Category: Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

From 1 November to 26 January 2024, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invites comment on proposed changes to the Import Health Standard: Actinidia Plants for Planting [PDF, 436 KB]

This import health standard (IHS) was first issued in 2018. Since then, we have acquired new information that allows us to manage biosecurity risks better. This is not a comprehensive review of the IHS. It is a consolidation of separate changes aimed at enhancing its effectiveness and ease of use.

What’s being proposed?

We do not expect the changes to have significant impacts on anyone’s processes.

• Plants will still go into post-entry quarantine (PEQ) for the same length of time.
• There will be an increased cost for importers with 4 new PCR tests for Actinidia viruses.
• Post-entry quarantine operators will have more flexibility. Operators will be able to take samples from either stems or leaves for phytoplasma testing during PEQ (currently we only allow leaf samples).

Full details of the proposed changes are in the consultation documents.

Consultation documents

Draft IHS: Actinidia Plants for Planting [PDF, 763 KB]

Risk management proposal: Actinidia plants for planting amendments [PDF, 467 KB]

Making your submission

Email your feedback on the draft by 5pm on 26 January 2024 to PlantImports@mpi.govt.nz

Make sure you include in your submission:

• the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
• your name and title (if applicable)
• your organisation’s name (if you’re submitting on behalf of an organisation)
• your contact details (for example, phone number, address, and email).

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

Plant Germplasm Imports
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

All submissions received by the closing date will be considered before the amended IHS is issued. MPI may hold late submissions on file for consideration when the issued IHS is next revised or reviewed.

Next steps

After we have considered all submissions, there is a 10-day period which provides submitters with the opportunity to examine any changes to the IHS which have resulted from consultation. An independent review (under section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993) may be requested in this period if a submitter considers scientific evidence, they raised during their submission, has not received sufficient consideration. If there is no review, the IHS becomes final after 10 days.

Find out more about the process

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is intending, under section 29 of the ACVM Act 1997, to reassess the conditions of registration applied to all registered vertebrate toxic agents (VTAs). This will be performed sequentially according to the active ingredient, starting with the anti-coagulants and, most immediately, brodifacoum. 

MPI has held 2 previous rounds of consultation, the first of which was targeted to industry and the second was a public consultation held in April 2021. These have provided useful feedback on proposed changes to the regulatory controls which were considered as part of this final consultation on the proposed new controls.

First public consultation: Changes to the conditions of registration of products containing brodifacoum

As the proposed reassessment of all registered VTA products containing the active ingredient brodifacoum could impact on a wide range of stakeholders, MPI is seeking feedback from all interested parties on the proposed new controls for the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of brodifacoum as a VTA in New Zealand.

We welcome your comments about the proposals and how they will impact the use of these products (as outlined in the discussion document).

Discussion document

Proposal to modify the regulatory controls covering the manufacture, sale, storage and use of brodifacoum-based vertebrate toxic agent (VTA) products [PDF, 794 KB]

Related document

Responses to the submissions from the April 2021 brodifacoum public consultation [PDF, 779 KB]

Making a submission

Email your feedback on the discussion document by 5pm on 11 December 2023 to ACVM.Consultation@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

ACVM Programmes and Appraisals
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

What to include in your submission

• The title of this consultation (Proposed controls for the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of products containing brodifacoum).
• Your name and title (if applicable).
• Your organisation’s name (if applicable).
• Your address.

Also answer these questions:

• Is the level of detail appropriate?
• Are there any areas that need more guidance?
• Do you have any additional feedback?

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

New Zealand Food Safety is inviting comments on the proposed changes to the import requirements for frozen berries. The changes are specified in the new Part 7 of the draft Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale.

A summary of the proposed changes is on this web page and full details are in the consultation documents.

This consultation will be of interest to registered food businesses involved in the importation, manufacture, and retail sale of frozen berries.

All submissions on this consultation must be received by 5pm on 8 January 2024.

Consultation documents

Draft Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported for Sale [PDF, 612 KB]

Discussion Paper – Proposed Changes to the Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported for Sale [PDF, 791 KB]

Related documents

NZL 750 SPS Notification Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale [PDF, 97 KB]

Current Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported for Sale [PDF, 339 KB]

Related information

Importing frozen berries: a food of increased regulatory interest

What’s being proposed?

A new Part 7 has been added to the draft food notice, which contains the proposed new import requirements for frozen berries.

