Processed Tilapia and Catfish for Human Consumption from Specified Countries

4 February 2011

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Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993

USER GUIDE

The information in MAFBNZ animal product import health standards is presented in numerically ordered sections with descriptive titles. Sections are grouped into one of four parts, designated alphabetically.

Part A. GENERAL INFORMATION contains sections of general interest, including those relating to the legal basis for MAFBNZ import health standards and the general responsibilities of every importer of animals and animal products.

Part B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE contains sections that outline the requirements to be met prior to and during importation. Whether a permit to import is required to be obtained prior to importation is noted, as are conditions of eligibility, transport and general conditions relating to documentation accompanying the consignment.

Part C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE contains sections describing the requirements to be met at the New Zealand border and, if necessary, in a transitional facility in New Zealand prior to any consignment being given biosecurity clearance.

Part D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION contains model health certification which must be completed by the appropriate personnel as indicated in the certification and accompany the consignment to New Zealand.

PART A. GENERAL INFORMATION

1 IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD

1.1 Pursuant to section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, this document is the import health standard for processed tilapia and catfish for human consumption from specified countries.

1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of processed tilapia and catfish for human consumption is dependent upon the consignment meeting the requirements of this import health standard.

1.3 This import health standard may be reviewed, amended or revoked if there are changes in New Zealand's import policy or the animal health status of the originating country, or for any other lawful reason, at the discretion of the Animal Imports and Exports Group Manager.

2 IMPORTER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 The costs to MAFBNZ in performing functions relating to the importation of processed tilapia and catfish fish for human consumption shall be recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act.

2.2 All costs involved with importation such as documentation, transport, storage and obtaining a biosecurity authorisation and/or biosecurity clearance shall be borne by the importer or agent.

2.3 Commercial consignments of products imported into New Zealand for human consumption in New Zealand must comply with the Food Act 1981. These requirements are independent of the import health standard requirements and are managed by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA). Importers are advised to contact the NZFSA or consult the NZFSA website at: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/imported-food/index.htm .

2.4 Once the consignment has been given biosecurity clearance into New Zealand, it is the importer’s responsibility to ensure (where relevant) that the consignment complies with the Animal Products Act 1999, especially if it is returned New Zealand product, product entering operations also used for the export of animal products, or if it is to be re-exported. Information about these requirements can be obtained from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) website: www.nzfsa.govt.nz/animalproducts/publications/omar/01-172.htm or by contacting the local NZFSA Verification Agency office. Certification and other official assurance requirements which may be applicable are accessible at: www.nzfsa.govt.nz/animalproducts/publications/manualsguides/oap/index.htm

2.5 It is the importer or agent’s responsibility to ensure that they are compliant with the current version of the relevant import health standard at the time of importation into New Zealand. Current versions of import health standards are available online at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ihs/search

3 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Biosecurity clearance

A clearance under section 26 of the Biosecurity Act (1993) for the entry of goods into New Zealand. (Explanatory Note: Goods given a Biosecurity Clearance by an Inspector are released to the importer without restriction).

Biosecurity authorisation

Written authority from an inspector, given under section 25 of the Biosecurity Act (1993), to move uncleared goods from a transitional facility or biosecurity control area to another transitional facility, containment facility or biosecurity control area, or to export those goods from New Zealand.

Certifying Official

A person authorised by the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country to sign international veterinary certificates.

CITES

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Inspector BA

Means a person who is appointed an inspector under section 103 of the Biosecurity Act (1993). (Explanatory Note: An Inspector is appointed to undertake administering and enforcing the provisions of the Biosecurity Act, and enforcing the provisions of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 in respect of new organisms).

MAFBNZ

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand

OIE

The World Organisation for Animal Health

Potable water

Water fit for human consumption, i.e. water that does not contain organisms pathogenic to humans in sufficient quantities to render the water harmful to a human consumer.

Zoosanitary certificate

A certificate issued by the exporting country in accordance with the OIE.

4 EQUIVALENCE

4.1 The import health standard has been agreed as being suitable for trade between the exporting and the importing countries. It is expected that the products will meet the conditions in every respect.

