PLANTS AND ENVIRONMENT Plant health surveillance and incursion investigation report: October to December 2019 The Ministry for Primary Industries The resulting 257 cases that required and diseases and minimise costly (MPI) Incursion Investigation team further investigation to rule out a eradication events, the importation of and Plant Health and Environment biological risk, represented a 20 percent seed into New Zealand is regulated by the Laboratory (PHEL) investigate and increase compared with the same quarter applicable IHS and non-compliance may diagnose suspect exotic pests and in 2018 (207). Significant cases involving result in prosecution. diseases in the plant and environment pests of concern commonly notified this Seed and nursery stock can be imported sectors. Incursion Investigators (IIs) quarter included a variety of seed with into the country only for species and scientists are based in Auckland, dubious import pathways and the brown approved by MPI, listed on the Plants Wellington, Rotorua and Christchurch. marmorated stink bug. Biosecurity Index (PBI) and compliant These teams provide field investigation, with the IHS 155.02.05: Seeds for Sowing. diagnostic testing and technical Seeds not compliant with Packages must have a clear customs expertise to detect and report new pest Import Health Standard declaration describing the contents and and diseases affecting plants and the MPI has a multi-layered biosecurity identifying the species, which must not environment. They support surveillance system to deal with risk. This includes be listed in Schedule 1 or 2 of the Trade and response functions, including import risk analysis, international in Endangered Species Act 1989 unless carrying out research and development agreements, permits, diagnostics, Import accompanied by the appropriate permits for better diagnostic tools and processes Health Standards (IHSs), pathway risk from the Department of Conservation to manage biosecurity risks. analysis, detector dogs and passenger and (DOC). In addition, packages must Incursion Investigators received 369 plant mail inspection. Despite the robustness display the scientific name and be free of and environment notifications during of the system, not all risk goods will be any weed seeds or other contaminants the 3-month period from October to detected; for example e-commerce trade such as soil. Non-compliant seeds often December 2019 (Figure 1), continuing in seeds is a difficult pathway to manage. arrive via the e-commerce pathway the trend of increased post-border from China, the US, UK, Greece, Egypt The Biosecurity Surveillance & Incursion notifications compared to the same and Australia. MPI is often notified via Investigation Plant Health (BSIIPH) quarter in 2018 (309). Investigators social media networks of potentially team investigated 28 seed cases this immediately stood down 90 cases incorrectly imported vegetable seeds quarter and investigators concluded because biological risk was ruled out, and and ornamentals being traded in only five were negative for the presence 22 more cases were redirected to other New Zealand. All cases are investigated of a biological risk. To protect our agencies responsible for managing the and, in most instances, the seeds and primary industries from exotic pests pest concerned. Figure 1: Plant health notifications, investigations and other outcomes, October–December 2018 and 2019 30 Surveillance 47 (1) 2020 any resulting plants are destroyed. Some origin of the new Trademe auction. received that were negative for BMSB example are provided below. Facebook members were contacted but still required investigation. BMSB and a subsequent phone interview notifications are treated with urgency and Seeds from an overseas with the new seller revealed the seeds some positive cases are described below. website discussed on Facebook had been purchased earlier in the year A member of the public alerted MPI and not recently as implied. With the Suspect BMSB, Christchurch to a Facebook posting where suspected assistance of Trademe administrators, the Airport illegally imported seeds were being investigation determined the seeds had A solitary live suspect BMSB was grown in pots. Using MPI’s Intelligence been purchased in the earlier auction but reported to MPI by Qantas staff at Team, the II obtained contact details were not known about during the earlier the oversized luggage belt in the of the person of interest (POI) and investigation so had not been seized. Two Christchurch International Airport determined that 44 packets of “edible potted plants and the remaining seeds terminal. At the time of detection the seeds” had been ordered from the were incinerated by the owner. insect was sitting on the strap of a Chinese website “Wish”. Only one seed passenger’s