The proposed key changes and improvements are:

• changing the imported food category of frozen berries from ‘increased regulatory interest (IRI)’ food to ‘high regulatory interest (HRI)’ food
• clarifying the types of products included or excluded from the application of the requirements
• removing the current microbiological testing of consignments as a clearance requirement
• clarifying the requirements for official certificates
• adding specific provisions for the use of Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognised certificates.

We are also proposing an 18-month transition period, from the date of issue of the new notice, before the current clearance requirements are completely phased out. Over this period, importers of frozen berries can meet clearance requirements by complying with either the current requirements (for example, E. coli testing) or the proposed new clearance requirements in the draft notice.

Making your submission

We encourage you to use the submission form [DOCX, 70 KB]

Email your feedback on the draft document by 5pm on 8 January 2024 to import.systems@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer to get your feedback by email, you can post written submissions to:

Food Regulation Directorate (Imported Food)
New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

Make sure you include all the following information in your submission:

• the title of the document for consultation
• your name and title (if applicable)
• your organisation’s name
• your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email)
• any requests for confidentiality of specific information you provide.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

The Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) eradication programme moves into its next phase with Operational Solutions for Primary Industries (OSPRI) taking day-to-day control of its operation from 1 November 2023. 

M. bovis governance group independent chair Kelvan Smith says OSPRI will oversee operational and disease control functions under a contract for service.

“OSPRI’s role will include the testing of farms, managing the current active confirmed property, any newly detected farms, cleaning and disinfection, and farmer support. The Programme partners, Ministries for Primary Industries (MPI), Beef + Lamb New Zealand, and DairyNZ, will continue to provide governance and monitor progress.

“MPI will retain non-operational aspects of the programme, including compensation, and any necessary compliance action.

“We expect farmers to notice very little difference from current operations and the existing Government Industry Agreement between MPI, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand remains in place until a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) is approved and established.”

Mr Smith says the consultation on an NPMP recently closed with some good submissions from farmers.

“We have received submissions that are largely supportive of the proposal and the next step is to analyse and consider the feedback and update the draft proposal as appropriate.  It is expected the final proposal will be submitted to the Government in early 2024. We are planning for the NPMP to be in place by mid next year, subject to approval.” 

Mr Smith says the programme continues to perform well.

“The number of infected properties has fallen to very low levels and the major activity of the programme will be national surveillance of New Zealand’s cattle herd,” Kelvan Smith says. “This makes now the right time to look where we can start capitalising on the identified efficiencies and ensure all the partners – DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Government – are receiving value for their investment.” 

Mr Smith says farmers should not be affected by the move and the M. bovis levies would not increase.

“OSPRI will provide extensive experience in disease management and surveillance, an established regional management model for disease management, streamlined engagement and operational efficiencies with existing OSPRI programmes, National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT), and TBfree.”

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Total sales of veterinary and horticultural antibiotics in New Zealand have decreased for a fifth year in a row, dropping by 23% in 2022.

The drop was a key finding of the 2022 Antibiotic agricultural compound sales analysis released today by New Zealand Food Safety. The report summarises the trends in the annual sales of veterinary and horticultural antibiotics as part of a national action plan to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“The World Health Organization has identified AMR as one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity, so seeing a 23% drop in the sale of antibiotics for plants and animals is good news,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“Antibiotics are antimicrobial medicines essential to the health of humans, animals, and plants, but using them excessively can lead to the emergence of resistant bacteria that don’t respond to antibiotic treatment.

“With AMR increasing around the world, and few new antibiotics being developed, careful use of the antibiotics we have will help to keep them effective.”

Of the 16 classes of antibiotics New Zealand Food Safety monitors, 5 are critically important for human health, meaning they should be considered the last line of defence in animal infections.

“We found that the total sales of antibiotics critical for human health decreased by 8% in 2022 to 62,85kg. This is the lowest they’ve been since 2017, when 8,952kg of antibiotics critically important to human health were sold,” Mr Arbuckle said.

“Overall, the sale of antibiotics has dropped from 71,361kg in 2017 to 41,033kg in 2022. That’s a drop of 42%.

“The ongoing decrease in the use of antibiotics can be put down to a concerted effort from industry and New Zealand Food Safety to ensure these important medicines are used appropriately.

“The continued vigilance of veterinarians, farmers and other industry stakeholders, as well as our ongoing monitoring and support, are an effective way to minimise the incidence of AMR.

“We are also reviewing our regulatory oversight of antibiotics used in plants and animals, which could lead to a further reduction in antibiotic use as controls for some antibiotics might be tightened. This extensive piece of work has a five-year timeframe as it involves reviewing hundreds of antibiotic products.”

