New Zealand seeks comment on changes to seed importation protocol

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invites comment from interested parties on the proposed changes to the general requirements for the importation of seeds for sowing (Import Health Standard 155.02.05: Importation of Seeds for Sowing), and the Protocol for Testing Seed Imports for the Presence of Genetically Modified Seed. 
 

An IHS “specifies requirements to be met for the effective management of risks associated with importing risk goods, including risks arising because importing the goods involves or might involve an incidentally imported new organism” (section 22(1) Biosecurity Act 1993). 

 

The changes proposed are intended to update the IHS to ensure the current assurance against the importation of unapproved GM plant material is maintained in response to changing scientific and commercial dynamics. 

 

Comment submissions will be closed on 08th October 2015.