morinda tinctoria; 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morindone ), and 
these may well have little or no fungicidal effect in th eir application to dried plant material. Domestic 
clothing dyes and food colouring can also be used  to dye plant material such as seagrass (eg 
http://users.zoominternet.net/~basketc/dye.html , http://handicraft.indiamart.com/products/decorative-
items/dry-flowers/dyeing-dry-flowers.html ). 
 
Fungicidal properties of hot water: 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Hot water treatments (HWTs) are normally applie d to fruit and vegetable commodities and to cut 
flowers to prolong shelf or vase life. HWTs work  by destroying fungal and bacterial pathogens, but 
also by activating the natural defence mechanisms i nherent in the epidermal layer of the plant part 
which prevents the entry of such pathogens (Fa llik 2004). Dipping red ginger flowers (Alpinia 
purpurata) at 50°C for 12-15 min extends the post harvest vase life, partly by killing saprophytic 
moulds, but primarily by inhibiting the negative ge otropic response of the plant (Jaroenkit & Paull 
2003).  
 
Vegetative cells and conidia of most fungi are inactivated when exposed to 60°C for 5-10 min in vitro 
(Civello et al. 1997). Fungal pat hogen kill is not always proportional to the temperature-time product 
of the HWT, although there are reports of certain  species which indicate a linear relationship between 
the logarithm of the decimal reduction time and the temperature of the treatment (Tang et al. 2007). 
HWT’s at relatively high temperatures (such as 80°C and above) are likely to have considerable negative impacts on many if not most species of plant inhabiting fungi, but there may be a few 
exceptions. A HWT of 1 hour at 50°C killed all but  less that 1% of Colletotrichum acutatum spores 
suspended in water. This is a fungus which causes leaf curl and leaf necrosis on Anenome spp. 
(Doornik 1990). Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium spp. are known to be resistant 
to hot water treatments; tests on these species showed  they were sensitive to HWT after 15 and 30 min 
respectively, but some mycelia of Phaeoacremonium  inflatipes still survived after 120 min at 51°C. 
Spores of Chalara paradoxa (pineapple black rot) can survive 58°C for 3 minutes (Tang et al. 2007). 
Spores are much more susceptible to heat treatment than mycelia, however dormant spores are known 
to be unaffected by hot water (D’Hallewin et al. 1997). Similarly, spores occurring inside plant tissue 
may be more resistant to HWTs and could require a higher temperature or a longer duration eg 
teleospores of Tilletia indica (wheat bunt fungus) occurring inside wheat seed sori can survive HWT at 60°C for up to 15 minutes, whereas all teleospores but one were destroyed within one minute at 80°C 
(Smilanick et al. 1997). 
 
 
Conclusion: 
The effects of dyeing on fungal pathogens have not been reported in the literature, and although dyes can have fungicidal components incorporated into th em, it is not known how widely these are used by 
manufacturers of dyed dried plant material. For dy es that use solvents other than water (such as 
volatile organic compounds), heating is not required due to the high likelihood of the solvent itself 
having fungicidal properties. With regard to wate r-based dye solutions, there is evidence of a linear 
relationship of fungal reduction in response to hot water treatment over time, therefore it is 
recommended that the process of dyeing dried foliage  by fully immersing the item for 3 minutes in an 
aqueous dye whilst maintaining a near-boiling temper ature (between 80 and 100°C) will likely destroy 
any contaminating conidia and mycelia occurring on or  in the plant part. Dyes that have a non-aqueous 
base can be applied without heat. 
 
The application of heat may mean that the dyeing process is limited by plant hardiness, since the less 
robust dried plant parts (such as flower petals) ma y become heat damaged during the dip; because of 
this it may not be applicable across all dried plan t commodities as a generic treatment. It will probably 
be best suited for conifer products and items made fro m flax, raffia, seagrass etc. Another limitation is 
that dyeing at high temperatures may not be tota lly effective for eliminating dormant spores. 
 