In 2017, the New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan was jointly developed by the Ministry of Health, New Zealand Food Safety and representatives from across the human health, animal health and agriculture sectors.

Its vision is for New Zealand to manage antimicrobials as a valuable shared resource and to maintain their efficacy so they can be used to treat infections in humans, as well as to manage diseases in animals and plants. An update to the action plan is due to be released next year.

You can read the 2022 Antibiotic agricultural compound sales analysis report here:

2022 Antibiotic agricultural compound sales analysis [PDF, 719 KB]

Combined veterinary and horticultural antibiotic sales in kg

Year	Total	Critical to human health
2017	71,361kg	8,952kg
2018	68,664kg	7,866kg
2019	61,147kg	6,982kg
2020	59,637kg	6,941kg
2021	53,422kg	6,848kg
2022	41,033kg	6,285kg

Veterinary antibiotic sales by species/sector

• 57% sold for use in dairy cattle
• 16% sold for use in pigs
• 9% sold for use in horses
• 4% sold for use in beef cattle
• 4% sold for use in meat poultry
• 4% sold for use in sheep
• 4% sold for use in companion and non-production animals
• 1% sold for use in layer poultry
• <1% sold for use in deer

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Longer days are here and it’s a great time to enjoy our rivers and lakes – while protecting them from invasive species like the freshwater gold clam.

A new awareness campaign has been launched ahead of Labour weekend, appealing to all water users to play a part in preventing the spread of the clam from the Waikato River, to any other lakes or rivers.

“The new public awareness campaign is a reminder to people of what they need to be doing, which is check, clean and dry boats and other gear before moving to other waterways,” says Biosecurity New Zealand director of readiness and response, John Walsh.

“We’re reaching people through radio advertising, which has begun, and we will also be reaching people online and at the river.

“You’ll also see new signs on the river from next week. Fisheries officers and Check Clean Dry ambassadors are already out and about the river and at events with information about the clam, and what you can do to help stop it spreading.”

Freshwater gold clam is an unwanted organism under the Biosecurity Act, which makes following the new Check Clean Dry procedures a legal requirement in waters where it’s known to be – that’s a 99km stretch of the Waikato River from Lake Maraetai and downstream.

Check Clean Dry – Freshwater gold clam

John Walsh says elsewhere, it’s still good advice to Check Clean Dry before moving to another river or lake spot, to stop an unwanted hitchhiker catching a ride with you.

“It takes all of us to protect what we have got here in New Zealand, so we all have a part to play in making sure we do everything we can to stop this pest clam from getting into any other river or lake.”

Biosecurity New Zealand continues to work with partners including iwi and councils and recreational groups to manage the clam and on taking practical measures to contain it – including the introduction of boat wash stations.

“The first boat wash station is now operational at Lake Karāpiro, and more are to come, including cleaning station areas in the Bay of Plenty,” John Walsh says.

A Waikato-based coordinator and a team of Check Clean Dry ambassadors have been active since July, working with river and lake user groups, event organisers and people giving permission for events.

“Considerable investment has been made in surveillance to understand the extent of the clam incursion and in public awareness to contain the clam and prevent its spread outside of the Waikato River, which is the only area where it has been found.

“We’re funding surveillance, scientific advice, suppression trials, community liaison including iwi capability building, public awareness campaigns and cleaning stations. To date, we’ve committed more than $2 million to managing this clam,” says John Walsh.

If you think you’ve spotted a gold clam somewhere new:

Don’t move it but note the location and provide a close-up photo of the clam as well as one that shows the surroundings.

More information on the Check Clean Dry requirements can be found here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/freshwaterclams

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

A former Waikato sharemilker found responsible for tail injuries to 84 cows, leading to some tails being amputated, has been placed on home detention for 7 months and banned from being in sole charge of animals for 2 years.

Following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Mark Donald Richardson (48) was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court today (17 October 2023) on 2 charges under the Animal Welfare Act that he earlier pleaded guilty to.

“MPI takes animal welfare very seriously. Most people in charge of animals treat their animals well. One of the disturbing aspects in this case was that 4 of these animals had to have their tails amputated because their injuries were so severe,” says MPI acting regional manager, animal welfare and National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) compliance, Richard Knight.

A 50:50 sharemilker, Mark Richardson was in sole charge of a herd of about 165 cows at Te Awamutu between November 2015 and 1 February 2020. He sold the herd and because the new owner noticed lumps in many of the cow’s tails, a veterinarian examined all the cows and found evidence of tail breaks.

