Homegrown Handmade

You support local business when you buy plants and seeds in NZ, but what happens when something you want to grow isn’t here?

A beginner’s guide to importing seeds

This is Cosmos bipinnatus Pink Popsocks, a powder puff-centred cosmos similar to an anemone dahlia. I rather like the look of it, but as far as I know, it’s not in New Zealand.

It begged the question: could I import some seeds?

Ministry for Primary Fisheries (MPI) spokesperson Sid Pickering says yes, as long as the seed packet is labelled with the scientific name.

“Cosmos bipinnatus seeds can be imported with the general ‘basic’ import biosecurity requirements.”

Thorough inspection will still be required on arrival in New Zealand.

Austin Walls is the owner of Owairaka Seeds in Auckland and specialises in growing unusual plants. He often imports flower seeds and says the process is fairly straightforward.

“The seeds have to be on the ‘allowed in’ MPI database list maintained by MPI.

“Seeds also have to be clean and free from bugs, and properly packaged. They also have to be correctly labelled with the genus and species. I import from several different sources, in Britain, Europe and the US.”

Fortunately for me, Cosmos bipinnatus is ok to import and I can go ahead and order Pink Popsocks when I want to.

How to check if your seed is approved

To find out if a plant is approved for importing by MPI, you need to consult the Plant Biosecurity Index (PBI).

“Only permitted species listed in the Plant Biosecurity Index are able to be imported into New Zealand as either seed or nursery stock,” says Sid.

The PBI can be viewed online. Just pop in the genus and/or species, and if it’s on the list it will appear (see example, right).

Alongside the plant, it shows the ‘import specification’. If it says ‘ basic’ or ‘see 155.02.05 under genus x’ ( x = genus name) you should be able to import it.

If the entry is not in the index or says ‘entry prohibited’ or ‘requires assessment’ you cannot import it.