The intended indoor use of most commodities incorporating dyed dried plant material means that it is unlikely that the exposure of any surviving dormant spore will be any higher than for the same spores 
entering on any other pathway. Dormant spores could potentially occur unnoticed and enter the country untreated on any inert surface and have much higher likelihoods of exposure, eg on ‘clean’ gardening equipment. Therefore although the level of  risk of spores on dyed dried foliage is non-
negligible, provided the paperwork has the appropriate declaration to describe the proposed hot dyeing 
process, it is recommended that no further action will be required for entry into New Zealand and an 
inspection for contaminants will not be required. 
 
 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
Bleaching 
 
Overview of bleaching: 
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is routinely employed as a plant dip in order to remove external fungal 
and bacterial pathogens from live plants (eg Grenfell & Shadrack 2004), and it has also been used to prolong the shelf life of fruit and vegetables (eg Souza et al. 2005). As for many dip treatments, the concentration and the duration of the bleaching are likely to be the main factors involved in determining its efficacy on plant material. A few studies have also incorporated the effects of lowered pH and increased temperature in order to allow for a lower period of exposure to bleaching (or a lower 
concentration). 
 
Summary of the literature: 
Concentration – time effects: 
- Soaking plants in a 10% solution of household bleach for to 2 hours is reportedly effective for 
preventing Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var.  delphinii (petiole blight) from recurring on 
Hostas plants (Grenfell & Shadrack 2004).  
- Treating rice bitters explants with 20% bleach for 20 minutes lowered the contamination rate 
to 50% (Webster et al.  2003) 
- Soaking in a 1.6% solution of NaOCl for 15 minutes was effective in destroying all free 
teleospores of Tilletia indica (carnal bunt fungus of wheat) but not those inside the sori of 
wheat seeds (room temp). 99% of free teleospores were killed after 7 minutes. Soaking in a 
0.25% solution of NaOCl for 18 minutes killed te liospores of Tilletia controversa (room temp) 
(Smilanick et al. 1997). 
- 15 m per L NaOCl was diluted at various rates and yam minisetts were soaked for 7 days (room temp). Dilutions of 1:15 and 1:10 preven ted colony formation of Sclerotium rolfsii, 
while Cladosporium sp. and Penicillium sp. required the highest (1:5) concentration to prevent colonies. All other species (Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium sp., Rhizopus stolonifer and Trichoderma lignorum) survived the concentration of  1:5, with T. ligrorum the most resistant 
(Asare-Bediako et al. 2007). 
- Soaking in a 1.0 % of NaOCl solution for 15 minutes was the best rate to control pathogenic 
fungi on sweet potato leaf explants (Gonzalez et al. 1997). 
- Soaking in a 1% NaOCl solution for 30 minutes was best for controlling pathogens on coffee 
leaf explants (Naidu et al. 1993). 
- A number of studies suggest a higher concentrati on is less effective at preventing rot than a 
lower concentration eg on rice bitter explants  20% gave 50% contamin ation while 10% gave 
40% contamination (Webster et al.  2003); on lettuce leaf samples 100ppm gave better results 
than 150ppm (Souza et al. 2005); and on piper betel leaves a higher concentration for a longer 
period had adverse effects on leaf quality (Negi & Chaurasia 1995). These are probably the effects of the physiological damage caused to the plant by stronger bleaching making it more susceptible to fungal attack. 
 