4.2 Occasionally it is found that, due to circumstances beyond the control of the importer or exporter, a consignment does not comply completely with this import health standard. In such cases, an application for equivalence may be considered, equivalence granted and a permit to import issued at the discretion of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, but only if the following information is forwarded by the certifying government's veterinary authority:

• which clause/s of the import health standard cannot be met and how this has occurred;
• the reason the consignment is considered to be of an "equivalent health" status and/or what proposal is made to return the consignment to an equivalent health status as set out in this standard; and
• the reasons why the veterinary authority of the country of origin believe this proposal must be acceptable to the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and their recommendation for its acceptance.

PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE

5 ELIGIBILITY

5.1 This import health standard allows the importation of:

1. frozen, skinless, boneless fish fillets (or mince derived from fillets) of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) for human consumption from the People's Republic of China, Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia or Malaysia.

2. frozen, skinless, boneless fish fillets (or mince derived from fillets) of non-CITES listed species of catfish (Pangasius spp.) for human consumption from Vietnam or Malaysia.

6 DOCUMENTATION ACCOMPANYING THE CONSIGNMENT

6.1 The consignment must be accompanied by appropriately completed health certification which meets the requirements of PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION.

6.2 Documentation must be in English, but may be bilingual (language of exporting country/English).

6.3 It is the importer's responsibility to ensure that any documentation presented in accordance with the requirements of this import health standard is original (unless otherwise specified) and clearly legible. Failure to do so may result in delays in obtaining biosecurity authorisation and/or clearance or rejection of consignments.

PART C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE

7 BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE

7.1 Upon arrival in New Zealand the documentation accompanying the consignment must be inspected by an Inspector at the port of arrival. The Inspector may also inspect the consignment, or a sample of the consignment.

7.2 For freezing completed in transit, printouts of all container temperature sensors or direct electronic downloads are to be made available to MAFBNZ.

7.3 Providing that the documentation meets all requirements of PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION and the consignment falls within the description of tilapia and catfish in Part B. ELIGIBILITY, the consignment may, subject to sections 27 and 28 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, be given a biosecurity clearance pursuant to section 26 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION

8 EXPORT CERTIFICATION

The following model Zoosanitary Certificate contains the information required by MAFBNZ to accompany processed tilapia and catfish for human consumption

9 MODEL ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION

Commodity: FROZEN, SKINLESS, BONELESS FISH FILLETS (OR MINCE DERIVED FROM FILLETS) OF TILAPIA OR CATFISH FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Scientific name: __________ (insert either Oreochromis spp. or Pangasius spp.)

Exporting Country:

Competent Authority:

I. ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCT

(i) Name, address and registration number of farm of origin:

(ii) Name, address and registration number of processing facility:

II. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

(i) The commodity contained in this consignment is (describe form and packaging):

(ii) Amount (in kgs) of product:
Number of the container(s) and container seal number(s) if sea freight:

III. DESTINATION OF FISH

(i) Name and address of New Zealand importer:

IV. ZOOSANITARY INFORMATION

I, __________ being a certifying official of _______________ (for Oreochromis spp. insert either Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia or Malaysia; for Pangasius spp. insert Vietnam or Malaysia), certify after due enquiry, with respect to the product identified in this Zoosanitary Certificate that:

1. The product is derived from fish within the genus _______________________(insert either Oreochromis spp.or Pangasius spp.) that have been farmed and were continually resident in _____________________ (for Oreochromis spp. insert either Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia or Malaysia; for Pangasius spp. insert Vietnam or Malaysia).

2. The consignment contains only skinless, boneless, frozen fillets (or mince derived from fillets) for human consumption.

3. No CITES listed species were used in the manufacturing of this product.

4. The product is derived from fish that were not slaughtered as an official disease control measure as a result of an outbreak of disease.

5. The product is derived from fish that at the time of harvesting for processing did not show any clinical signs of disease, septicaemia or skin ulceration.

6. The product is derived from fish that were processed in establishments approved by the Competent Authority of (for Oreochromis spp. insert either Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia or Malyasia; for Pangasius spp. insert Vietnam or Malaysia).

7. Potable water was used at all times in the processing plant where these fish have been processed.

8. EITHER

1. The product has been frozen to -18 °C for at least 168 hours (7 days) prior to transport, OR
2. The product has been frozen to -18 °C for at least 168 hours (7 days) including transit time. NOTE: Details of freezing during transit will be required as per the Import Health Standard PART C. 7.2.

(Delete 8.i or 8.ii as appropriate to the consignment)

9. This certificate was completed no more than three (3) days prior to shipment.

Official stamp

Name and signature of Certifying Official _______________ Date _____________

Name and address of office: