NZPPI submits key recommendations on Xylella fastidiosa management

13 Feb 2025

NZPPI has put in a formal submission to MPI supporting the ministry's proposal to improve the management of Xylella fastidiosa in imported nursery stock.

MPI's proposal is to recognise Pest Free Areas and Pest Free Places of production within the large geographic regions, like Europe, where Xylella is present. For example, MPI currently treats all of Europe as a high risk region for Xylella, even though many countries within Europe are free from the disease.

The proposed rules would enable MPI to recognise individual countries and places within Europe that can prove (through surveys) that they are Xylella free. These countries may have different testing and quarantine requirements for plant imports into NZ.

Emergency measures, first implemented in 2016, require 100% testing of Xylella host plant material from many regions, adding significant complexity and cost for NZ plant importers. This proposed change would bring NZ into line with our peer countries (including Australia) that already recognise Pest Free Areas and Pest Free Places and safely manage Xylella risk in their imports pathways.

NZPPI has been requesting this changes for a number of years and we are delighted to see this proposal now on the table. If adopted, it will be another improvement to the plant imports pathway, bringing us into line with our peers and trading partners.

Download our submission here .

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