It is assumed that for dried foliage a higher concen tration of bleach will destroy fungi more effectively 
than lower concentrations, and longer durations will be more effectiv e than brief exposures. It appears 
that concentrations as low as 0.25% NaOCl will be  sufficient for eliminating many (if not most) 
species of fungi if the soaking period for dried foliage is extended beyond one hour. Data on the 
resistance of species is however fairly limited and it is possible that structures such as dormant spores may be resistant. It appears bleaching studies use a variety of measures, so it is important that 
consistent measures of concentra tion are provided by exporters (sp ecifically, the concentration of 
sodium hypochlorite in solution, as opposed to  the rate of dilution of household bleach). 
 
pH effects: 
- Rinsing plants with a solution of 100ppm NaOCl buffered to pH7 treats Erwinia (soft rot of swede) and Chalara elegans (Thielaviopsis basi cola) (Black root rot of carrot) (Anonymous 
2003, Punja & Gaye 1993) 
- NaOCl buffered to pH 8 before use was superior  to NaOCl at pH 11.5 for treatment of free 
teleospores of Tilletia indica. Acidified bleach  (pH 7) also reduced fungal growth on rice 
bitters explants compared with pH12 (Webster et al.  2003) 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
- The bactericidal action of hypochlorite soluti ons (bleach) is due to both hypochlorous acid 
(HOCl) and the OCl- ion, with the former being more active, so that the disinfecting 
efficiency of chlorine is best in slightly acid hypochlorite solutions (George 1993). 
Presumably lowering the pH has a similar efficiency on fungal pathogens. 
 
It appears that lowering the pH of the bleach solution will increase the effectiveness of bleaching for 
killing many or most species of plant fungi pathogens. It is possible that this might also assist in 
destroying any resistant fungal species or dormant spore structures. 
 
Temperature effects: 
- Heating NaOCl solution to 50degC killed T illetia controversa teleospores in 3 minutes 
compared to 18 minutes at 23degC  
- Heating NaOCl solution to 60degC killed 99%  of T. indica teleospores in 0.2 minutes 
compared to 7.1 minutes at 25degC. 
- Heating NaOCl solution to 80degC killed all free teleospores of T. indica, across all 
concentrations and durations tested (0.53% and 1.6%; 1,5,15 and 30min), and all but two 
teleospores inside the sori of wheat seeds (Smilanick et al. 1997). 
 
It is appears that maintaining a dip temperature of at least 50degC could increase the effectiveness of 
bleaching for killing fungal pathogens including internal fungi, and it is possible that this might also 
assist in destroying any resistant fungal species or  dormant spore structures. Further increasing the 
temperature to 60 or 80degC will probabl y have cumulative fungicidal effects. 
 
Conclusion: 
The application of bleach as a fungicide dip for living plants appears to have wide use in horticulture (although higher concentrations are detrimental to plant health), and this does give some indication of 
its generic effectiveness as a potential treatment for dried plant parts. Having assessed this information 
along with that concerning the tolerances of individual fungal species, it is recommended that the proposed bleaching treatment, entailing soaking the material in a solution of 3% NaOCl at room temperature for at least 8 hours, is likely to be su fficient to destroy many or most fungi occurring on 
dried plant material. The likelihood of destroying a ll fungi will be increased by lowering the pH and/or 
increasing the temperature of the bleaching solution above room temperature. 
 
It is important that measures of concentration are used consistently by exporters (specifically, the concentration of sodium hypochlorite in solution,  as opposed to the rate of dilution of household 
bleach which appears to be more of ten used in horticultural practise). 
 
Any residual traces of live or dormant fungi occurring on bleached dried foliage being imported to New Zealand will have likelihoods of  entry and exposure similar to dried foliage which has undergone 
a hot dye treatment. As such, the risk will be comp arable to that of fungi being imported unnoticed on 
inert surfaces. Therefore although the level of ri sk of spores on bleached dried foliage is non-
negligible, provided the paperwork has the appropriate declaration to describe the proposed bleaching process, it is recommended that no further action will be required for entry into New Zealand and an 
inspection for contaminants will not be required. 
 