“Mr Richardson admitted that he may have broken some tails accidentally, but 84 cows had injuries and would have suffered prolonged and significant pain, along with distress and the loss or damage to a body part. When we find evidence of animal neglect or deliberate abuse, we take action,” he says.

MPI encourages anyone with information about potential animal welfare offending to use its confidential hotline number 0800 00 83 33.

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

New Zealand Food Safety is inviting public comment on the new guidance document Inclusion of a Registered Veterinary Medicine in an Oral Nutritional Compound Exempt from Registration. This document provides guidance and clarity on the requirements that need to be met for oral nutritional compounds that incorporate a registered veterinary medicine.

Submission close at 5pm on 27 November 2023.

Consultation document

Inclusion of a Registered Veterinary Medicine in an Oral Nutritional Compound Exempt from the Requirement for Registration [PDF, 671 KB]

Making a submission

We would like to particularly draw your attention to the following points for consideration:

• Is the draft guidance document readable and is the guidance clear?
• How does this draft guidance document align with the related requirements; Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (Exemptions and Prohibited Substances) Regulations 2011, Agricultural Compounds Exempt from Registration ACVM Notice, Obligations under the ACVM Regulations ACVM Guideline? Can they easily be used in tandem?

Email your feedback on the new guidance document by 5pm on 27 November 2023 to acvm.consultation@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:

ACVM Team
New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

What to include

Make sure you tell us in your submission:

• the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
• your name and title (if applicable)
• your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
• your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).
• Your feedback on the guidance document, particularly in relation to the above questions.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

New Zealand Food Safety is inviting public comment on the proposed revision of the ACVM Guidance Document: Chemistry and Manufacturing Information for Agricultural Chemicals.

This document explains the chemistry and manufacturing information that should accompany an application to register or vary a registration of an agricultural chemical trade name product under the ACVM Act. This draft includes clarifications and more detail in a number of sections since the guidance was last updated in June 2010.  The first draft of this document underwent public consultation in 2020, and all feedback was considered. In particular, 3 sections with large changes (product formulation, product specifications, validation) underwent further targeted consultation with 4 interested parties in May 2022. Based on this feedback a number of changes have been made to the draft document. Due to the number of changes made, a second round of public consultation is being undertaken on the revised draft.

Submissions close at 5pm on 24 November 2023.

Consultation document

Chemistry and Manufacturing Information for Agricultural Chemicals – Guidance [PDF, 949 KB]

Background information

To be considered by the ACVM team, applications to register or vary a registration of an agricultural chemical trade name product should be accompanied by sufficient information.

This document explains the chemistry and manufacturing information that should accompany an application to register or vary a registration of an agricultural chemical trade name product under the ACVM Act.

Making a submission

Send us your feedback by 5pm on 24 November 2023.

Email your submission to ACVM.Consultation@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

ACVM Consultation

New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

What to include

We’d like your feedback on the following questions:

• Do you support or oppose any of the proposed updates included in the draft Guidance Document: Chemistry and Manufacturing Information for Agricultural Chemicals? For each update you have commented on, let us know why you support or oppose.
• On balance, do you support or oppose the draft Guidance Document: Chemistry and Manufacturing Information for Agricultural Chemicals itself?

Make sure you include in your submission:

• the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
• your name and title (if applicable)
• your organisation’s name (if applicable)
• your contact details (for example, phone number, address, and email)
• the answers to the questions posed.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

New Zealand Food Safety is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from near Tolaga Bay due to the presence of toxins.

“Routine tests on mussels from Tolaga Bay have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxins over the safe limit,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. “The warning extends from Tatapouri Point just north of Gisborne, up to Koutunui Point in Tokamaru Bay.

“Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick.

“Cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten.”

See a map of the warning

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include:

• numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• dizziness and headache
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhoea
• paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death. 

Pāua, crab, and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

New Zealand Food Safety has had no notifications of associated illness.

If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.

“New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation,” says Mr Arbuckle.

Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by New Zealand Food Safety to ensure they are safe to eat.

A public health warning remains in place in the Queen Charlotte Sound due to high levels of Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins.

Find out more

See signage in the affected area.

Shellfish biotoxin alerts

Subscribe to shellfish biotoxins to receive email alerts

Collecting shellfish and keeping them safe [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Causes and symptoms of toxic shellfish poisoning

About toxic algal blooms

Food safety for seafood gatherers booklet [PDF, 688 KB]