Importing Dogs and cats on yachts from Australia

8 December 2005

domyacic.aus

Pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993

Dated: 8 December 2005

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, such as if a permit to import is required prior to importation, the 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 the importation of cats and dogs into New Zealand on yachts from Australia that are resident in Australia and free from any quarantine requirements.

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 Director Pre-Clearance, Biosecurity New Zealand.

3 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Berth

To moor or place a yacht in a suitable position.

Biosecurity direction

Direction or authorisation given by an Inspector for uncleared goods to proceed to a transitional facility.

Biosecurity clearance

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

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

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

MAF

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Transitional facility

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Official Veterinarian

An official veterinarian means a veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Administration of the country to perform certain designated official tasks associated with animal health and/or public health and inspections of commodities and, when appropriate, to certify in conformity with the provisions of the chapter of the OIE Code pertaining to obligations of certification.

Accredited Veterinarian

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

Veterinary Officer

A registered veterinarian who is an inspector under the Biosecurity Act employed either by MAF or by a supplier contracted to provide services to MAF.

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.

Yacht

A pleasure vessel not plying the seas for hire, reward or commercial interests.

OIE Code

The Office International des Epizooties Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

PART B: IMPORTATION PROCEDURE

4 PERMIT TO IMPORT

No permit is required for import.

EQUIVALENCE

This Import Health Standard has been agreed as being suitable for trade between the exporting and the importing countries. It is expected that the animal will meet the conditions in every respect.

Occasionally it is found that due to circumstances beyond the control of the importer or exporter, a consignment does not comply with the requirements of this Import Health Standard. In such cases, an application for equivalence submitted prior to importation will be considered and may be given at the discretion of the Director Pre-Clearance Biosecurity New Zealand if the following information is provided by the exporting country’s government veterinary authority:

5.1 the reason(s) why the consignment may be considered of equivalent health status to a consignment complying with this Import Health Standard, and/or what proposal is made to achieve an equivalent health status

5.2 the clause(s) of the Import Health Standard that cannot be met and how this has occurred

5.3 the reason(s) why the veterinary authority believes this proposal should be acceptable to MAF and their recommendation for its acceptance.

6 DOCUMENTATION

6.1 The following documentation must accompany the animal to New Zealand:

6.1.1 Zoosanitary Certificate

6.1.2 Owner’s Declaration

6.1.3 Veterinary Certificate A

6.1.4 Veterinary Certificate B.

7 IMPORTER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1 The costs of 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.

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

7.3 The Master or person in charge of any yacht intending to proceed to New Zealand territory from outside New Zealand territory is required to give MAF notice of intended arrival in New Zealand at least 48hours in advance of arrival. Contact details are:

Website: http://www.maf.govt.nz/quarantine/index.htm

Telephone: +64 9 909 8609

7.4 When giving notice of intended arrival in New Zealand, the Master or person in charge of the yacht shall notify an inspector of the presence of an animal on board the yacht arriving in New Zealand.

8 ELIGIBILITY FOR IMPORTATION

8.1 Eligibility for importation under this Import Health Standard is confined to members of Canis familiaris (domestic dog) and Felis catis (domestic cat).

Dogs of the following breeds (including crosses of these breeds) are not eligible for importation:

• American pit bull terrier
• Dogo Argentino
• Japanese tosa
• Brazilian fila.

8.2 The animal must not be more than 42 days pregnant at the date of departure.

8.3 The animal must be more than 8 weeks old at departure.

8.4 All requirements of this Import Health Standard, including those detailed in the Model Zoosanitary Certificate must be met for the animal to be eligible for importation.

8.5 The animal must be resident in Australia and free from all quarantine restrictions.

8.6 The animal must not contact any vessels or animal from any other vessels during transit to New Zealand. The vessel must not visit any other country on route to New Zealand.

9 HEALTH CERTIFICATION

9.1 The required health tests and treatments are stated in Veterinary Certificate A. Certification must be signed by a registered veterinarian in Australia.

9.2 The Veterinary Certificate B is to be signed by an AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services) Veterinary Officer.

9.3 All serological tests must be conducted at an AQIS approved laboratory. The laboratory test results for Babesia gibsoni must be attached to the Veterinary Certificate A.

