New or amended import health standards were frozen after beekeepers succeeded in legal action last year to block the importation of honey and bee products from Australia, because of their fears of importing new pests and diseases.

Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton says that has had a serious impact on many sectors, including the racing industry which needs a new import standard to bring back horses stuck in Australia because of the equine flu outbreak here.

Presenting the bill on behalf of the minister, David Cunlife told Parliament he supports the independent review process that has been included in the legislation, and which will be applied to Australian honey imports.

The Greens and the Maori Party say clearing imported goods which may introduce new organisms into the country should be the carried out by the Environmental Risk Management Authority.

Green MP Metiria Turei has accused Labour and National, which supported the Bill, of operating as a "grand coalition" that is putting trade ahead of biosecurity.

She says only a small amendment is needed before genetically modified organisms can be imported.

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