Draft IHS for Pig Meat and Pig Meat Products for Human Consumption from Finland or Sweden

MAFBNZ has recognised Sweden as having regained freedom from Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). Consequently an amendment to the Import Health Standard for Pig Meat and Pig Meat Products for Human Consumption from Finland or Sweden is proposed to remove the notification that Sweden must comply with the risk mitigation requirements applied to pig meat imported from countries with PRRS.

This amendment will allow Sweden to resume exporting pig meat to New Zealand under this import health standard, rather than the import health standard for pig meat from the EU.

This is the only change to this import health standard, and therefore is the only issue currently under consultation.

Background

PRRS is a serious viral disease of pigs that emerged in the early 1980s. New Zealand remains free of PRRS. Currently pig meat imported from countries with PRRS must be cooked or pH treated to specifications in the import health standards. Pig meat imported from countries free of PRRS does not require treatment.

In 2007, there was an outbreak of PRRS in Sweden. A notification was placed on the import health standard for pig meat and pig meat products from Finland or Sweden stating that pig meat and pig meat products from Sweden were no longer eligible for import under this import health standard. Subsequently pig meat and pig meat products from Sweden could only be imported under the Import Health Standard for Pig Meat for Human Consumption from the European Community.

In 2008 Sweden declared freedom from PRRS, and provided further documentation of ongoing freedom in 2009. A detailed review of the documentation by MAFBNZ and the New Zealand Pork Industry Board concluded that the investigation, response and surveillance undertaken in Sweden supported reinstatement of their country as free of PRRS.

For a copy of the proposed import health standard for pork following New Zealand’s recognition of Sweden as free from PRRS, see:

CONSULTATION PERIOD: 28 September to 9 November 2009

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Page last updated: 28 September 2009