Freeze drying 
 
Overview of freeze-drying: 
Freeze drying (or ‘lyophilisation’) is a process of preservation employed by freezing an item in a vacuum, and gradually raising the temperature or the pressure usually over a period of days or weeks 
in order to cause any ice to evaporate. There is considerable merit in assessing whether the commercial process used by manufacturers for freeze- drying cut flowers can be applied in its current 
form as an effective means of seed devitalisation, and equally important, whether freeze-drying can be 
made an approved treatment for plant products in  general being exported to New Zealand. The 
practice of freeze-drying for the purpose of seed devita lisation has limited value in contexts outside of 
biosecurity and for preserving the intellectual prope rty rights of seed, and it was not explored as an 
option until very recently; therefore literature c oncerning its efficacy is still relatively scarce. Freeze 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
drying is however an increasingly common means of  preserving cut flowers, fruit and other botanicals 
in wedding bouquets and other showpieces.  
 
Freeze-drying of viable seeds for storage: 
To date, the potential for freeze-drying alone to be used as a method for devitalising seeds does not 
appear to have been investigated. Freeze drying is frequently used in agri culture by commercial seed 
producers to prolong seed shelf life by eliminating th e risk of seed putrefaction. The effects on seed 
germination can occasionally be detrimental, but  evidence is sporadic. Cowpea is one species 
adversely affected by low seed moisture content brought about by freeze-drying (Meng et al. 2005). 
Similarly germination % was reduced by freeze-drying for 72h at -50degC by 15, 9 and 10% for the 
grasses Poa pretensis, Dactylis glomerata and Phleum pratense respectively (Vlk et al. 1986). Drought resistance in pine seeds was impaired when they were freeze-dried to reduce moisture content to 2.4% (Larson & Davault 1974). The endosperm of freez e-dried brown rice kernels formed sponge-like 
structures and were said to become more fragile th an that of untreated kernels (Kim et al. 2001).  
 
Overall the standard practise of freeze-drying of commercial seed does not appear have any appreciable effects on % germination success for most  crop species compared with untreated control 
batches, and in some cases it can improve germina tion success. As examples: seeds of leek, tomato, 
radish, aubergine and cucumber were not affected by  having a moisture content reduced to 3-5.5% by 
freeze drying at -20degC (Zheng et al. 2001); neither was Chinese cabbage with seed moisture of 1.6% 
(Cheng et al. 1991); nor Cyclamen persicum seed  (Neveur et al. 1986); nor clover, Anthyllis 
vulneraria, birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin (Curiova  et al. 1984); nor grass species including Lolium 
multiflorum, L. perenne and Festuca pratensis when  seed moisture was reduced by freeze-drying for 
72h at -50degC (Vlk et al. 1986). Freeze drying of seed  has been used beneficially for storing seed of 
forest crop species and for tree conservation: seeds of birch, alder, pine and spruce can all be freeze 
dried to 3.5% without appreciable loss of viablility (Anisko et al. 2006), and the Brazilian native 
Tabebuia heterophylla can tolerate  a reduction of moisture content to 3.4%. In grape seed and a 
number of other species including lucerne, freeze drying benefits production by improving the rate of germination (Wilde & de Darne 1996; Curiova et al. 1984).  
 
Freeze-drying of seeds after imbibing: 
In 2008 a seed devitalisation technique was devised  which involves freeze-drying being first preceded 
by a seed imbibing process ( http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2009/0133165.html ). Unlike freeze-
drying alone, freeze-drying applied in this way h as the potential to be a very effective means of 
treatment for plant product commodities. It is s uggested that imbibing the seed (soaking in water) 
hydrates the cells and organelles necessary to initiate seed germination and these hydrated cells and 
organelles are then at least partially destroyed by  freezing, thereby rendering the seed non-viable. In 
this manner, the method may be referred to as a “ freeze-fracture” approach. Normally, for the intended 
purposes of seed protein and DNA analysis, actual germination is not desirable so temperature and 
duration are both minimised during the imbibing phase in order to avoid shoot emergence.  
 
