STC Number - 101
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Proposed import prohibition of commodity-country combinations of fresh cut flowers and foliage

Maintained by: New Zealand
Raised by: European Union
Supported by: Colombia
First date raised: July 2001 G/SPS/R/22 paras. 68-70
Dates subsequently raised:
Number of times subsequently raised: 0
Relevant documents: G/SPS/N/NZL/24 G/SPS/N/NZL/142
Products covered: 0603 Cut flowers and flower buds of a kind suitable for bouquets or for ornamental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated or otherwise prepared.; 0604 Foliage, branches and other parts of plants, without flowers or flower buds, and grasses, mosses and lichens, being goods of a kind suitable for bouquets or for ornamental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated or otherwise prepared.
Primary subject keyword: Plant Health
Keywords: Plant health; Risk assessment
Status: Resolved
Solution: Proposed measures withdrawn (G/SPS/R/26, par. 44).
Date reported as resolved: 01/03/2002

Extracts from SPS Committee meeting summary reports

In July 2001, the representative of the European Communities indicated that the proposed measure raised concerns because plants not traded for two years might be subject to a prohibition, pending a new risk assessment. This practice was not in accordance with international standards, and was unnecessary and unjustified.

The representative of Colombia noted that his country was among those mentioned in the notification, and was interested in participating in exchanges between the European Communities and New Zealand and in receiving any relevant information.

The representative of New Zealand explained that it had commenced a review of import requirements for cut flowers in 1997 as imports were steadily growing but a robust risk analyses had not been carried out. The review was undertaken in phases, during which the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry consulted widely with affected parties. The process culminated in new draft standards incorporating the proposed interim phytosanitary measures approved in May 1998 (notified as G/SPS/N/NZL/24). Those standards were being reviewed in light of the most up to date scientific data (G/SPS/N/NZL/142). At an initial step the review included the suspension of historic phytosanitary requirements for some countries. The notification was of New Zealand's plan to further consolidate the approved country-commodity schedules to include only those commodities that had actually been exported to New Zealand in the past two years. New Zealand would continue to address the EC concerns on a bilateral basis.

In March 2002, at the invitation of the Chairman, several Members provided additional information on document G/SPS/GEN/204/Rev.2. The representative of the European Communities stated that progress had been made on the trade concern with the Philippines under item 3 "Belgium - Measures regarding canned tuna in oil" and details would be submitted to the Secretariat. The representative of New Zealand stated that his country had withdrawn the proposed measures identified in item 89 "New Zealand - Proposed import prohibition of commodity-country combinations of fresh cut flowers and foliage".