May 2, 2003

MAF Media Release via Agnet

The New Zealand Ministry for Food and Agriculture (MAF) has taken a pre-emptive step to ensure that future imports of cotton seed comply with the provisions of the HSNO Act.

On 1 May MAF Biosecurity made a minor amendment to the import requirements for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seed for sowing. Future imports of cotton seed will require a permit, prior to arrival at the New Zealand border. Importers will also be required to provide appropriate assurances that the consignment does not contain unauthorized genetically modified seeds.

Appropriate assurances include testing the seed or parent plants and isolating the crop during production.

National Advisor for MAF, Dr Gerard Clover says although there are no records of cotton seed being imported to New Zealand and no existing cotton growing industry, the amendment was made to an historical health standard governing imported cotton seed.

"This amendment is pre-emptive, to ensure that importers are aware of the requirements under the HSNO Act. If there is a cotton growing industry in the future, MAF would introduce a specific testing protocol for cotton seeds, as it has done for soy, maize and oil seed rape," Dr Clover said. Cotton seed oil imports are covered by Food Standards and therefore are not included in the import health standard.