General Information for Importing Live Animals

30 June 2011

general-info-live-animals

You are viewing an import health standard. It outlines the requirements that must be met before risk goods can be imported into New Zealand.

FOREWORD

This general information is provided to assist importers. It should be read in conjunction with the import health standard (the "standard") and the specific guidance document for the animal being imported, to ensure that all requirements of the standard are fully understood. Importers are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with this general information, the guidance document and the associated standard prior to importation and to seek MAF guidance if they are unclear on any part.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO IMPORT

Where a permit to import is required application forms can be obtained from: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/imports/animals/forms

For permit processing please allow a minimum of 10 working days once all required documents (copies are acceptable) have been received. These documents include:

  • A completed and signed permit application form
  • Booking for an approved transitional (post-arrival quarantine) facility. For horse imports this must include accompanying approval documentation for all PAQ facilities including CEM facilities for relevant pregnant mares.
  • The date of entry into pre-export isolation and the premises of isolation address and Veterinary Authority approval
  • The proposed date of export/departure

Submit your application by email, post or fax. Permits will be sent to you electronically.

MAF Animal Imports
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Phone +64 4 894 0100 from overseas
Or 0800 008 333 in New Zealand
Fax +64 4 894 0733
animalimports@maf.govt.nz

APPLYING FOR EQUIVALENCE

The exporting country's Competent Authority may request MAF to approve a method, system or process that can be shown to achieve the biosecurity requirements of the standard.

Equivalence requests must be lodged on an equivalence request form. This form is available by contacting animalimports@maf.govt.nz

TRANSIT/ TRANSHIP

  • Animals transiting NZ destined for a third country must comply with the veterinary requirements of the third country and the New Zealand import health standard for that animal.
  • Animals transiting a third country destined for NZ please visit the MAF transit page at: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/going/animals/transiting-animals
  • For information on animals transported by air routes transiting countries where health risks associated with insect borne pathogens exist this standard is available online at: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/anitraic.all.htm

IMPORTERS RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Under the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act all costs involved with documentation, transport, storage and obtaining a biosecurity clearance must be covered by the importer or agent.
  • It is the importer's or agent's responsibility to ensure that they comply with the current version of the negotiated zoo-sanitary certificate at the time of importation into New Zealand. Current versions of zoo-sanitary certificates are available online at: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ihs/search
  • It is to be noted that an import health standard prescribes measures for risk organisms that are deemed to be a hazard in the commodity – those that are exotic to New Zealand and those that are present but because of the nature of the imports are likely to significantly increase existing hazards associated with them. It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that imported animals are free of specific organisms that may be of concern to them.

IDENTIFICATION

Microchipping

Where a microchip is required the microchip number must be shown on all accompanying certification. The microchip must conform to New Zealand/International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards11784:2001 and 11785:2001 or the importer shall ensure that an electronic reader is available to enable a MAF Inspector to identify the animal.

TRANSPORT

  1. The containers used for transporting live animals must comply with the design and species specifications of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR) (offsite link to www.iata.org).
  2. For transportation by sea from Australia to New Zealand the transport facilities and arrangements have been inspected and meet the requirements of the Australian Marine Orders Part 43, Issue 2 (which is equivalent to the New Zealand Marine Rules Part 24C).
  3. All containers made of timber must comply with the Import Health Standard for Importing Wood Packaging Material from All Countries.
  4. The containers used for transporting live animals must be new or cleaned and disinfected with a virucidal disinfectant.
  5. All aircraft must comply with the AQIS/MAFBNZ Schedule of Aircraft Disinsection Procedures which can found at the following website: www.daff.gov.au/aqis/avm/aircraft/disinsection/procedures (offsite link to www.daff.gov.au)

EXPECTATIONS OF DOCUMENTS

MAF will be listing the expectations of documents such as the veterinary certificates and manufacturer's declarations. The link to this document will be located here when available.

OIE LINKS

ADVANCE NOTIFICATION

MAF at the first port of arrival must be notified at least 72 hours before the scheduled time of arrival of any animal. Notification must include the flight number/ship number and scheduled arrival time. Additionally, an Official Veterinarian at the first port of arrival must be notified to perform any required post-arrival inspection.

