BIOSECURITY OVERVIEW

Biosecurity is a high priority for NZPPI as a biosecurity incursion has the ability to stop our industry in its tracks at any time. To manage this NZPPI is part of a network of industry organisations that are working with government to strengthen New Zealand's biosecurity capability and systems.  

Our work focuses on three key areas:

1) Biosecurity preparedness and response:

NZPPI works with government agencies, producers and other sector organisations to develop preparedness plans to manage biosecurity risks associated with imported plants and seeds. In the event of a biosecurity incursion, NZPPI has decision-making rights through its GIA partnership and can help decide how Biosecurity New Zealand should respond.

2) Plant Production Biosecurity Scheme, Plant Pass:

NZPPI is the manager of Plant Pass, a science-based framework to help producers identify, control, manage and avoid biosecurity risk. Producers can work to achieve certification Plant Pass, with specific production modules that focus on certain types of plants. For full details on Plant Pass and how to register with the scheme, visit the Plant Pass website. 

3) Plant imports:

NZPPI advocates for a better plant imports system that manages risk while allowing germplasm imports that benefit our sector and New Zealand's future innovative primary industries. We work with MPI Plant Imports teams to find solutions to the Plants Biosecurity Index, Import Health Standards, import rules and issues do do with New Organisms, under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. We were also involved in discussions with MPI over the re-build and scaling-up of the Level 3B quarantine facility, the only facility of its kind in New Zealand. We have put in a submission on the proposed costs of using this facility, which we believe are prohibitively high.

In the last decade, incursions have occurred in other countries that have had devastating consequences over large areas.  Significant exotic pests include Xylella fastidiosa, Ceratocystis fimbriata, Cryphonectria parasitica (Chestnut blight), Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death), Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Citrus greening) and the Brown Marmorated Stinkbug.

NZ Plant Producers is the lead organisation for biosecurity for the nursery and plant production sector. We keep you up to date with the latest news and advocate for the sector during an incursion response.