Within New Zealand (Domestic)

Domestic Standards and Regulations

Some standards and regulations apply to activities that happen within New Zealand's borders. MAFBNZ is tasked with ensuring compliance with these to insure we can continue to trade in the international community and prevent the spread of exotic pests and diseases.

Ruminant Protein Regulations

Feeding ruminant protein (such as meat meal, bone meal, blood meal, meat and bone meal and blood and bone meal etc) to cattle, sheep, goats, deer, alpaca, llama or other ruminants has been banned. This has been done under the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations, 1999 (offsite link to www.legislation.govt.nz).

Under the Regulations, if you are a feed manufacturer, miller, renderer or a feed re-bagging unit you may require a MAF-registered Ruminant Protein Control Programme.

For more information about the Ruminant Protein Regulations and TSE’s visit our website at the following link: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/feedban

 Biosecurity (Meat and Food waste for Pigs) Regulations

Feeding meat and food waste containing meat to pigs is a disease risk to New Zealand’s livestock industries.

The Biosecurity (Meat and Food waste for Pigs) Regulations 2005 were introduced to control the spread of diseases like PRRS, swine vesicular disease, classical swine fever and foot and mouth disease.

The Regulations require you to heat meat and food waste that has come into contact with meat to 100C for one hour to destroy any bacteria or virus. The easiest way to do this is to boil it for one hour.

For more information about these regulations visit our website at the following link: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests-diseases/animals/foot-n-mouth/food-waste-to-pigs/index.htm

Imported Animal Verification

The purpose of the Imported Animal Verifications programme is to ensure the lifetime traceability of specified imported animals in to New Zealand. Maintaining this capability is vital to ensuring that the animals, people and environment of New Zealand are protected and that the country continues to enjoy the considerable benefits associated with overseas trade in animals and their products.

For further information regarding the regulations on importing animals and/or animal products and the reporting obligations following these links:

Hydatids (Sheep measles, Echinococcus granulosus)

Under the Declaration of a Controlled Area Order 2001, enacted to control hydatids (Echinococcus granulosus), the offal of all ruminants and pigs must be cooked by boiling for a minimum of 30 minutes before feeding to dogs. In addition, owners of dogs must control their dogs to prevent them from having access to raw offal from ruminants and pigs, including situations where these animals are home-killed.

Farms OnLine and NAIT

For information on these initiatives and the associated regulations please go to

Page last updated: 26 January 2010