NZPPI has been advocating for a better plant imports system for over two years and we are really encouraged by the progress which is being made on a number of fronts. MPI stood up a new team last year for ornamental plants and cut flowers, which has already led to improved regulations for a number of key imports with more to come.

Government has just announced a budget boost of a further $38.5 million to transform the plant imports system and we look forward to working with government to achieve some great economic outcomes for New Zealand as a result of this. NZPPI has developed a Strategy for Plant Imports to inform the direction we will take over the coming years.

Some key pieces of work  still in development include:

• Removal of border testing for pelleted ornamental flower & herb seed imports
• Less costly regulations for petunia seeds and nursery stock – exporter/importer non-GMO declarations may soon be used in place of mandatory testing
• NZPPI is actively involved in four of the 11 Plant Import Recovery projects, including the review of GERMAC, and good progress is being made.