Importing Dairy products samples for evaluation from all countries

11 May 2004

daisamic.all

Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993
Dated: 11 May 2004

USER GUIDE

The information in MAF 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 MAF 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 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 the importation into New Zealand of dairy product samples for evaluation.

1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of dairy product samples for evaluation imported into New Zealand 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 Director Animal Biosecurity.

2 IMPORTER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 The costs to MAF in performing functions relating to the importation of dairy product samples for evaluation shall be recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act.

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

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

3 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Biosecurity Clearance

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Category One and Category Two

Category One refers to dairy products from countries with dairy industries recognised as free from foot and mouth disease. Category Two refers to dairy products from all other countries.

Commercially packaged

A product that has been packed for retail sale and has a label attached that states the product name, ingredients, manufacturer’s name and address, and country of origin of the product.

Countries with dairy industries recognised as free from foot and mouth disease

American Samoa, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Former Yug. Republic of Macedonia, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia (Sabah), Malaysia (Sarawak), Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Nauru, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Palau, Romania, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Wallis & Fortuna, Western Samoa.

Dairy products

Includes all products manufactured from the milk of buffalo, cattle, goats or sheep. For example, cheese, yoghurt, butter, milk powder etc may be imported under this import health standard.

Director Animal Biosecurity

Director Animal Biosecurity, New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, or any person who for the time being may lawfully exercise and perform the power and functions of the Director Animal Biosecurity.

Equivalence

Acceptance by the Director Animal Biosecurity that the circumstances relating to the importation of a consignment are such that the health status of the consignment is equivalent to the health status of a consignment that complies with the requirements of the import health standard.

Inspector

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

MAF

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Sample

Refers to any single item of dairy product that does not exceed 50 kg net weight. A consignment may consist of more than one single item of dairy product. However, the total weight of a Category Two consignment shall not exceed the capacity of the nominated transitional facility to store and handle the consignment. 

Sealed packaging

Refers to packaging which is impervious and prevents leakage of the contents. It may or may not refer to the original packaging sealed at the point of manufacture. If the original packaging has been opened, the importer shall ensure that the samples have been sealed into packaging that will ensure that the contents are confined securely throughout transportation to the destination premises in New Zealand for evaluation.

4 EQUIVALENCE

4.1 It is expected that the animal product will meet the conditions of this import health standard in every respect. If the products do not comply with the requirements, an application for equivalence may be submitted to MAF for consideration. Detailed information supporting the application for equivalence must be forwarded to MAF for a decision.

PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE

5 PERMIT TO IMPORT

5.1 Category One products:

A permit to import is not required for the importation of Category One dairy product samples for evaluation. Authorisation to import, in the form of biosecurity clearance, will be given at the border after verification that the conditions within this import health standard have been met by the importer.

5.2 Category Two products:

A permit to import is required for the importation of Category Two dairy product samples for evaluation. This permit is obtained from the Director Animal Biosecurity, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.

6 INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED BY IMPORTER

6.1 The importer shall supply the following information:

i. name and address of exporter,

ii. country of origin,

iii. description and type of product.

iv. name and address of premises where the samples are to be evaluated.

7 ELIGIBILITY

7.1 The consignment must be contained in a sealed container or package. Individual samples within a consignment must be contained within sealed packaging. All samples which arrive in insecure packaging are not eligible for importation and shall be seized and destroyed on arrival by the MAF Quarantine Service.

7.2 For a product to be eligible for importation as a Category One product:

7.2.1 the product must be derived from a country with a dairy industry recognised as free from foot and mouth disease (i.e. see definition under section 3).

7.2.2 the product must be packed by the manufacturer in the original unopened packaging.

7.2.3 the country of origin must be clearly stated on the packaging.

7.3 Products that do not comply with the criteria outlined in clause 7.2 above shall be considered as Category Two products.

8. DOCUMENTATION ACCOMPANYING THE CONSIGNMENT

8.1 When a permit to import has been issued for a single consignment (i.e. Category Two), the original permit to import must be presented to the Inspector in order to obtain a biosecurity direction.

8.2 When the permit to import has been issued for multiple consignments (i.e. Category Two): Either

8.2.1 a copy of the permit to import shall be presented to the Inspector to obtain a biosecurity direction, Or

8.2.2 where the MAF Quarantine Service at the port of entry holds copies of the permit to import, the permit number must be written on the outside of the consignment.

PART C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE

9. BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE FOR CATEGORY ONE

A biosecurity clearance may be issued provided that the product fully complies with this import health standard.

10. BIOSECURITY DIRECTION FOR CATEGORY TWO

Category Two dairy products may be imported for evaluation in premises approved under MAF Regulatory Standard 154.02.18 Transitional Facilities for Animal Products and MAF Regulatory Standard 154.02.17 Transitional Facilities for Biological Products. These products may be given a biosecurity direction provided that:

10.1 The products are taken directly to an approved transitional facility nominated on the permit to import for evaluation.

10.2 Once evaluation is complete, the remaining samples, all residues and wrapping materials are to be destroyed by incineration. Destruction of the samples shall be carried out on the transitional facility premises or be undertaken by the MAF Quarantine Service.

PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION

NONE REQUIRED

Ref: AI00-32E DAISAMIC.ALL