Our EPA application to import and release 12 houseplant species across seven tropical plant genera without controls has been approved. This is the first approval of its type and is a huge win for our greenlife sector.
The species are: Alocasia micholitziana, Anthurium clarinervium, Anthurium veitchii, Goeppertia bella, Goeppertia orbifolia, Macodes petola, Peperomia albovittata, Peperomia pecuniifolia, Peperomia quadrangularis, Peperomia rotundifolia, Pilea peperomioides and Plumeria pudica.
Nine of the 12 species are already present in New Zealand but were left off the HSNO 'present in New Zealand list' when it came into force 24 years ago.
NZPPI Biosecurity and Technical Manager Kathryn Hurr has been working on this application for the past two years, ensuring it was based on technical information and each plant species had gone through a thorough risk assessment and application process.
"Firstly we wanted to set the record straight regarding the nine species already in New Zealand. Secondly, in response to NZPPI member requests, we sought approval for the three species not yet here to help create opportunities to import new exotic plant species in a safe and robust way.
"As we said in the EPA hearing, internationally there has been a focus on the importance of greenlife, historically considered as frivolous, with a real shift and trend towards a more professional and valued sector in the greenlife space."
At the February hearing, Ben Pocock of the Ministry for Primary Industries said that MPI had no apparent cause for concern or objection to the application. He noted that it is time consuming for MPI to deal with enquiries about high-interest plants such as these, which have ambiguous legislation settings but are potentially of lower risk than other species. He said they are 12 species that will provide the greatest impact with clearing up ambiguity between MPI and stakeholders.
This EPA decision to release these 12 species does not mean they are now automatically eligible for import however. Each species will need to be assessed under the Biosecurity Act and have an import health standard in place before they can be imported.
Kathryn said the next steps from NZPPI are to make a request to MPI to develop import health standards.
"We also want to share our learnings from this process with the EPA and Ministry for the Environment, who have responsibility for the HSNO Act, and advocate for improvements to this part of the import system. It’s very expensive and lengthy and it’s hampering innovation in our plant primary industries.
"We've learned a lot going through this process and we hope that it sets a precedent for more applications for non-invasive, new plant species in future."
The EPA Approval and Decision documents are below.