You will need to work out whether the plant or seed is considered to be a new organism. Plant species that are new organisms will need our approval to import or use in New Zealand.
The following steps set out what you can do to work out whether your plant or seed is considered to be a new organism.
After completing this process, we advise that you confirm with us whether your plant or seed is considered to be a new organism or not.
Please note that there are some plants that are not allowed in New Zealand at all.
Step 1: Working out if your plant species is considered to a new organism
The MPI Plant Biosecurity Index (PBI) is a list of close to 30,000 plant species and lists the quarantine requirements for importing these plants.
If your plant species is listed on the PBI, you do not need our approval to bring it into New Zealand. Please note that you will still need to fulfill the requirements of the Biosecurity Act administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). To contact MPI about this, contact the plant imports team by phone at 0800 00 83 33 from within New Zealand or +64 4 894 0100 (international calls) or email: plantimports@maf.govt.nz
If your plant species is not on the PBI, go to step 2.
Step 2: Your plant species is not on the PBI and therefore considered to be a new organism – is this correct?
If your plant species is not listed on the PBI, then it will by default be considered to be a new organism. Your seeds may have been detained for this reason. Your seeds may also be detained if you don’t provide the correct scientific name for your plant.
You have three options if your plant species is not listed on the PBI:
Option 1: Check whether your plant species is known by other names that are listed on the PBI
Check to see if your plant species is known by another name (synonym) which is listed on the PBI. The following websites may be useful for this:
If you provide us evidence that the plant species is known by another name listed on the PBI, we can provide you informal (non-statutory) advice in a letter stating this. If you give this letter to MPI, you won’t need an approval from us to import or use this plant species into New Zealand.
Please note that you will still need to fulfill the requirements of the Biosecurity Act. To contact MPI about this, contact the plant imports team by phone at 0800 00 83 33 from within New Zealand or +64 4 894 0100 (international calls) or email: plantimports@maf.govt.nz
If your plant species does not have another name that is listed on the PBI, go to option 2.
Option 2: Find evidence that your plant species is present in New Zealand
If you have evidence that the plant species was present in New Zealand before 29 July 1998 (for example evidence from local plant catalogues, scientific papers, signed statements from person(s) who have these plants, or pre-1998 import permits for this plant species) we can provide you informal (non-statutory) advice (as a letter) stating this that you can provide to MPI. This will mean that you won’t need to get an approval from us to import or use this plant species in New Zealand.
Please note that you will still need to fulfill the requirements of the Biosecurity Act. To contact MPI about this, contact the plant imports team by phone at 0800 00 83 33 from within New Zealand or +64 4 894 0100 (international calls) or email: plantimports@maf.govt.nz
If you cannot find this evidence, go to step 3.
Step 3: Make an application to import the new plant species into New Zealand
If there is no evidence that this plant species is present in New Zealand, you will need to make an application (a release application) to us so that we can do a risk assessment before your plant can be introduced into the New Zealand environment. Please note that release applications require a substantial amount of information about the plant species and you will need to provide information on the potential effects of the plant species on the environment, human health, society, Māori culture and traditions, and the market economy.