Importing Assistance Dogs from all countries

15 January 2007

dogbliic.all

Pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993
Dated: 15 January 2007

USER GUIDE

The information in MAF animal and 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 and, if necessary, in a transitional facility in New Zealand prior to any consignment being given biosecurity clearance.

Part D. ASSISTED HANDLER’S DECLARATION contains the declaration to be completed by the assisted handler accompanying the assistance dog and the period for the animal to remain in post arrival quarantine to be completed by an approved veterinary officer.

PART A. GENERAL INFORMATION

1 IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD

1.1 Pursuant to section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, this is the import health standard for the importation into New Zealand of assistance dogs.

2 REVIEW OF IMPORT HEALTH STANDARDS

2.1 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 Biosecurity Standards Group Manager.

3 IMPORTANT INFORMATION

3.1 This import health standard must be used in conjunction with the import health standard for dogs and cats from the relevant country of origin.
The intent of this import health standard is to modify the applicable import health standard (mentioned above) to allow for assistance dogs to travel in the cabin along with their assisted handler or guardian; and for the assistance dog if currently in active use, to be exempted from confinement in a post-arrival quarantine facility.

3.2 An assisted handler’s declaration and veterinary officer inspection on arrival is not necessary for assistance dogs travelling from countries where no post-arrival quarantine is required. (Australia, Hawaii, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom).

4 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Assistance dogs

Highly trained dogs for the purpose of assisting persons with a disability in the course of their daily lives. These dogs are trained and certified by recognised and accredited national and/or international organisations.

Assisted handler

Person matched with an assistance dog for the purpose of being assisted in the course of their daily life.

Biosecurity direction

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 areas, or to export those goods from New Zealand.

Biosecurity clearance

As 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 Standards Group Manager

The Biosecurity Standards Group Manager, 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 Biosecurity Standards Group Manager

Equivalence

Acceptance by the Biosecurity Standards Group Manager 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.

New Zealand Inspector

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 controls imposed under HSNO).

MAF

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Transitional facility

Means a place approved as a transitional facility in accordance with section 39 of the Biosecurity Act (1993) for the purpose of inspection, testing, storage, treatment, holding or destruction of uncleared goods; or (b) a part of a port declared to be a transitional facility in accordance with section 39 of the Biosecurity Act (1993).

Official Veterinarian

A veterinarian of an exporting country’s Veterinary Administration who is authorised according to official procedures to sign international veterinary certificates.

Accredited Veterinarian

A veterinarian accredited to provide export certification on behalf of the Government Veterinary Service.

Permit to import

A permit issued by the Director General of MAF pursuant to section 22 1(A) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 upon an importer’s demonstration that certain requirements of the import health standard have been met in advance of an importation being made, such that a transitional facility is available to accept the consignment/s. The procedure for application and the information required for a permit to import are detailed within the import health standard.

Guardian

Person that does not require assistance, but accompanies and is responsible for the assistance dog during travel on behalf of the assistance dog training organisation.

OIE Code

The Office International des Epizooties Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

PART B: IMPORTATION PROCEDURE

5 PERMIT TO IMPORT

5.1 The requirements for a permit to import are the same as those in the applicable import health standard for the relevant country of origin from which the dog is eligible for importation.

5.2 A permit to import may only be issued under the conditions of an existing import health standard for the importation into New Zealand of dogs from the country of origin of the assistance dog, subject to the required information being supplied.

6 DOCUMENTATION

6.1 The following documentation must accompany the assistance dog to New Zealand:

 

6.1.1 a permit to import (if applicable);

6.1.2 completed zoosanitary and veterinary certificate from the import health standard for the relevant country of origin

7 INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED BY THE IMPORTER*

*This section is only applicable if the assistance dog is in active use by an assisted handler and requires exemption from confinement in a post-arrival quarantine facility.

[(i.e. this section does not apply to dogs from Australia, Hawaii, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom as post-arrival quarantine is not required; and does not apply to assistance dogs accompanied by a guardian.]

7.1 For Guide dogs: official documentation from a member school of the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools which states that the guide dog has been in the service of its blind handler at and/or under the supervision of the school for at least the 6 months prior to the scheduled date of importation.

7.2 For other assistance dogs: official documentation from the recognised and accredited assistance organisation which states that the assistance dog has been in the service of its assisted handler at and/or under the supervision of the organisation for at least the 6 months prior to the scheduled date of importation.

7.3 The New Zealand address at which the assistance dog will be domiciled, according to the conditions of Section 11 Biosecurity Clearance of this import health standard, for the purposes of weekly inspection and any post-arrival health testing.

7.4 Provision of the information specified in 7.3, and either 7.1 or 7.2 above will enable an exemption to be issued from the requirements of confinement in post-arrival quarantine specified within the import health standard for the importation into New Zealand of dogs from the country of origin of the assistance dog, providing that all the other requirements of the import health standard have been met.

Where possible assistance dogs that are to be domiciled in replace of quarantine should arrive in New Zealand during working hours (7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday).

8 IMPORTER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

8.1 The costs incurred by MAF in performing functions relating to the importation of animals shall be recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act.

