New Zealand Plant Producers (NZPPI) has expressed disappointment following the recent conviction of Jeff Elliott, director of Elliott Wholesale Nursery, for a serious breach of New Zealand’s biosecurity regulations.
The Christchurch District Court has fined Mr Elliott and his company $42,500 after charges were laid under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
The case involved the illegal removal of 220 Nandina plants from a Post-Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility just one day after their arrival. These plants were required to remain in quarantine for a mandated three-month period. However, Mr Elliott knowingly replaced the imported plants with similar-looking plants from his nursery to bypass the quarantine process and evade detection.
NZPPI Chief Executive Matthew Dolan said: "Biosecurity is the foundation of New Zealand’s plant production industry, and such actions not only breach the law but also undermine the trust and responsibility shared by all plant importers.”
"Although no pests or diseases were found on the plants, this was a serious violation of the biosecurity rules designed to protect New Zealand’s environment and primary industries."
“As our members are aware, the plant import pathway is critical for accessing high-quality, elite plant material from overseas breeding programmes. This process involves rigorous quarantine and testing procedures to manage biosecurity risks. Mr Elliott, as an experienced importer, was fully aware of these requirements but deliberately chose to circumvent them.”
NZPPI, as a signatory to the Government-Industry Agreement (GIA) Deed, takes biosecurity very seriously and is committed to maintaining a workable plant import system that protects New Zealand.
"We invest heavily in ensuring that our members have the tools and support they need to meet New Zealand’s stringent biosecurity requirements.”
NZPPI acknowledges the swift actions of MPI in investigating and addressing this breach.
"While this is an unfortunate incident, we remain focused on our long-term goal of facilitating access to high-quality plant material from overseas while maintaining strong biosecurity measures."