9.4 As canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is endemic in Australia:

9.4.1 The dog should be tested by a veterinarian for heartworm 7 months after importation using the microfilariae concentration test, and an antigen test;

9.4.2 Owners who take their dogs to countries where canine heartworm is endemic should ensure that the dogs are given prophylactic treatment according to the manufacturer’s recommendations with appropriate preparations effective against fourth stage larvae.

10 TRANSPORT TO NEW ZEALAND

10.1 The use of straw or hay as bedding is not permitted. Only sterilised peat, soft board or other inert products may be used.

PART C: CLEARANCE PROCEDURE

11 BIOSECURITY DIRECTION

11.1 Any yacht arriving in New Zealand waters that has an animal aboard, must notify MAF of its intended arrival in New Zealand, and the presence of an animal on board. Contact details are:

Telephone: +64 9 909 8609

11.2 The yacht must not berth in New Zealand but must make directly for the any one of the following ports:

Opua, Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Lyttleton, Dunedin or Bluff.

11.3 Upon arrival at the port, the Importer must without delay notify MAF of the presence of an animal on board.

12 BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE

12.1 An inspector under the Biosecurity Act 1993 will examine the animal on arrival in New Zealand. A biosecurity clearance will be issued providing that:

12.1.1 the documentation in PART D: ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION has been completed

12.1.2 conditions under ELIGIBILITY FOR IMPORTATION are met

12.1.3 No ticks are found on the animal or in the bedding.

12.2 If ticks are found by an inspector, they will be removed and the animal taken to an approved transitional facility operating to one of the following MAF standards:

154.02.09 Standard for dog and cat transitional facilities

154.02.03 Standard transitional facilities for non-compliant dogs and cats

The animal will be treated for ticks and kept in the facility for a minimum of 48 hours to ensure any undetected ticks are killed. The yacht will also be treated for ticks with an approved acaracide (such as cypermethrin). A biosecurity clearance will be issued when the inspector is satisfied that the animal, bedding, container and yacht are tick-free.

12.3 If the documentation is not in order and test results not as required the animal will not get biosecurity clearance and may be held by MAF. Details of the non-compliance will be referred to Animal Imports and Exports for direction.

13 SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

13.1 On arrival, the New Zealand address at which the animal will be domiciled should be verified as being that which is specified in section III of the Zoosanitary Certificate. Pursuant to section 121 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, an inspector may visit the premises to examine the imported animal at any reasonable time.

13.2 Any illness in the imported animal should be reported to a private veterinary practitioner who has an obligation to report any suspicion of exotic disease to MAF.

13.3 All dogs should be registered with the local government authority within 14 days of arrival in New Zealand.

PART D: ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATE

14 NEGOTIATED EXPORT CERTIFICATION

The following document is recognised by MAF as equivalent to the requirements of PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION, and is approved to accompany imports of dogs and cats into New Zealand on yachts from Australia:

MODEL ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATE

Species: DOGS AND CATS

To: NEW ZEALAND

Exporting country: AUSTRALIA

Competent Authority:

I: IDENTIFICATION OF ANIMAL

Name of animal:

Age, breed, sex of animal:

Physical description of animal:

II: OWNER/IMPORTER

Name and address of owner/importer:

III: ORIGIN OF THE ANIMAL

Name of yacht:

Name and address of Master or person in charge of the yacht:

Country of and port last visited:

Date of departure Australia:

Countries where the dog/cat has been previously resident in the last 6 months:

IV: SANITARY INFORMATION

Owner/exporter’s statutory declaration for dogs:

I, , do solemnly and sincerely declare, in respect of the dog for export to New Zealand identified below, that the following dog is not one of the following breeds or types: American pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Brazilian fila, dogo Argentino (including a cross of one or more of these breeds or types):

Name of animal: Breed:

Age: Sex:

Colour/description/identification:

Signature of owner or exporter:

Declared at , this day of 20

before me

(signature and printed name person authorised to take a statutory declaration)

Registered Veterinarian declaration:

I, , being a registered veterinarian, certify, in respect of the animal described above, that after due enquiry and/or physical examination of the animal for export, I have no reason to doubt the owner/exporter’s statutory declaration.

