Importing Laboratory animals from all countries

13 March 2003

labaniic.all

Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993
Dated: 13 March 2003

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 containment facility in New Zealand prior to any consignment being given biosecurity clearance.

Part D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION contains model health certification that 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 animals for laboratory purposes from all countries.

1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance or biosecurity direction for each consignment of laboratory animals 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 importer must obtain a permit to import prior to proceeding with importation (See PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE).

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

2.3 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.

Biosecurity direction

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

Containment facility

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 powers 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.

Animals for laboratory purposes

A group of animals used in laboratories for research that includes rats, mice, hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs. Such animals may only be from colonies maintained for scientific purposes.

MAF

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

New organism

an organism belonging to a species that was not present in New Zealand immediately before 29 July 1998:

an organism belonging to a species, subspecies, infrasubspecies, variety, strain, or cultivar prescribed as a risk species, where that organism was not present in New Zealand at the time of promulgation of the relevant regulation:

an organism for which a containment approval has been given under this Act:

a genetically modified organism:

an organism that belongs to a species, subspecies, infrasubspecies, variety, strain, or cultivar that has been eradicated from New Zealand.

Section 2, HSNO Act, 1996.

New Zealand Inspector

As defined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Official Veterinarian

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

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 containment facility is available to accept the consignment/s and a method and route of transport from the port of arrival to the facility has been approved. The procedure for application and the information required for a permit to import are detailed within the import health standard.

4. Equivalence

This import health standard is in accordance with agreements between the exporting country and New Zealand. Biosecurity clearance will not normally be given to a consignment that does not meet the requirements of this import health standard 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 Animal Biosecurity if the following information is provided by the exporting country’s Veterinary Administration:

4.1 which clause/s of the import health standard cannot be met and how this has occurred

4.2 the reason/s 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

4.3 the reason/s why the Veterinary Administration believes this proposal should be acceptable to MAF and their recommendation for its acceptance.

Part B. Importation Procedure

5. Permit to Import

5.1 A permit to import is required for all consignments of animals for laboratory purposes imported into New Zealand. Application for a permit to import shall be made at least 30 days prior to the proposed date of importation in writing to The Director Animal Biosecurity, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.

5.2 An application for a permit to import shall provide the following information:

(i) name and address of importer

(ii) name and address of exporter

(iii) number, breed or description of the animals for laboratory purposes to be imported

(iv) if the animal is a new organism, evidence must be provided to show that approval has been given by the Environment Risk Management Authority for the organism to be held in containment and the containment controls that apply.

(v) date of the proposed importation

(vi) name and address of the CONTAINMENT FACILITY to which the consignment is to proceed following importation.

5.3 A permit to import will be granted for a single consignment only.

6. Eligibility

6.1 Only animals for laboratory purposes from colonies maintained for scientific use may be imported.

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.

8. Transport to New Zealand

8.1 The animals must be transported in a container that meets the standards prescribed in the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Live animal regulations.

8.2 The New Zealand Quarantine Service of the region in which the port of arrival is situated 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.

Part C. Clearance Procedure

9. Biosecurity Direction

9.1 Upon arrival in New Zealand, an Inspector shall inspect the documentation accompanying the consignment at the port of arrival.

9.2 A biosecurity direction will be given by an Inspector under the Biosecurity Act 1993 authorising the consignment to move to the containment facility named in the permit to import, providing that the documentation meets all requirements noted under PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION and the consignment meets the conditions of ELIGIBILITY.

10. CONTAINMENT FACILITY

10.1 The consignment shall proceed directly from the port of arrival to the containment facility by an approved method of transport and shall be kept separate from any other animals not of equivalent health status. The facility shall be approved according to MAF Biosecurity Authority Animal Biosecurity Standard 154.03.03 Containment facilities for vertebrate laboratory animals.

10.2 The consignment shall remain in quarantine within the containment facility for no less than 30 days or for a longer period if required by the Director Animal Biosecurity.

10.3 The operator shall have procedures for the maintenance of quarantine and the sterilization of cages and any associated waste products during this period. The shipping container shall either be destroyed, or cleaned and sterilized.

10.4 While in the containment facility the consignment may be subjected to such testing, treatments or procedures required by the Director Animal Biosecurity, including:

10.4.1 such other tests, treatments or procedures as are reasonably necessary to determine the health status of the consignment.

11. Biosecurity Clearance

11.1 On successful completion of the terms detailed under CONTAINMENT FACILITY, 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.

NOTE: New organisms will not be given a biosecurity clearance. They may be removed from isolation but will be directed to remain in the containment facility.

Part D. Zoosanitary Certification

The animals for laboratory purposes must be accompanied by:

12.1 A declaration by a veterinarian or senior officer from the institute of origin, named in the permit to import, stating that:

(i) the animals were born in the institution and have not been in contact with any diseased animals,

(ii) at the time of export they showed no evidence of infectious or contagious disease including ectoparasites.

12.2 A certificate from an official veterinarian of the country of origin certifying that after due enquiry he/she is satisfied that the animals have not been in contact with any animal suffering from an infectious or contagious disease.

12.3 Each consignment must be accompanied by an original certificate signed by the Director/Manager of the institution of origin identifying the species of lab animal and any associated biota as per the Import Permit.

Ref: AI00-23L LABANIIC.ALL