Seeds are first soaked in tap water for up to 48 hour s to instigate the first phase of germination. Often 
a seed-coat softening agent is included to assist the process such as potassium nitrate or ethaphon (a plant growth regulator); the rate of imbibing is also  increased by raising the temperature of the water 
(eg up to 60degC). Following this the water is removed and the seeds are subjected to freeze-drying 
which has the effect of both destroying seed viability as well as preparing the sample for dry storage. Most studies have an intermediary freezing stage wh ich is employed before freeze-drying or another 
drying process; however with freeze-drying this is  not essential since freeze-drying denatures the 
seeds regardless.  
 
This technique is claimed by the developers to be  extremely effective (100% devitalisation success is 
said to be normal for ‘any type’ of seed). 100% e ffectiveness was shown for seeds of corn, cotton and 
soybean imbibed for various durations at 10degC, fr ozen at -20degC for 16h, and then freeze-dried to 
12 wt % moisture content. Corn seeds were imbibe d for 24 h, cotton seeds for 48 h and soybean seeds 
for 6 h. 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
An equivalent process was demonstrated in a separate study to be 100% effec tive in devitalising maize 
and cotton seeds, whereby the seeds were soaked in deionized water overnight at 4 degC, drained and 
then fully submersed in liquid n itrogen for 3-5 minutes before being again drained, then freeze-dried 
for one week (Schafer et al. 2008).  
 
Commercial freeze-drying of floral arrangements: 
Freeze drying is increasingly used as a method of commercial flower drying and preservation. In 
essence plant material, usually flowers, is held in a chamber where it is frozen to -20 degF (-29 degC). It is then subjected to a vacuum whilst being gra dually returned to room temperature over a period of 
between 10 days and 4 weeks. Each flower is then dipped in a sealant solution to prevent the uptake of 
moisture and allowed to dry for a minimum of 36-48 hours. Flowers are often pre-treated with a 
solution which increases tissue permeability and assists the desiccation process during freeze-drying. Recent improvements in the formulation of pre-tr eatment chemicals have enabled an ever-increasing 
range of flower, fruit and vegetable arrangements to  be preserved by freeze-drying. They are used by 
interior designers, gift shop owners and by we dding bouquet preservers, and are increasingly used in 
restaurants and company foyers. Most cut flower s can be preserved by freeze-drying but the following 
species are considered to be best suited for this  process: Anthurium, Gardenia, Ginger, Heliconia, 
Hyacinth, Liatris, Calla Lilly, Narcissus, Cattleya  and Japhet Orchid, Tuberose and Bird-of-Paradise 
(
http://www.hellerandreid.com/cgi-local/SoftCart. 100.exe/about/faq_bridal.html?E+scstore+#5step ; 
http://www.florage.com/freeze-dried-flowers.html ; 
http://www.botaniquefrzdry.com/what_is_freeze_drying.shtml ; 
http://www.freezedry.com/fl_overview.htm ). 
 
Conclusion: 
Freeze-drying will have considerable merit as a s eed devitalising technique for seeds on many plant 
products, but only when preceded by an imbibing pro cess that initiates seed germination. It is likely 
that freeze-drying immediately after an imbibing period of at least 24 hours in tap water at room temperature will be sufficient to destroy viab ility for many types of seeds on commodities that 
incorporate dried non-viable plant products with  seeds. The current method of commercially freeze-
drying cut flowers and other plant parts appears to incorporate both a pre-soaking phase as well as a 
relatively prolonged freeze-drying period (apparently more than 4 weeks for some plant types). It is 
assumed that the pre-soak will be an aqueous solution,  and it will therefore have an imbibing effect on 
seeds. Hence it is likely that commercial freeze-dr ying which is preceded by dipping in a pre-soak 
solution for at least 24 hours will be sufficient to destroy seed viability for many types of seeds in 
consignments intended to be exported as dried ornamental plant arrangements. 
 
