. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/NZL/291 
27 April 2004 
 (04-1864) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   NEW ZEALAND
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Surgical catgut from all countries. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Import health standard in 
English for the importation of Surgical Catgut into New Zealand from al l countries (available 
in English, 5 pages). 
6. Description of content:  This import health standard allo ws for the importation of Surgical 
Catgut into New Zealand from all countries.  It includes the following safeguards against 
diseases of concern: 
Catgut that was manufactured from ovine or  bovine tissues was sourced from countries or 
zones free of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) according to the OIE Code .  
Catgut that was manufactured from ovine tissues was sourced from countries or zones free 
of scrapie according to the OIE Code . 
7. Objective and rationale:  [   ] food safety, [ X ] animal health, [   ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from anima l/plant pest or disease,  [   ]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests  
To protect the entry into New Zealand of exot ic bovine and ovine diseases such as BSE and 
scrapie. 
BSE is assumed to be introduced into sheep popul ations as it has been shown to be orally 
transmitted to sheep and it is likely that sh eep have been fed BSE contaminated meat and 
bone meal. 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:  
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  None 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   1 July 2004 G/SPS/N/NZL/291 
Page 2  
 
 11. Proposed date of entry into force:   1 July 2004 
12. Final date for comments:  27 June 2004 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [   ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Grant Clarke, National Adviser Internationa l Trade, Animal Biosecurity Group, MAF 
Biosecurity Authority, PO Box 2526, Wellingt on, New Zealand;  Tel:  (+64) 4 474 4221, 
Fax:  (+64) 4 474 4227;  e-ma il:  clarkeg@maf.govt.nz 
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Ms Sally Griffin, Coordinator, SPS Ne w Zealand, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New 
Zealand.  Tel:  +64 4 474 4140;  Fax:   +64 4 470 2730;  E-mail:  sps@maf. govt.nz 
Website:  www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/s ps/transparency/notifications/index.htm