8.2 The importer or agent must make all arrangements for transit and obtain necessary transit authorisation from any third countries on the transport route.

9 ELIGIBILITY FOR IMPORTATION

9.1 Only active (in use) assistance dogs that are accompanying their assisted handler are eligible under this import health standard.

9.2 Assistance dogs that are not actively in use and are not accompanying an assisted handler can be transported with their guardian in the cabin of the aircraft; but they are not exempt from post-arrival quarantine.

10 TRANSPORT TO NEW ZEALAND

10.1 In the case of air travel:

10.1.1 the assistance dog must be transported in a manner acceptable to the airline and the government of the exporting country.

10.1.2 the dog should be transported:

EITHER

10.1.2.1 as cargo in a container that complies with the standards specified in the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) Live Animal Regulations, and any additional requirements specified in the conditions of the import health standard under which the permit to import is issued.

OR

10.1.2.2 in the passenger cabin with the assisted handler or guardian, if acceptable to the airline

NOTE: transport arrangements in this instance must take into account the length of flight time to New Zealand and the dog's needs to defecate and urinate.

10.2 MAF Quarantine Service at the port of arrival must be notified at least 72 hours before the expected time of arrival of any animal, giving the flight number/ship number and arrival time, so that arrangements can be made for the appropriate inspector to examine the dog upon arrival and issue a biosecurity direction, without undue delay to the assisted handler or guardian.

Contact details for the MAF Quarantine Service

Additionally, for assistance dogs travelling from countries where post arrival quarantine is required, thus dog(s) will be domiciled, the official MAF Veterinary officer should be contacted. Their contact details are:

Telephone: +64 9 909 2706
Fax: +64 9 909 2708
E-mail: mqsakav@maf.govt.nz

PART C: CLEARANCE PROCEDURE

11 BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE

11.1 An inspector under the Biosecurity Act 1993 will examine the consignment on arrival in New Zealand. Providing the documentation is in order and no ticks are found on the animal, in the bedding or container(if applicable), a biosecurity clearance will be issued.

(If the documentation is not in order or ticks are found, the animal will be directed as stated in the Import Health Standard for dogs from the relevant country of origin)

11.2 Prior to biosecurity clearance being issued, the importer must sign the attached Assisted Handler's Declaration (if applicable). A copy will be retained by MAF and a copy retained by the assisted handler.

11.3 The period covered by the Assisted Handler's Declaration will be equal to the period of post-arrival quarantine specified within the import health standard for the importation of dogs into New Zealand from the country of origin of the assistance dog. This will be noted on the Assisted Handler's Declaration.

11.4 The Biosecurity Standards Group Manager reserves the right to review the period or conditions of quarantine of any animal.

PART D: ASSISTED HANDLER’S DECLARATION

12 ASSISTED HANDLER’S DECLARATION

The following document must be completed by the handler of the assistance dog and an official MAF Veterinary Officer when the dog arrives in New Zealand.

NOTE: For Australia, Hawaii, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom, where post arrival quarantine is not required, the dog does not need to be domiciled, and an assisted handler’s declaration is not required.

ASSISTED HANDLER'S DECLARATION

I, ......................................................., being the handler of the assistance dog imported into New Zealand and identified below, declare that the conditions detailed below and the period covered by this declaration have been fully explained to me, and I undertake to comply with these conditions, acknowledging that my compliance is necessary for the exemption from confinement in post-arrival quarantine facility to be validated.

Identification of the assistance dog

Microchip identification number:

Name:

Breed:

Sex:

Date of birth:

Permit to import number:

1. During the period covered by the Assisted Handler's Declaration, the assistance dog will be under my direct control at all times when not confined indoors at the address nominated by me (below) and specified on the permit to import.
2. During the period covered by the Assisted Handler's Declaration, no other dogs or cats are to be present at the nominated address, except any other assistance dog(s) owned by the resident(s) at the nominated address. I undertake to ensure that any such dog(s) are subject to the same quarantine conditions as the imported dog.
3. During the period covered by the Assisted Handler's Declaration, no other mammalian pets or livestock will be present at the nominated address, unless specific written approval from the Biosecurity Standards Group Manager, MAF, has been obtained.
4. During the period covered by the Assisted Handler's Declaration, a veterinary officer may make arrangements to visit the nominated address to perform the tests and treatments specified within the conditions of post-arrival quarantine in the import health standard for the importation of dogs into New Zealand from the country of origin of the assistance dog. I understand that, in signing the Assisted Handler's Declaration, I agree to co-operate in this manner with the veterinary officer but that the veterinary officer may exercise powers under section 121 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 without my prior approval.

Signature of the Assisted Handler: ...................................................... Date: .........................

The nominated address specified on the permit to import:

............................................................................

PERIOD COVERED BY ASSISTED HANDLER'S DECLARATION

The period covered by this Assisted Handler's Declaration shall be days, this being the period of post-arrival quarantine stipulated in the import health standard for the importation into New Zealand of dogs from the country of departure of the assistance dog.

Signature of Veterinary Officer: ............................................... Date of Signature: ....................................
approved by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Name and address of office: ....................................................................................