Importing Sheep and goat meat for human consumption from the European Union

4 October 2004

meashgic.eec

ANNEX A ASSIGNED NUMBERS (AN) 4A.1, 5A.1, 6A.1, 7B.1, 7C.1, 7D.1,

Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993
Dated: 4 October 2004

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.

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 sheep and goat meat for human consumption from the European Community.

1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of sheep and goat meat for human consumption from the European Community is dependent on 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 sheep and goat meat 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.

2.3 Commercial consignments of products imported into New Zealand for human consumption in New Zealand must comply with the Food Act 1981. These requirements are independent of the import health standard requirements and are managed by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA). Importers are advised to contact the NZFSA or consult the NZFSA website: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/imported-food/index.htm

2.4 Once the consignment has been given biosecurity clearance into New Zealand, it is the importer’s responsibility to ensure (where relevant) that the consignment complies with the Animal Products Act 1999, especially if it is returned New Zealand product, product entering operations also used for the export of animal products, or if it is to be re-exported. Information about these requirements can be obtained from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) website: www.nzfsa.govt.nz/animalproducts/publications/omar/01-172.htm or by contacting the local NZFSA Verification Agency office. Certification and other official assurance requirements which may be applicable are accessible at: www.nzfsa.govt.nz/animalproducts/publications/manualsguides/oap/index.htm

3. DEFINITION OF TERMS

64/433/EEC

Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat.

72/461/EEC

Council Directive 72/461/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat.

72/462/EEC

Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine, ovine and caprine animals and swine and fresh meat or meat products from third countries.

77/99/EEC

Council Directive 77/99/EEC of 21 December 1976 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat products.

80/215/EEC

Council Directive 80/215/EEC of 22 January 1980 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat products.

92/118/EEC

Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC.

94/65/EC

Council Directive 94/65/EC of 14 December 1994 laying down the requirements for the production and placing on the market of minced meat and meat preparations.

97/132/EC

Council Decision 97/132/EC of 17 December 1996 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products.

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

2002/99/EC

Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption.

Biosecurity clearance

A clearance under section 26 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 for the entry of goods into New Zealand

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.

European Community

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and United Kingdom.

Fresh meat

As defined in Council Directive 64/433/EEC and 79/542/EEC. This refers to meat, including meat vacuum-wrapped or wrapped in a controlled atmosphere, which has not undergone any treatment other than cold treatment to ensure preservation. This includes minced meat and unprocessed (fresh) blood, bones and fat for human consumption.

MAF

New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Meat preparations

As defined in Council Directive 94/65/EC. Refers to meat which has had foodstuffs, seasonings or additives added to it, or meat which has undergone a treatment insufficient to modify the internal cellular structure of the meat and thus to cause the characteristics of the fresh meat to disappear.

Meat products

As defined in Council Directive 77/99/EEC. This refers to products prepared from or with meat which has undergone treatment such that the cut surface shows that the product no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat (e.g. cooked or cured). The following are not regarded as meat products: meat which has undergone only cold treatment, or raw meat which has been minced or seasoned.

Minced meat

As defined in Council Directive 94/65/EC. Refers to meat that has been minced into fragments or passed through a spiral-screw mincer.

New Zealand Inspector

A person who is appointed an inspector under section 103 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Official Veterinarian

A veterinarian authorised by the National Veterinary Competent Authority of the country to perform animal health and/or public health inspections of commodities and, when appropriate, perform certification in conformity with the provisions of the chapter of the OIE Code pertaining to principles of certification and Council Directive 96/93/EC.

Processed animal protein

As defined in Council Directive 92/118/EEC. This refers to greaves (protein containing residue of rendering), meatmeal (meat powder or stock powder) and pork rind powder.

Sheep and goat meat

As defined in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. This includes all parts of domestic sheep and goats that are suitable for human consumption. Commodities that may be imported under this import health standard include fresh meat, meat products, minced meat, meat preparations, bones and bone products, processed animal protein products, blood and blood products.

PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE

4. PERMIT TO IMPORT

4.1 A permit to import is not required.

5. ELIGIBILITY

5.1 For sheep and goat meat products which have been imported into the European Community from Australia or Chile and are subsequently destined for export to New Zealand, the following requirements must be met:

5.1.1 The following additional declaration shall be included on the model health certificate (see PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION):

“The product described herein was derived/partly derived from product which:

1. was imported into the European Community from Australia or Chile.
2. was further stored, handled, processed, wrapped, and/or packaged in an establishment which is eligible to process product for intra-Community trade,
3. is the subject of an existing import health standard between New Zealand and Australia or New Zealand and Chile where the product originated,
4. originated in an Australian or Chilean establishment(s) listed by the European Community and is eligible for export to the European Community.”

5.1.2 A copy of the original “import” certificate (i.e. certificate(s) used to import the product into the European Community) is to be attached to the signed Member State health certificate (see PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION).This copy is to be endorsed “certified copy of original” and signed by the certifying officer.

6. DOCUMENTATION ACCOMPANYING THE CONSIGNMENT

6.1 The consignment shall be accompanied by appropriately completed health certification which meets the requirements of PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION.

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

6.3 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

7. BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE

7.1 Upon arrival in New Zealand the documentation accompanying the consignment shall be inspected by an Inspector at the port of arrival.

7.2 Providing that the documentation meets all requirements noted under PART D: ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION and the consignment meets the conditions of ELIGIBILITY, the consignment may, as appropriate, be given a biosecurity clearance pursuant to section 26 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 or biosecurity direction pursuant to section 25 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION

8. NEGOTIATED EXPORT CERTIFICATION

8.1 The following Model Zoosanitary Certificate contains the information required by MAF to accompany imports of sheep and goat meat for human consumption into New Zealand from the European Community

9. ANIMAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR SHEEP AND GOAT MEAT – ANNEX A ASSIGNED NUMBERS (AN) 4A.1, 5A.1, 6A.1, 7B.1, 7C.1, 7D.1

AN Number and Name of Animal Product:

Certificate Number:

Exporting Member State:

Competent Ministry of Exporting Member State:

I. Identification of Product

Number of packages:

Nature of packaging:

Nature of the goods:

Species product derived from:

Net weight in kilograms (kg):

Number of the container(s) and container seal number(s):

Production date(s):

II. Origin of Product

Name and official approval number(s) of establishment(s):

Product derived from animals born and reared

(List applicable countries / Member States)

III. Consignment Information

Place of loading:

Name and address of consignor:

Name and address of consignee:

Port of Disembarkation:

Country of Final Destination: NEW ZEALAND

IV. Health Attestation

I the undersigned hereby certify that:

The animal products herein described, comply with the relevant European Community animal health/public health standards and requirements which have been recognised as equivalent to the New Zealand standards and requirements as prescribed in Council Decision 97/132/EC as last amended, specifically, in accordance with:

• For fresh meat: Council Directive 64/433/EEC, Council Directive 72/461/EEC, Council Directive 72/462/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 and Council Directive 2002/99/EC.
• For meat products derived from fresh meat: Council Directive 64/433/EEC, Council Directive 72/461/EEC, Council Directive 72/462/EEC, Council Directive 77/99/EEC, Council Directive 80/215/EEC, Council Directive 92/118/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 and Council Directive 2002/99/EC.
• For meat preparations from fresh meat: Council Directive 72/461/EEC, Council Directive 72/462/EEC, Council Directive 94/65/EC, Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 and Council Directive 2002/99/EC.
• For processed bones and bone products, processed animal protein products, blood and blood products: Council Directive 72/461/EEC, Council Directive 72/462/EEC, Council Directive 77/99/EEC, Council Directive 80/215/EEC, Council Directive 92/118/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 and Council Directive 2002/99/EC.

(Delete clauses that are not applicable)

V. Additional Declarations/Guarantees:

I the undersigned hereby certify that the animal product is eligible for intra-community trade without restriction.

I the undersigned hereby certify that this product does not contain and is not derived from bovine, ovine and caprine materials other than those derived from animals born, continuously reared and slaughtered in the European Union and which has been produced in full compliance with Regulations of the European Parliament and the Council (EC) No 999/2001 and (EC) No 1774/2002 as applicable.

VI. This certificate is valid for 4 months from the date of issue (unless revoked)

Done at:.................... on:....................

Signature and Seal of Official Veterinarian:...............................

(Note: The signature and official seal must be in a colour different to that of the printing.)

Ref: AI-EU01O MEASHGIC.EEC