Draft Import Health Standards for Pig Meat and Pig Meat Products

Introduction

Four draft import health standards (IHS) have been developed for pig meat and pig meat products that are based on an import risk analysis on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in pig meat.

The draft IHS for pig meat for human consumption from the European Union (115 Kb) replaces the following two IHSs:

• The IHS for pig meat for human consumption from the European Community last issued in 2004
• The IHS for pig meat products for human consumption from Finland or Sweden last issued in 2005.

The draft IHS pig meat and pig meat products for human consumption from the Sonora state of Mexico (104 Kb) replace the following two IHSs:

• The IHS for unprocessed pig meat products for human consumption from Mexico (State Of Sonora) last issued in 2001
• The IHS for processed pig meat products for human consumption from Mexico (State Of Sonora) last issued in 2001.

The draft IHS for pig meat and pig meat products for human consumption from Canada and the United States of America (105 Kb) replaces the following four IHSs:

• The IHS for processed pig meat products for human consumption from Canada last issued in 2001
• The IHS for unprocessed pig meat products for human consumption from Canada last issued in 2001
• The IHS for processed pig meat products for human consumption from the United States of America last issued in 2001
• The IHS for unprocessed pig meat products for human consumption from the United States of America last issued in 2006.

The draft IHS for pig by-products from Canada and the United States of America (96 Kb) replaces the following two IHSs:

• The IHS for frozen pig by-products from Canada and the United States of America last issued in 2001
• The IHS for dried bovine/porcine blood for human consumption from Canada and the United States of America last issued in June 2006.

Background

Until September 2001 pig meat was imported into New Zealand without sanitary measures for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, as the prevailing scientific view was that PRRS virus was unlikely to be transmitted to susceptible pigs through ingestion of pig meat. However, a study commissioned by the Australian Government, carried out in Lelystad in 1999 demonstrated that it was possible to transmit the virus by this route. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand ’s preliminary assessment of this study resulted in provisional measures being adopted from September 2001. These measures required that imported pig meat be either cooked or subjected to certain pH levels before being given a biosecurity clearance in New Zealand. Since these measures were provisional, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand was obliged to undertake a full risk analysis to examine the risk of introducing PRRS in imported pig meat.

The MAF risk analysis on PRRS virus in pig meat was released for public consultation on 25 July 2006 and submissions closed on 15 September 2006, although extensions for late submissions were granted to 9 October 2006. A review of submissions was published on 11 June 2007. The risk analysis and the review of submissions are both available on the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/imports/risk/prrs-risk-analysis.pdf (625 Kb), and http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/biosec/consult/risk-analysis-prrs-review-of-submissions.pdf (822 Kb).

The conclusions of risk analysis are that the risk of PRRS in imported pig meat is non-negligible, and the following sanitary measures are recommended to manage the identified risk. Pig meat must be either from a country free from PRRS; or treated prior to import or on arrival, in an officially approved facility, by approved cooking or pH change; or in the form of consumer-ready, high value cuts; or further processed on arrival, in an officially approved facility, into consumer-ready high value cuts. The only difference between the conclusion of the full risk analysis and the provisional measures being adopted from 2001 is the new option that allows the biosecurity clearance of consumer-ready, high value pig meat cuts on arrival. This new option has been added to the IHSs for pig meat and pig meat products. No additional options for managing risk have been added to the IHS for pig by-products as these products could not meet the definition of high value cuts.

The release of the risk analysis was also an opportunity to update the IHSs for pig meat, pig meat products and pig by-products and to reduce duplication in these IHSs.

• Additional background information on the development of the Pig Meat and Pig Meat Products Import Health Standards (81 Kb)

In each case, IHSs were developed to replace both the IHS for products that could be cleared on arrival, and the IHS for products that needed to go to a transitional facility in New Zealand. Import health standards were also developed to replace IHSs for pig products from Canada and the United States of America as the animal health status of these two countries is the same and the import conditions are equivalent. In addition, editorial changes were made to update the IHSs to ensure that the standards adopt a more current format used by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.

Making a submission

Submissions on the draft IHS should be forwarded to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand by close of business on '15 June 2008'. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand encourages respondents to forward comments electronically to the email address below. However, should you wish to forward submissions in writing, please send them to the address that follows:

• Vivian Dalley
  Import Standards Group
  Border Standards Directorate
  Biosecurity New Zealand
  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
  PO Box 2526
  Wellington
  NEW ZEALAND
  Fax: +64 4 894 0662
• Email: vivian.dalley@maf.govt.nz