Signature of Registered Veterinarian Date

Name of veterinarian and address:

IMPORTER'S DECLARATION

I , being the owner or owner's agent responsible for the animal imported into New Zealand aboard a yacht, with respect to the animal identified on the accompanying Zoosanitary Certificate, make the following declaration:

1 Any female animal is/was not more than 42 days pregnant at date of departure.

2 The animal is/was more than 8 weeks old at date of departure.

3 The animal has not been in contact with vessels or any animals from any vessels during transit to New Zealand.

4 The yacht has not landed in any countries since departure from Australia.

Signature of Importer Date

Name and address:

VETERINARY CERTIFICATE A - REGISTERED VETERINARIAN

I, ......................................................................, being a veterinarian registered to practice in Australia certify, after due enquiry, with respect to the animal identified in the Export Certificate:

1 After physical examination I have no reason to doubt the owner/exporter’s declaration.

The animal is resident in Australia and is free from all quarantine restrictions.

The animal is over 8 weeks of age.

In the case of a dog over 6 months of age on the scheduled date of export, it has been tested and treated for canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) according to the following:

4.1 Testing: within 30 days of departure 1 to 2 ml of blood have been collected from the dog and tested negative to the following tests:

4.1.1 a microfilariae concentration test

Date blood collected for test:

4.1.2 an antigen test (Witness HW, Agen; Snap Heartworm PF, Idexx; PetChek Heartworm PF, Idexx).

Date blood collected for test:

(N.B.: The antigen test must be conducted at an AQIS approved laboratory and the microfilariae concentration test may be performed by a veterinary practitioner)

4.2 Treatment:

EITHER:

4.2.1 within 4 days of the scheduled date of departure the dog has been treated with one of the following drugs at the respective dose rate:

EITHER

4.2.1.1 ivermectin at 6 μg/kg

OR

4.2.1.2 milbemycin at 0.5 mg/kg

OR

4.2.1.3 moxidectin at 2 - 4 μg/kg

Date of treatment:

OR

4.2.2 within 11 months of the scheduled date of departure the dog has been treated with a sustained release formulation moxidectin (ProHeart SR-12 Injection) at the approved dose rate.

Date of treatment:

(Delete as appropriate)

5 In the case of a dog, blood has been tested at an AQIS approved laboratory for Babesia gibsoni according to the following:

5.1 within 10 days from the scheduled date of departure, a blood sample has been collected and a thin blood smear made from a drop of blood obtained from the ear margin.

5.1.1 the serum sample tested negative (cutoff is 1:40) to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for Babesia gibsoni using antigens appropriate for the strains likely to be present in all the countries where the dog has been resident. The laboratory test results for Babesia gibsoni is attached to this Certificate.

5.1.2 the blood smear is negative for Babesia gibsoni.

Date blood collected for tests:

6 Within 4 days of the scheduled date of departure the animal was treated with a broad spectrum anthelmintic(s) effective against nematodes, cestodes and trematodes, at the manufacturers recommended dose rate(s);

Date of treatment:

Active ingredient(s) and dosage used:

7 Additional treatments for dogs: it has been treated with a topical application of Fipronil at the recommended dose rate, on the same day that a blood sample for Babesia gibsoni was collected:

Date of treatment:

8 Additional treatments for cats: it has been treated with a topical application of Fipronil at the recommended dose rate at no more than 10 days and no less than 72 hours prior to the scheduled date of departure.

Date of treatment:

9 Within 4 days of the scheduled date of departure, I examined the animal for export to New Zealand and found it to be free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease and free from external parasites.

10 I have examined the cage or bedding that the animal is to be transported in/with and found it to be either new or thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to use and free from dirt and ticks.

Veterinarian registered to practice in Australia Date of Signature

Name of veterinarian and address of office:

NOTE: Official stamp must be applied to all pages

VETERINARY CERTIFICATE B - AQIS VETERINARIAN

I, an AQIS Official Veterinarian, certify after due enquiry with respect of animal for export to New Zealand identified in the attached Zoosanitary Certificate that:

1 In the 12 months prior to the date of export there have been no cases of the following diseases diagnosed in Australia:

canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) and Leptospira interogans var canicola 2

2 The veterinarian whose signature appears on Veterinary Certificate A is a registered veterinary practitioner in Australia.

Official Veterinarian Official stamp and date

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service

Name and address of office:

NOTE: Official stamp must be applied to all pages.

DOMYACIC.AUS AIOO 09L