Updates
15 March 2021 – Second consultation
As advised on 16 December 2020, a second consultation is being held. Submissions close on 14 May 2021.
Find out about the second consultation and have your say
16 December 2020 – The IHS will undergo a second consultation
In response to the provisional release, MPI was advised of new science on antibiotic management of Mycoplasma bovis in bovine semen. MPI will undertake another consultation on the IHS in early 2021.
30 September 2020 – Provisional IHS released
Following the consultation that closed in July 2020, a provisional IHS was released along with the Review of Submissions.
Provisional IHS for Bovine Germplasm [PDF, 489 KB]
Review of submissions [PDF, 2.2 MB]
Related documents
Provisional Risk Management Proposal [PDF, 537 KB]
Provisional Guidance Document [PDF, 477 KB]
Transition
A 6-month transitional arrangement will be provided from the date of issue to allow for the negotiation of new veterinary certificates. Requirements in the newly agreed certificates can be used upon agreement.
Existing import requirements for bovine semen and embryos will remain in effect until the transitional arrangement expires.
Background to this consultation
From 6 May to 8 July 2020, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invited comment on proposed changes to the import requirements for bovine semen and embryos (germplasm).
Full details of the proposed changes are in the consultation documents.
Consultation documents
Risk management proposal: Bovine germplasm [PDF, 578 KB]
Draft Import Health Standard: Bovine Germplasm [PDF, 863 KB]
Draft guidance document: Bovine germplasm [PDF, 799 KB]
Related document for reference only
NZL 625 WTO notification [PDF, 582 KB]
NZL 625 WTO notification addendum [PDF, 24 KB]
Steps to finalising a new IHS
After consultation on a draft import health standard, MPI publishes a provisional IHS.
If you make a submission during the consultation, you have 10 working days to notify the director-general of MPI that you intend to request an independent review. Reviews are limited to whether or not specific scientific evidence was given sufficient consideration.
If no review is requested within 10 working days, then the provisional IHS is confirmed and issued as a standard.
For more information about reviews refer to:
Section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 – NZ Legislation
Submissions are public information
Note that any submission you make becomes public information. People can ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we have to make submissions available unless we have a good reason for withholding it. That is explained in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.
Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include that it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may tell us to release it.
Legal background
MPI must consult with interested parties in accordance with section 23 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and MPI's consultation policy before issuing or amending (other than of minor or urgent nature) import health standards (IHS) under sections 24A and 24B of the Act.
An IHS specifies import requirements that must be met either in the country of origin or of export, or during transit before biosecurity clearance can be given for the goods to enter New Zealand. MPI must ensure that these requirements are technically justified and provide an appropriate level of biosecurity protection.
