Skip to content
Nelum
Laws of New Zealand

Plants Act 1970

Made 1970-12-03 · Text as of 2026-10-01

Public law and official guidance, published as research. Not legal, tax or financial advice.

research.laws.repealedOn

About this law

Language
English
Kind
Act
Organisation
European Union
Country
New Zealand
Subjects
Cultivated plants
Keywords
plant protection, pests/diseases, international trade, residues
Categories
*, agriculture

Where to read it

    No source link is recorded for this law.

Text

The law's own text, section by section, as held. Each section has its own link.

  1. Plants Act 1970 Public Act 1970 No 151 Date of assent 3 December 1970 The Plants Act was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) except for sections 5, 7, 10(a), 15, and 16. Those sections were retained only in so far as they related to new organisms or the export of plant products. Sections 5, 7 and 10(a) were repealed, as from 29 July 1998, with application to new organisms, by section 150(1) Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (1996 No 30). See clause 2 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (New Organisms) Commencement Order 1998 (SR 1998/220). Contents Page Title 2 1 Short Title [Repealed] 2 2 Interpretation [Repealed] 3 3 Act to bind Crown [Repealed] 3 Part 1 Importations 4 Quarantine stations [Repealed] 3 5 Minister may appoint ports [Repealed] 3 6 Emergency restrictions on importation [Repealed] 4 7 Importation for purpose of scientific research [Repealed] 4 8 Plant material, etc., illegally introduced may be seized [Repealed] 4 9 Duty of Post Office officers and Customs officers [Repealed] 4 10 Regulations [Repealed] 5 Part 2 Disease control 11 Control or eradication of disease [Repealed] 5 12 Proclamation of plant disease emergency [Repealed] 5 13 Emergency powers for eradication of serious disease [Repealed] 5 14 Regulations [Repealed] 5 Note This Act is administered in the [Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry]. 1 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM385161 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255897 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 Plants Act 1970 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Part 3 Plant control 15 Diseases and pests in crops for export 6 16 Regulations 6 Part 4 Power of inspectors 17 Appointment of inspectors [Repealed] 7 18 Powers of inspectors [Repealed] 7 19 Rights of entry [Repealed] 8 20 Inspector may employ assistants [Repealed] 8 21 Liability for causing inspector to incur expense [Repealed] 8 22 Obstructing or hindering inspector an offence [Repealed] 8 23 Protection of inspectors [Repealed] 8 Part 5 Miscellaneous provisions 24 Giving notice under this Act [Repealed] 8 25 Dispatch of plants to New Zealand [Repealed] 9 26 Existence of disease [Repealed] 9 27 Erroneous and knowingly false declarations [Repealed] 9 28 Offences [Repealed] 9 29 Fines [Repealed] 9 30 Money to be paid into Public Account [Repealed] 9 31 Regulations [Repealed] 9 32 Consequential amendments [Repealed] 9 33 Other legislation not affected [Repealed] 10 34 Repeals [Repealed] 10 Schedule 10 An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to plants and plant diseases 1 Short Title [Repealed] Sections 1­4 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 2 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Plants Act 1970 Part 1 s 5 2 Interpretation [Repealed] Director­General: In the definition of this term the reference to the “Director­General of Agriculture and Fisheries” was substituted for a reference to the “Director­General of Agriculture” by section 3(6)(c) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1972. Inspector: In the definition of this term, in the references to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act 1953, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1962, the words “Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries” were substituted for the words “Department of Agriculture” by section 2(3) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1972. Minister: In the definition of this term the reference to the “Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries” was substituted for a reference to the “Minister of Agriculture” by section 3(6)(a) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1972. Sections 1­4 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 3 Act to bind Crown [Repealed] Sections 1­4 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) Part 1 Importations 4 Quarantine stations [Repealed] In subsection (1) the “National Parks Act 1980” and the “Reserves Act 1977” were substituted for the repealed “National Parks Act 1952” and “Reserves and Domains Act 1953”. In subsection (4) the reference to “the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries” was substituted for a reference to “the Minister of Agriculture” by section 3(6)(a) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1972. Sections 1­4 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biose­ curity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 5 Minister may appoint ports [Repealed] Compare: 1928 No 4 s 5 The Plants Act 1970 was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) except for sections 5, 7, 10(a), 15, and 16. These sections were retained only in so far as they related to new organisms or the export of plant products. 3 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Part 1 s 6 Plants Act 1970 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Sections 5, 7 and 10(a) were repealed, as from 29 July 1998, with application to new organisms, by section 150(1) Hazardous Substances and New Organ­ isms Act 1996 (1996 No 30). See clause 2 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (New Organisms) Commencement Order 1998 (SR 1998/220). Section 170 Biosecurity Act 1993 (as amended, as from 29 July 1998, by section 134 Biosecurity Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 89)) states that notwithstand­ ing the repeal of this Act it remains in full effect to the extent necessary to allow for the proper administration of the unrepealed provisions in relation to the ex­ port of plants. 6 Emergency restrictions on importation [Repealed] Section 6 was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 7 Importation for purpose of scientific research [Repealed] Compare: 1967 No 50 s 16(1)(b) The Plants Act 1970 was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) except for sections 5, 7, 10(a), 15, and 16. Those sections were retained only in so far as they related to new organisms or the export of plant products. Sections 5, 7 and 10(a) were repealed, as from 29 July 1998, with application to new organisms, by section 150(1) Hazardous Substances and New Organ­ isms Act 1996 (1996 No 30). See clause 2 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (New Organisms) Commencement Order 1998 (SR 1998/220). Section 170 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (as amended, as from 29 July 1998, by section 134 Biosecurity Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 89)) states that not­ withstanding the repeal of this Act it remains in full effect to the extent necessary to allow for the proper administration of the unrepealed provisions in relation to the export of plants. 