OVERSEAS MARKET ACCESS REQUIREMENTS NOTIFICATION- ANIMAL PRODUCTS 1999 – MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

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Ref: AE-JP010
Date: 02 May 2008

OMAR B HORANIEC.JPN 02.05.08 - HORSES to JAPAN

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999:

(i) I notify the following overseas market access requirements, entitled Horses to Japan.

(ii) Revoke OMAR B HORANIEC.JPN 10.01.05

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 7^th day of May 2008.

Signed: Karen Sparrow
Exports Manager
Border Standards
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Japanese Requirements

Horses exported from New Zealand to Japan must comply with the import regulations of Japan listed in this notice as follows.

2.1 An official veterinarian authorised by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry must certify, after due enquiry, the following:

2.1.1 New Zealand is free from the following diseases:

African horse sickness
anthrax
contagious equine metritis
dourine
equine encephalomyelitis (VEE, EEE, WEE)
equine influenza
epizootic lymphangitis
equine piroplasmosis
equine salmonellosis (Salmonella abortus equi)
horse pox
glanders
rabies
vesicular stomatitis
West Nile fever

2.1.2 Premises of origin is taken to mean any premises on which the horses for export were resident during the 60 days prior to entering pre-export isolation.

2.1.3 During the 3 months prior to the commencement date of pre-export testing, there has been no clinical diagnosis or serologically positive case of the following diseases, or any other notifiable disease of equines, on the premises of origin of the horses for export:

2.1.3.1 equine rhinopneumonitis, equine viral arteritis, melioidosis, strangles and equine infectious anaemia.

2.1.4 During the 3 months prior to pre-export testing, equine infectious anaemia (EIA) has not been detected or suspected in horses on the premises of origin.

2.1.5 With regard to West Nile fever:

EITHER 2.1.5.1 During the 60 days immediately prior to entering pre-export isolation the horse has been resident in New Zealand, which has never reported a case of West Nile Fever

OR 2.1.5.2 After examination of either the official passport or other relevant documents I am satisfied the horse was vaccinated against West Nile virus using a vaccine approved by the government authority, twice with an interval of three to six weeks (or once for booster) during 12 months prior to export to Japan.

(N.B. To be deleted as applicable.)

2.1.6 Either the horses for export have not been vaccinated or the vaccination history is completed on the export certificate.

2.1.7 The horses were subjected to the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID or Coggin's test) for equine infectious anaemia (EIA) with negative results within 30 days of export. Date of sample and date of testing.

2.1.8.1 The horses that have not been vaccinated against equine viral arteritis (EVA) were subjected to the serum neutralisation test for EVA with negative results within 30 days of the scheduled date of export (negative at a serum dilution of 1:4). Date of sample and date of testing.

OR

2.1.8.2 The horses that are stallions have been vaccinated against EVA, and satisfy ALL the following requirements:

2.1.8.2.1 Vaccination against EVA occurred immediately after testing negative to the serum neutralisation test for EVA (negative at a serum dilution of 1:4) (vaccination records must be officially verified, and all information recorded at 2.1.6 above). Date of pre-vaccination sample and date of testing.

2.1.8.2.2 Pre-export serological testing for EVA using the serum neutralisation test has occurred on three occasions at approximately 2 week intervals. The first sample was taken on the premises of origin, the second two during pre-export isolation, and the third within 10 days of export. The results must demonstrate either no significant rise (taken to be a fourfold rise between any two samples) or stable/declining titres. Dates of three samples and dates of testing.

2.1.8.2.3 The stallion has been determined to not be a semen carrier of EVA by either the covering test (test mating of two mares) or virus isolation from semen performed in accordance with the methods described below:

2.1.8.2.3.1 Covering test

2.1.8.2.3.1.1 The two test mares to be used for the covering test must satisfy the requirements for horses to be exported to Japan and must be isolated at the same pre-export isolation facilities together with the vaccinated stallion during 30 days prior to the shipment of the vaccinated stallion to Japan with negative results of the following tests:

2.1.8.2.3.1.1.1 Blood samples are taken from the two mares immediately prior to entering pre-export isolation facilities, and subjected to the serum neutralisation test with negative results at serum dilution 1:4.

2.1.8.2.3.1.1.2 During the 30 day pre-export isolation period each of the two test mares were covered by the vaccinated stallion twice a day for two days. On the 14th day and the 28th day after the last covering, blood samples are taken from each of the two test mares and were subjected to the serum neutralisation test with negative results at serum dilution 1:4.

2.1.8.2.3.1.1.3 The two test mares were found to be free of signs or symptoms of equine viral arteritis during the 30 day pre-export isolation period.

Date of entry of mares into pre-export isolation facility (1) and (2). Date/s of pre-isolaton samples (1) and (2). Dates of coverings (1) and (2). Date/s of post-covering samples (1) and (2) and date of testing (1) and (2).

2.1.8.2.3.2 Virus isolation from semen

2.1.8.2.3.2.1 The vaccinated stallion is isolated at the pre-export isolation facility for the 30 days prior to shipment to Japan, and subjected to the virus isolation test from semen as follows:

2.1.8.2.3.2.1.1 Disinfectants are not used in cleaning of the collection instruments and the external genitalia of the stallion prior to collection.

2.1.8.2.3.2.1.2 The collection of semen from the vaccinated stallion is conducted twice at an interval of one day or several days using an artificial vagina or a condom. The sample for virus isolation test is taken from a portion of sperm-rich fraction of the collected semen.

2.1.8.2.3.2.1.3 Two semen samples from the vaccinated stallion are subjected to virus isolation tests in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the "OIE Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines", chapter 3.4.10, with negative results.

(N.B. Delete whichever of 2.1.8.2.3.1 or 2.1.8.2.3.2 is not applicable.)

2.1.9 During the minimum 7 days immediately prior to export (N.B. stallions tested for EVA in accordance with 2.1.8 above must be isolated for a minimum 30 days prior to export), the horses were isolated from all other animals not of equivalent health status in isolation premises (authorised by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as a secured and guaranteed places from an animal health point of view) under the supervision of an Official Veterinarian approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Date of entry into isolation and date of completion of isolation.

2.1.10 Throughout the isolation period the horses for export were periodically inspected by of an Official Veterinarian approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and were found to be free from any clinical evidence of infectious or contagious diseases.

2.1.11 In so far as can be determined, all containers, vehicles and loading places of a ship or aircraft to be used to transport the horses from the isolation premises to the port of export were previously cleaned and disinfected under the supervision of the government authorities of New Zealand with chemicals approved by the said authorities.

2.1.12 In so far as can be determined, during transportation from pre export isolation to the port of embarkation the horses did not come into contact with any animals not of equivalent isolation and tested health status.

2.1.13 In so far as can be determined, feed and litter used during transportation from the port of export are provided from the same source used for pre-export isolation.

3. Definitions

For the purposes of this document:

Any term or expression that is defined in the Animal Products Act 1999 and used, but not defined in this document, has the same meaning as in this Act.

Explanatory note

These overseas market access requirements are basedon the current export certificate for the exportation of horses to Japan dated 2 May 2008.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: HORANIEC.JPN 02.05.08

1. This OMAR replaces the previous one dated 10 January 2008. The change was the requirement of an import permit being removed.

Section 61.A of the Animal Products Amendments Act 2005 states that 'The Crown is not liable, and nor is the Director-General or any employee of the Ministry liable, for any loss arising through the refusal or failure of the relevant authority of an overseas market to admit export animal material or animal product to that market'.