Importing Macropod (kangaroo/wallaby) hides and fibre from Australia

15 May 2001

hidmacic.aus

Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993

Dated: 15 May 2001

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. 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. When MAF has accepted health certification produced by a government authority in the exporting country as meeting the requirements of the model health certification this is noted. When no health certification is required to accompany consignments Part D. will note "none required".

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 macropod hides and fibre from Australia.

1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of macropod hides and fibre imported into New Zealand from Australia 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 of MAF in performing functions relating to the importation of macropod hides and fibre 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 direction and/or biosecurity clearance shall be borne by the importer or agent.

3 Definition of Terms

biosecurity clearance

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Director Animal Biosecurity

The 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 .

New Zealand Inspector

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

macropod

Includes kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos.

MAF

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Official Veterinarian

A civil service veterinarian or a specially appointed veterinarian, as authorised by the Veterinary Administration of the country.

processed hides

Includes pickled, limed, wet blue and tanned macropod hides.

unprocessed hides

Includes fresh, chilled, dried and salted hides.

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 Importations of macropod hides and fibre into New Zealand from Australia which meet the requirements of this Import Health Standard may, subject to sections 27 and 28 of the Biosecurity Act, be given biosecurity clearance and do not require a biosecurity direction to a transitional facility. As such, they do not require a permit to import.

6 Eligibility

6.1 This Import Health Standard applies to unprocessed and processed macropod hides and macropod fibre.

7 Documentation Accompanying The Consignment

7.1 The consignment shall be accompanied by appropriately completed health certification which meets the requirements of Part D. Zoosanitary Certification.

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

7.3 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 direction and/or clearance or rejection of consignments.

Part C. Clearance Procedure

8 Biosecurity Clearance

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

8.2 Providing that the documentation meets all requirements noted under Part D. Zoosanitary Certification and the consignment meets the conditions of 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

9 Negotiated Export Certification

9.1 The following documents are recognised by MAF as equivalent to the requirements of Part D. Zoosanitary Certification, and are approved to accompany imports of macropod hides and fibre into New Zealand from Australia when appropriately completed by a representative of the exporting country's competent authority:

10 Model Zoosanitary Certification

Commodity: Macropod Hides And Fibre

Certifying Authority:

Agency:

Department:

Country:

I. Origin Of The Consignment

1. Name/s and address/es of processing premises:
2. Processing premises registration number (if applicable):

II. Consignment Description

1. The commodity contained in this consignment is: unprocessed hides / processed hides / fibre (delete whichever is not applicable):
2. Description of processing:
3. Amount (in kgs) of the consignment:

III. Destination Of The Consignment

1. Name and address of New Zealand importer:

IV. Zoosanitary Information

Either

10.1 The consignment comprises unprocessed hides and fibre:

(i) That were immersed in water, heated and maintained at a temperature of 75°C for at least 5 minutes, in the presence of a nonionic detergent at a concentration of at least 1 g per litre; And

Either

(ii) That were sourced from animals that have been processed under the Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production of Game Meat for Human Consumption, and which passed a post-mortem inspection in a government licensed processing establishment

Or

(iii) That were sourced from animals in an anthrax-free State of Australia where there are procedures that ensure the detection of outbreaks of anthrax, the effective quarantining of premises on which outbreaks of anthrax occur, and the destruction of all parts of animals with anthrax.

Or

10.2 The consignment comprises unprocessed fibre:

(i) That was immersed in water, heated and maintained at a temperature of 95°C for 25 minutes or at a temperature of 100°C for 15 minutes.

Or

10. 3 The consignment comprises processed hides:

(i) That are pickled, limed, wet blue or tanned as a result of processing.

(Delete clauses above as applicable.)

Signature of Official Veterinarian:

Date:

Name and address of office:

N.B. Official stamp of the government veterinary authority of the exporting country must be applied to all pages of zoosanitary certification.