WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/198/Add.1
17 June 2003
(03-3198)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
The following communication, dated 6 June 2003, has been received from New Zealand.
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Import requirements for palm seed for sowing imported into New Zealand
On 13 January 2003, New Zealand notified to WTO Members the draft import health standard
(G/SPS/N/NZL/198) for palm seed for sowing.  It wa s proposed that a number of pre-export treatments
would be required on such seed including pre-expor t inspection and sourcing the seed a "Pest free area",
free from Coconut cadang-cadang viroid .  The final date for comments on the draft generic import
health standard closed on 21 March 2003.
No comments were received from WTO Members but a number of comments were received
from domestic importers of such seed.  In light of these comments, the import health standard for most
palm species was revised to require an additional declaration that the seed had not been sourced from
Guam, the Philippines or the Solomon Islands (the three countries in which Coconut cadang-cadang
viroid occurs).  The revised standard was issued for implementation on 19 May 2003.
For further information or copies of the revised standard, contact Sally Griffin, Coordinator,
SPS New Zealand, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.  Tel: +64 4 474 4140;  Fax: +64 4 470
2730;  E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz.  The revised standard is also available on the internet at:
http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/imports/plants/standards/155-02-05.pdf
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