Importing New Zealand origin sheep meat/sheep meat products & casing for human consumption from Australia and the United States

1 May 2007

meashic.spe

 

Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993
Dated: 1 May 2007

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 which outline the requirements to be met prior to and during importation.

Part C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE contains sections describing the requirements to be met at the New Zealand border 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.

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 New Zealand origin sheep meat, sheep meat products and sheep casings for human consumption from Australia and the United States.

1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of New Zealand origin sheep meat, meat products and sheep casings for human consumption from Australia and New Zealand imported into New Zealand is dependant 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 Biosecurity Group Manager.

2 IMPORTER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 It is the importer or agent’s responsibility to ensure that they are compliant with the current version of the relevant import health standard at the time of importation into New Zealand. Current versions of import health standards are available online at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ihs/search

2.2 Commercial consignments of products imported into New Zealand for human consumption 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 consult the NZFSA website: www.nzfsa.govt.nz/imported-food/index.htm or contact the NZFSA.

2.3 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 at 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

2.4 The costs to MAF in performing functions relating to the importation of foods containing animal products shall be recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act.

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

3 EQUIVALENCE

The import health standard has been agreed as being suitable for trade between the exporting and the importing countries. It is expected that the poultry products 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 completely with this import health standard. In such cases, an application for equivalence may be considered and may be issued at the discretion of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, but only if the following information is forwarded by the certifying government's veterinary authority:

• which clause/s of the import health standard cannot be met and how this has occurred;
• the reason the consignment is considered to be of an "equivalent health" status and/or what proposal is made to return the consignment to an equivalent health status as set out in this standard; and
• the reasons why the veterinary authority of the country of origin believe this proposal must be acceptable to the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and their recommendation for its acceptance.

4 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Animal by-product

Mechanically removed meat and other animal parts that remain after the skeletal muscle has been removed in dressing or trimming. Animal by-products include offal, fat and blood intended for human consumption and products intended for use as fertiliser, animal foods, medicines and for industrial use.

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).

Inspector

Means a person who is appointed an inspector under section 103 of the Biosecurity Act (1993).

MAF

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Meat

Skeletal muscle of vertebrate animal species (e.g. avian, amphibian, fish, mammalian, and reptilian) with naturally included or adherent tissue or bone. This definition excludes animal by-products.

Meat product

A product containing meat as an ingredient (such as meat patties, meat pies, salami or sausage), or meat that has been treated so that the cut surface of the meat no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat.

Official Veterinarian

A veterinarian of an exporting country’s Veterinary Authority who is authorised according to official procedures to sign international veterinary certificates.

Terrestrial Code

The World Organisation for Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties) Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

Veterinary Authority

Means the governmental Veterinary Service that has authority for implementing, supervising and auditing the animal health measures and international veterinary certification processes recommended by the Terrestrial Code.

PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE

5 PERMIT TO IMPORT

5.1 A permit to import is not required for consignments that meet the requirements of this import health standard.

6 ELIGIBILITY

6.1 This import health standard applies to New Zealand origin sheep meat, sheep meat products and sheep casings that have either been reprocessed or repackaged in either Australia or the United States of America.

6.2 The consignment must not include lymph nodes, organs, or mechanically removed meat or any other animal by-products other than natural sheep casings.

6.3 The sheep meat, sheep meat products and sheep casings must be clearly identified as being of New Zealand origin, and accompanied by a copy of the original New Zealand export certificate signed and stamped by the veterinary authority of Australia or the United States of America and documentation that complies with Part D: Zoosanitary Certification in this import health standard.

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.

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 consignment or a sample of the consignment may be inspected by an Inspector at the port of arrival.

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 Model Zoosanitary Certificate contains the information required by MAF to accompany imports of New Zealand origin sheep meat, sheep meat products and sheep casings for human consumption from Australia and the United States of America.

10 MODEL ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION

COMMODITY: NEW ZEALAND ORIGIN SHEEP MEAT, SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTS AND/OR SHEEP CASINGS

CERTIFYING AUTHORITY:

Agency:

Department:

Country:

I. ORIGIN OF THE CONSIGNMENT

(i). Name/s and address/es of processing premises:

(ii). Processing premises registration number:

II. CONSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

(i). The commodity contained in this consignment is (describe form and packaging):

(ii). Amount (in kgs) of the consignment:

III. DESTINATION OF THE CONSIGNMENT

(i). Name and address of New Zealand importer:

IV. ZOOSANITARY INFORMATION

VETERINARY CERTIFICATE

I, an Official Veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Authority of (insert Australia or the United States of America) certify after due enquiry, with respect to the New Zealand origin sheep meat, sheep meat products or sheep casings identified in this zoosanitary certificate, that:

1. The sheep meat, sheep meat products and/or sheep casings (delete as appropriate) have been stored or processed in an establishment approved by the Veterinary Authority of (insert Australia or the United States of America) that stores or processes meat, meat products or meat by-products for human consumption and operates under Government Veterinary Supervision.
2. While in the approved establishment, the sheep meat, sheep meat products and/or sheep casings (delete as appropriate) have been maintained as separate from any meat, meat products or animal by-products not of New Zealand origin.

Signature of Official Veterinarian:

Name and address of veterinarian:

Date:

MEASHIC.SPE AI00-42E