How the SPS Agreement will Affect Imports to New Zealand
Primary produce exports still account for more than half of New Zealand's foreign exchange earnings. One reason for the success of the primary sector is its ability to innovate and adapt quickly to market needs. This often requires new genetic material to be imported - one issue that has raised biosecurity concerns.
We cannot afford to expose primary industries to undue risk. But achieving zero risk - excluding all imports that could possibly contain a hazard - would effectively mean closing New Zealand's borders to people as well as produce.
New Zealanders want access to interesting and competitively priced food and produce from around the world, they want to travel, and they want other countries to accept our food exports.
As people and produce cross our borders there is an inevitable element of risk, however small. MAF works to reduce this risk by developing technically sound import conditions. Inspection and quarantine systems are designed to minimise potential hazards.
A framework for trade
The SPS agreement provides a framework for trading within acceptable safety parameters. It enshrines the sovereign right of nations to protect their plant, animal and human populations through import measures such as treatment, quarantine or inspection requirements.
New Zealand's international obligations
As a signatory, New Zealand can continue to regulate to protect agriculture from unwanted pests and diseases. But that right is linked to some important obligations. We must be accountable for these regulations, and be able to justify them on scientific grounds.
New Zealand has earned a reputation at the leading edge of trade reform, but to maintain this position we must lead by example. Existing barriers that don't stand up to scrutiny must be dismantled, and no new ones built.
If we want the SPS agreement to work to our advantage in overseas markets we must apply the same principles to items entering our domestic market.
Page last updated: 21 July 2008