Background Funds recovered with each phytosanitary certificate allow MPI to undertake a range of activity to support horticultural and seed exports. The range of activities these funds support are described in PMAC’s annual reports
Teams involved in undertaking work with cost recovered funds MPI is a large organisation which is subdivided into 8 branches
Three teams within MPI undertake work to support plant exports and are in part funded with cost recovered funds. They are:
The Market Access team sits within the Market Access Directorate in the Policy and trade Branch . This team :
Leads responses to significant trade issues
Negotiates and drives market access requests
Has market specific Counsellors which work closely with Plant Exports to respond to sector specific issues raised by markets
Runs an annual prioritisation process to ensure individual Counsellors can put adequate resourcing behind individual requests to progress agreed work and make the most of opportunities as they arise .
Plant Exports team sits within the Animal and Plant Health Directorate within Biosecurity NZ. This team
Provides technical support to Sectors to assist with exporting and developing market access requests
Has Sector specific advisers who helps Sectors deal with the technical requirements of market access, including developing and maintaining Official Assurance Programmes (OAPs) where required
Is primarily responsible for phytosanitary areas but also provides technical information for food safety, seed varietal, grade and industry-specific issues
Leads approval and management of MPI-approved organisations (MAOs) within the Plant Export Assurance system
The Plant Assurance team sits within the Assurance Directorate in New Zealand Food Safety. This team
Develops and maintains the assurance systems
Is responsible for ePhyto and the provision of phytocerts
Develops new assurances if required
Updates assurance standards
Audits and communicates requirements to IVA’s
Information to assist exporters
MPI provides a range of information on its web site about how to export plant products. All of the work to produce these systems and information is funded with cost recovered funds.
Additional information on plant specific requirements is described on a separate web page and provides access amongst other things to:
Where information on exporting is important but has yet to be fully verified, MPI releases an FYI. FYI’s for all primary product exports on placed on a single FYI web page.Topics covered in FYi's may include information on palletisation requirements , Country registration requirements etc.
The PMAC regular updates provide a link to new information when it is first placed on the MPI website whenever possible.
If you have specific question about exporting plant products and require additional assistance MPI offers an Exporter Regulatory Advice Service
Funding to assist with market access
MPI’s Market Access team is responsible for opening up new markets and supporting / enhancing existing trade.
Once a market access request, for new or improved market access, is prioritised by the Market Access team the sector/ business will work with the Pant Exports team and Market Access counsellor to prepare the required information required by the target market. MPI charges the entity applying for access for this time.
While there is limited funding available to help organisations and sectors with market access issues. Potential funding sources include:
MPI Larger projects that include a market access component may receive funding from MPI’s Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund.
Agmardtoffers funding to investigate or develop markets
NZTEprovides assistance with understanding and developing a market
