BSI Expert Confirms MPI Import Standard May Break BiosecurityNew Zealand is very likely to experience incursion of new pests and plant diseases under a weakened Import Health Standard proposed by the Ministry of Primary Industries. A report by the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), the nation’s leading experts on pests and diseases, says there are “significant biosecurity concerns associated with the proposed Import Health Standard (IHS) for fresh blueberry imports into New Zealand”. Blueberries New Zealand is calling on MPI to strengthen the proposed Import Health Standard before it is finalised by:adopting a more precautionary, evidence-based approach to high-impact quarantine pests;strengthening systems approach requirements in exporting countries;requiring documented surveillance and integrated pest management programmes;improving transparency throughout the consultation process; andensuring that stakeholder scientific evidence is fully considered before the Import Health Standard is finalised. Blueberries New Zealand understands that the import standard has been developed at the request of the USA. “MPI need to set rules for imports that are the equivalent of those that must be met by our own producers and exporters”.