Auckland

Christchurch

Wellington

Timaru (sea port only)

Tauranga (sea port only)

COUNTRY APPROVAL PROCESS

Some import health standards only allow for animals to be imported from approved or specified countries. Where this is the case MAF and the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country will negotiate the content of the veterinary certificate to determine how the level of risk management specified by the commodity's import health standard will be achieved, taking into account:

  • The verifiable health status of the exporting country/zone/compartment; and
  • The national systems, legislation and standards in the exporting country for regulatory oversight of the industry; and
  • The capabilities and preferences of the exporting country's Veterinary Authority.

Upon conclusion of negotiations, country-specific veterinary certificate templates will be included in the specific guidance document to each commodity's import health standard.

If your country is not on the approved country list, your animal is not eligible for direct import to New Zealand. The options available are:

1. Move the animal(s) to an approved country or territory where it must complete the residency period and other requirements in the veterinary certificate for that country;

OR

2. Submit a request for inclusion of a country or territory in a veterinary certificate for your animal. Requests will be prioritised quarterly subject to resource availability. Information provided by the government veterinary authority regarding official assurance programs for veterinary certification and diagnostic laboratories, and controls on animal movement will be assessed. Contact animalimports@maf.govt.nz for further information.

DISEASE MONITORING UPON ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND

The importer shall be advised of the action to be taken if their animal develops any symptoms of illness or if ticks are found, as follows:

  • The animal should be taken to a veterinarian.
  • The veterinarian should be informed of the animal's import history.
  • The Investigation & Diagnostic Centre (IDC) must be notified of any suspected exotic disease or pest by calling 0800 80 99 66.

DEFINITIONS

All definitions used in standards and guidance documents are as per the Biosecurity Act unless explicitly stated in the table below.

Import Health Standard Term Definition
Animal Imports/Exports Group Manager The Animal Imports/Exports Group Manager, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand, or any person who for the time being may lawfully exercise and perform the delegated power and functions of the Animal Imports/Exports Group Manager
Approved countries Countries, from which New Zealand enables imports of a particular commodity, must be specifically approved by MAF.
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 authority 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
Chief Technical Officer A person appointed a chief technical officer under section 101 of the Biosecurity Act 1993
Commodity Live animals, products of animal origin, animal genetic material, biological products and pathological material.
Compartment An animal subpopulation contained in one or more establishments under a common biosecurity management system with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease or specific diseases for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade.
Competent Authority/Veterinary Authority The Veterinary authority or other Governmental Authority of an OIE Member having the responsibility and competence for ensuring or supervising the implementation of animal health and welfare measures, international veterinary certification and other standards and recommendations in the Terrestrial Code in the whole territory.
Director-General The chief executive of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Equivalence Acceptance by the Imports 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.
IATA The International Air Transport Association
Inspector 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 1993 and controls imposed under the Hazardous Substances and New Organism Act 1996).
MAF The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand
Official Veterinarian 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 Section 5.2 of the Terrestrial Code pertaining to principles of certification
OIE Code The World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Any reference in this standard to the OIE Code is to the most current as found on the OIE website
Permit to import A permit issued by the Director General of MAF pursuant to section 22 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 and a method and route of transport from the port of arrival to the transitional facility has been approved. The procedure for application and the information required for a permit to import are detailed within the import health standard.
Prescribed diagnostic test The diagnostic test(s) which can be used for international trade when the OIE Code recommends a testing procedure for international trade in a commodity.
Risk organism Any organism capable or potentially capable of causing unwanted harm to any human or animal health as determined by an import risk analysis.
Surveillance The systematic ongoing collection, collation, and analysis of information related to animal health and the timely dissemination of information to those who need to know so that action can be taken.
Veterinary Authority/Competent Authority The Governmental Authority of an OIE member, comprising veterinarians, other professionals and para-professionals, having the responsibility and competence for ensuring or supervising the implementation of animal health and welfare measures, international veterinary certification and other standards and recommendations in the Terrestrial Code in the whole territory.

CONTACT DETAILS

For all matters relating to the interpretation, review and amendment of this guidance document, please contact:

Animal Imports Group
MAF
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 894 0100 from overseas
Or 0800 008 333 in New Zealand
Fax: +64 4 894 0733
Email: animalimports@maf.govt.nz