backpack. The duty Chief In comparison to the previous seed line sprouted, which was supposed to Quarantine Officer (CQO) was notified investigation, the notifier in this case be sugarcane but the plant did not look and arranged submission of the bug had taken on board the seriousness of like it so the POI sought advice from for identification to PHEL, where it biological risk associated with importing Facebook plant hobbyists. In response, was confirmed to be a female BMSB, and growing seeds and co-operated with Facebook members warned the importer non-reproductive and unmated. The this investigation. While online trading of the biosecurity risk posed by imported traveller was an American citizen en of risk goods creates much work for plant seeds from non-reputable sources. route to Asia via Australia after travelling health investigators, the forum can also through New Zealand. The investigation Apparently, the packet description work in MPI’s favour by educating a revealed that after spending one night was in Chinese script and the POI was wide audience. in motel accommodation on arrival in unsure what it said or whether botanical Christchurch, he spent the following names were provided. One packet was Brown marmorated stink 17 days travelling in a campervan around simply labelled “persimmon”. The POI bug investigations the South Island. For most of this time he had previously received a letter from New Zealand is on red alert for an was accompanied by his son, who arrived MPI relating to other non-compliant invasion of the brown marmorated stink in Queenstown from South Australia. seed imports that had been seized at bug or BMSB (Halyomorpha halys), They travelled to Gore Bay, Arthur’s Pass, the Auckland International Mail Centre considered one of this country’s greatest Mt Cook, Wanaka, Queenstown, Curio (AIMC). Her explanation for planting biosecurity risks. It feeds on a wide Bay, Portobello, Temuka and Akaroa, these seeds was that “since they were variety of plants, including pipfruit, staying in camping sites and sleeping in delivered they must have undergone stonefruit, grapes and kiwifruit. If the campervan and a tent the son had biosecurity clearance at the border”. All established here, it could potentially brought with him from Australia. the potted plants were destroyed with the feed on all our fruit and vegetable crops. assistance of Horizons Regional Council Since 2018, farmers across Europe have Investigators contacted the father and (HRC), Taumarunui. It is frustrating reported record crop devastation, in son and inspected their belongings that even though members of the public some instances so high that the cost of for BMSB. People associated with the are advised by MPI how to correctly production is not viable. The bugs are facilities they had used during their trip import seeds, they continue to purchase very good at spreading on agricultural were contacted and BMSB pamphlets from overseas websites, thereby risking machinery, vehicles and inanimate goods were provided for staff and for public New Zealand’s biosecurity. and this “hitch-hiker” behaviour poses awareness. The campervan was inspected the greatest risk of the bug reaching and nooks and crannies sprayed with an Cucamelon seeds sold New Zealand. For example, in 2018 there insecticide as a precautionary measure. on Trademe were 17 male and 9 female live stinkbugs In addition, the vehicle was sealed A member of the public who had accidentally imported with a pair of shoes and a can of insecticide applied to the previously been investigated for from West Virginia, USA. Fortunately interior. On inspection no BMSB were importing cucamelon seeds alerted MPI the purchaser was aware of BMSB and found. The camping equipment was to a Facebook discussion about “recently immediately called the MPI exotic pest inspected and frozen for a week at MPI purchased” cucamelon (Melothria scabra, and disease hotline (0800 80 99 66). and no BMSB were found. It was possible Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) seeds that the BMSB might have arrived at During this quarter 60 suspected BMSB being sold on Trademe. Cucamelon, the airport in other luggage and just cases were reported and an investigation also known as dragon’s eggs or Mexican happened to find its way on to this was initiated for each one, resulting in sour gherkin, is not listed on the passenger’s backpack. 20 positive BMSB identifications where PBI. It is not known to be present in urgent measures were undertaken by the New Zealand and therefore is a suspect Live BMSB in suitcase ex Italy II to mitigate the risk of establishment. new organism under the Hazardous MPI was notified of a suspect BMSB A further 37 cases investigated were Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) found