There is uncertainty over whether imbibing and fr eeze-drying will be 100% effective for devitalising 
all seeds across all plant families, since some species may require cues in addition to moisture in order 
to break dormancy and germinate. For many Acacia species in wildfire zones, species germination is 
inhibited unless seeds are exposed to woodsmoke in an aerosol or aqueous form. Other species require scarification or heat-shock, eg seeds of Acacia tetr agonophylla and Stylobasium spathulatum have low 
imbibition, but this increases with hot-water treatme nt. Ripe seeds of Avena fatua (wild oat) do not 
germinate in water even after one month. Therefore, increasing the duration of the imbibing period (to 48 hours, for example) or raising the temperature of  the solution above room temperature (eg to 50°C) 
will likely increase the efficacy of the freeze-drying tr eatment to cover some of the more resistant 
species. The level of efficacy can be further impr oved by the addition of agents that help break 
dormancy (such as gibberellic acid, potassium nitrat e and/or ethaphon) to the water during the 
imbibing phase. This will not only broaden the range of seed types likely to be devitalised by freezing, 
it will also allow for a shorter and less dama ging imbibing phase for fragile commodities.  
 
Any seeds that have not broken dormancy during th e 24 hour imbibing or pre-soaking phase would be 
unlikely to germinate in New Zealand unless they become exposed to relatively extreme conditions 
(eg in the case of some Acacia species, heat or sm oke). Furthermore the intended indoor use of most 
dried plant commodities means that there would be ve ry little opportunity for such exposure. As such, 
provided the paperwork has the appropriate declara tion to state that the dried plant material has 
undergone the proposed pre-soak/ imbibing process followed by freeze-drying, it is recommended that no further action will be required for entry into New Zealand. 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
 
References: 
 
Anonymous (2003) 
http://www.westernforum.org/WCPD_documents/Archived_files/Archived%20Guidelines/Guidelines
Oct02_Oct03/vegetables.pdf
 
Anisko, E., Wltowska, O. & Zaeski, A. (2006) E ffect of drying conditions on viability of common 
birch, black alder, Scots pine and Norway spruce seeds. Lesne Prace Badawcze 2: 91-113 
 
Asare-Bediako, E., Showemimo, F.A., Opoku-Asiama, Y. & Amewowor, D.H.A.K. (2007) In vitro 
analysis of growth media and the control of yam minisett-rot.  
Biotechnology 6(1): 40-44 http://www.scialert.net/pdfs/biotech/2007/40-44.pdf
 
Chen, S.S.C. & Chang, J.L.L. (1971) Does Gibbere llic Acid Stimulate Seed Germination via Amylase 
Synthesis? Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois 
http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/reprint/49/3/441.pdf
 
Cheng, H.Y., Zheng, G.H. & Tao, K.L. (1991) Effects of ultradrying on ageing, cell ultrastructure and 
vigour of Chinese cabbage seed. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 83-84: 9-14 
 
Commandera, L.E., Merritta, D.J., Rokicha, D.P. & Dixona, K.W. (2009) Seed biology of Australian 
arid zone species: Germination of 18 species used for rehabilitation. Journal of Arid Environments 
73(6-7): 617-625 
 
Curiova, S. Vlk, J. Vacek, V. (1984) The effect of sublimation drying on the germination capacity of legume seed crops. Pol'nohospodarstvo. 30(7): 642-647 
 
Doornik, A.W. (1990) Hot-water treatment to c ontrol Colletotrichum acutatum on corms of Anemone 
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APPENDIX 5: 
Brush and Screening fencing/roofing Product Illustrations 
 
Thamnochortus insignis (Sth Africa) 
Tropical reed tile 
 
 
 
Thamnochortus insignis (Sth Africa)  Thamnochortus insignis (Sth Africa) 
Custom thatch tile    Standard thatch tile 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Melaleuca fencing (Australia)   Baeckea fruitescens fencing (China) 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
   
  
 
 
Fern screening  (China)  Cunninghamia lanceolata 
     Bark screening (China) 
  
   
  
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010   
   
  
Bamboo screening (China)   Willow screening 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discussion document for Importation of Dried and Preserved Plant Material 18 February 2010