FAQs related to Exporting Ornamental Fish to the European Union

What is sheep/beef measles?

Beef measles or Cystericercus bovis is rare in New Zealand. It is the larval form of a parasitic tapeworm that infests the muscles of cattle. It is caused by cattle ingesting eggs of the human tapeworm Taenia saginata. More information can be found here: www.foodsafety.govt.nz/elibrary/industry/Cystericercus_Bovis-Larval_Form.htm (offsite link to www.foodsafety.govt.nz)

Sheep measles or Cysticerious ovis is the larval form of a parasitic tapeworm that infests the muscles of sheep and is caused by sheep ingesting eggs of the dog tapeworm Taenia ovis. More information can be found here:

www.foodsmart.govt.nz/food-safety/high-risk-foods/defects-in-meat/ (offsite link to www.foodsmart.govt.nz)
www.sheepmeasles.co.nz (offsite link to www.sheepmeasles.co.nz)

This should not be confused with echinococcus/hydatosis which New Zealand has been free from since 2000.

Is New Zealand free from echinococcus/hydatosis?

New Zealand has not had any case of Echinococcosis/hydatidosis since 2000. Under the Biosecurity (Declaration of a Controlled Area) Notice – Echinococcus granulosus (Hydatids) it states raw offal from livestock shall not be accessible by dogs:

i. Slaughter and dressing of livestock shall take place in a dog-proof enclosure.
ii. Owners shall control their dogs at all times in such a manner as to prevent them from having access to raw offal of livestock.
iii. Offal shall be cooked by boiling for a minimum of 30 minutes before feeding to dogs.

Further information is found here: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/hydatids-controlled-area.pdf Link to PDF document (52 KB)

This is not to be confused with sheep measles (Taenia ovis or Cysticerious ovis) which is present in New Zealand. Further information is found on this link: www.sheepmeasles.co.nz/ (offsite link to www.sheepmeasles.co.nz)

Is it illegal to feed raw or meat offal to dogs?

Under the Biosecurity (Declaration of a Controlled Area) Notice – Echinococcus granulosus (Hydatids) raw offal from livestock shall not be accessible by dogs:

i. Slaughter and dressing of livestock shall take place in a dog-proof enclosure.
ii. Owners shall control their dogs at all times in such a manner as to prevent them from having access to raw offal of livestock.
iii. Offal shall be cooked by boiling for a minimum of 30 minutes before feeding to dogs.

Further information is found here: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/hydatids-controlled-area.pdf Link to PDF document (52 KB)

It is not illegal to feed raw meat to dogs but the following link contains information on sheep measles (Taenia ovis or Cysticerious ovis) which contains guidance regarding feeding sheep meat to dogs: www.sheepmeasles.co.nz (offsite link to www.sheepmeasles.co.nz)