8 Plant material, etc., illegally introduced may be seized [Repealed] Sections 8 and 9 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 9 Duty of Post Office officers and Customs officers [Repealed] Sections 8 and 9 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 4 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM385161 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255897 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM417051 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM385161 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255897 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM417051 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Plants Act 1970 Part 2 s 14 10 Regulations [Repealed] The Plants Act 1970 was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) except for sections 5, 7, 10(a), 15, and 16. These sections were retained only in so far as they related to new organisms or the export of plant products. Sections 5, 7 and 10(a) were repealed, as from 29 July 1998, with application to new organisms, by section 150(1) Hazardous Substances and New Organ­ isms Act 1996 (1996 No 30). See clause 2 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (New Organisms) Commencement Order 1998 (SR 1998/220). Paragraphs (b) to (m) were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) Section 170 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (as amended, as from 29 July 1998, by section 134 Biosecurity Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 89)) states that not­ withstanding the repeal of this Act it remains in full effect to the extent necessary to allow for the proper administration of the unrepealed provisions in relation to the export of plants. Part 2 Disease control 11 Control or eradication of disease [Repealed] Sections 11­14 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 12 Proclamation of plant disease emergency [Repealed] Sections 11­14 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 13 Emergency powers for eradication of serious disease [Repealed] In subsection (2) the reference to “the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries” was substituted for a reference to the “Minister of Agriculture” by section 3(6)(a) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1972. Sections 11­14 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 14 Regulations [Repealed] Sections 11­14 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 5 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM385161 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255897 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM255892 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM417051 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Part 3 s 15 Plants Act 1970 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Part 3 Plant control 15 Diseases and pests in crops for export (1) If the Director­General has reason to believe that any disease, pest, or residue of toxic chemical is present in any crop which the grower intends to pack and submit for export, and in the opinion of the Director­General that disease, pest, or residue is present to such a degree that it would be impossible by grading and post­harvest treatment to eliminate the disease or pest and all infected plant material, or to reduce the residue to a level which in his opinion is permissible, hemay by notice inwriting direct the grower not to submit for export all or such portion of the crop on all or such portion of the property of the grower as the Director­General may decide. (2) Any grower or any other person who, contrary to any such no­ tice, packs or submits any crop for export commits an offence against this Act. The Plants Act 1970 was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) except for sections 5, 7, 10(a), 15, and 16. Those sections were retained only in so far as they related to new organisms or the export of plant products. 16 Regulations Without limiting the power to make regulations conferred by sections 10 and 14 of this Act, the Governor­General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes: (a) Providing for a system of grading, packing, and pack­ aging plant material in accordance with grades and methods and types of packing to be determined from time to time by the Director­General: (b) Prescribing standard packages for specific kinds of plant material intended for export or for sale in New Zealand: (c) Providing for the branding or marking of packages of specific kinds of plant material, and for the registration of brands and marks: 6 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Plants Act 1970 Part 4 s 18 (d) Prescribing the conditions under which any package or casemay be usedmore than once for the carriage of fruit or plant material: (e) Providing for the registration of nurseries subject to pre­ scribed terms and conditions: (f) Providing that any person who sows or plants the seed or viable portion of any specified plant shall give such information or make such returns in relation thereto as may be specified in the regulations: (g) Declaring any specified area to be a plant or fruit grow­ ing district under a name to be specified in the regula­ tions: (h) Prescribing modes of treatment of plant material before export, and prescribing such other things as shall be required of plant material for export: (i) Prohibiting or restricting the export of any plant mater­ ial. Compare: 1928 No 4 s 23 The Plants Act 1970 was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biosecurity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) except for sections 5, 7, 10(a), 15, and 16. Sections 5, 7 and 10(a) were repealed, as from 29 July 1998, with application to new organisms, by section 150(1) Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (1996 No 30). Part 4 Power of inspectors 17 Appointment of inspectors [Repealed] In subsection (2), in 2 places, references to “the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries” were substituted for references to “the Department of Agriculture” by section 3(6)(b) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1972. Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 18 Powers of inspectors [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 7 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM385161 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Part 4 s 19 Plants Act 1970 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 19 Rights of entry [Repealed] The reference to “a District Court Judge” was substituted for a reference to “a Magistrate” by section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979. Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 20 Inspector may employ assistants [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 21 Liability for causing inspector to incur expense [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 22 Obstructing or hindering inspector an offence [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 23 Protection of inspectors [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) Part 5 Miscellaneous provisions Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 24 Giving notice under this Act [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 8 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM35085 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Plants Act 1970 Part 5 s 32 25 Dispatch of plants to New Zealand [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 26 Existence of disease [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 27 Erroneous and knowingly false declarations [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 28 Offences [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 29 Fines [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 30 Money to be paid into Public Account [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 31 Regulations [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 32 Consequential amendments [Repealed] Subsection (4) was repealed, as from 1 September 1972, by section 4(2)(f) Min­ istry of Agriculture and Fisheries Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 3). 9 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 Part 5 s 33 Plants Act 1970 Reprinted as at 3 September 2007 Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 33 Other legislation not affected [Repealed] The words “The Noxious Plants Act 1978”were substituted for the words “the Noxious Weeds Act 1950” by section 120(5) of the Noxious Plants Act 1978. Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) 34 Repeals [Repealed] Sections 17­34 were repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Bio­ security Act 1993 (1993 No 95) Schedule [Repealed] The Schedule was repealed, as from 1 October 1993, by section 167(1) Biose­ curity Act 1993 (1993 No 95) [Repealed] 10 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/pdfLink.aspx?id=DLM316768

Plants Act 1970 · Nelum