Draft IHS for the Importation of Specified Processed Poultry Meat Products for Human Consumption from Australia

Background

Prior to 2001, poultry products from Australia and the United States of America were eligible for import into New Zealand. These products consisted of chicken meat which had been cooked to specifications stated in the MAF document, Importation into New Zealand of Meat and Meat Products: A Review of the Risks to Animal Health (1991).

New scientific information suggested that the previous cooking requirements for chicken meat products may have been inadequate to inactivate infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus. In 1999 and 2000, MAF published two additional risk analyses: Import Risk Analysis: Chicken Meat and Chicken Meat Products; Bernard Matthews Foods Ltd Turkey Meat Preparations from the United Kingdom, Revised Quantitative Risk Assessments On Chicken Meat From The United States, and Reassessment Of Heat Treatment For Inactivation Of Newcastle Disease Virus In Chicken Meat.

These risk analyses confirmed that there was a residual risk of IBD virus in chicken meat products after they have been subjected to normal cooking processes. The import health standards for poultry products from Australia and the United States of America were revoked and the only poultry meat products that have been eligible for import into New Zealand since this time have been those that have been subjected to a process that renders meat products commercially sterile (such as canning, retorting or rendering).

In 2006, MAF published an Import Risk Analysis: Cooked Duck Meat from Australia. This risk analysis for duck meat from Australia was limited to products cooked to a minimum core temperature of 60 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes and 80 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. The only potential hazard identified in this risk analysis was IBD virus which is present in Australia, which can infect ducks and is unlikely to be inactivated by the cooking processes used in the preparation of the commodities considered. These measures cover farm management, testing of the birds for IBD prior to slaughter, the slaughtering system, and processing of the final product.

As Australia has requested market access for chicken meat since the import health standard for cooked chicken meat was revoked in 2001, a draft import health standard was developed from the duck meat risk analysis and the previous chicken meat risk analyses which would include all processed poultry meat products. At this stage, only one export duck farm is in the process of being assessed as an IBD compartment, and a company has requested access for New Zealand origin chicken meat processed in Australia. A feasibility assessment of the export duck farm was completed by MAFBNZ in September. This draft import health standard provides a mechanism for other export farms in Australia to be recognised as compartments.

Links to Relevant Information

The Draft Import Health Standard (IHS) for Processed Poultry Meat for Human Consumption from Australia is based on the following four import risk analyses and chapter 1.3.5 of the Terrestrial Code (2007) on zoning and compartmentalisation, which are available online at:

Making a submission

Submissions on the draft IHS should be forwarded to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand by close of business on Monday 28 January 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:

  • Vivian Dalley
    Import Standards Group
    Border Standards Directorate
    MAF 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

Page last updated: 30 April 2008