. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/149
27 July 2001
(01-3761)
Committee on Sanitary and 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 number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Horse Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  United States of America
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Import health standard for the
importation of horses into New Zealand from the United States of America (14 pages)
(Available in English)
5. Description of content:  This import health standard allows for the importation of horses into
New Zealand from the United States of America.  It includes the following safeguards against
diseases of concern:
(i) Country/region freedom and residency requirements for African horse sickness,
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, Japanese encephalitis, equine encephalosis,
Nipah virus, Hendra virus, Getah virus, glanders, dourine, surra and screwworm.
(ii) Residency requirements for equine encephalomyelitides, equine infectious anaemia,
equine influenza, equine viral abortion, equine viral arteritis, horse pox, rabies,
Borna disease, anthrax, contagious equine metritis, melioidosis, Salmonella
abortus-equi , equine ehrlichiosis, epizootic lymphangitis, equine piroplasmosis.
(iii) Pre-export testing for vesicular stomatitis, Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis,
equine influenza, equine infectious anaemia, equine viral arteritis, leptospirosis,
contagious equine metritis, equine piroplasmosis, warble fly.
(iv) Post-arrival quarantine period of no less than 14 days in New Zealand with a further
testing regime where required, including tests for equine infectious anaemia and
equine influenza.
This import health standard is based on the MAF Biosecurity Authority Import Risk Analysis:
Horses and Horse Semen (20 January 2000).  New Zealand previously notified on 17 June
1998 in G/SPS/N/NZL/18 its draft import risk analysis on horses and horse semen.  The
import risk analysis which has since been fi nalised is available from the MAF website at:
http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/pests-diseases/animals/risk/index.htm.
6. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           G/SPS/N/NZL/149
Page 2
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Wherever appropriate, the risk analysis, which
this import health standards is based on, is aligned with the OIE International Animal Health
Code  recommendations for importation of equines and equine semen.  Diseases not listed in
the OIE Code  are also considered.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  MAF Biosecurity
Authority Import Risk Analysis: Hors es and Horse Semen (20 January 2000)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  1 October 2001
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 October 2001
11. Final date for comments:  15 September 2001
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:  Dr. Erin Daldry, National Adviser International Trade, Animal
Biosecurity Group, MAF Biosecurity Authority, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand;
Tel:  (+64) 4 470 2778;  Fax:  (+64) 4 474 4133;  E-mail:  daldrye@maf.govt.nz
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Mr. Keawe
Woodmore, Coordinator, New Zealand SPS Notification Authority, PO Box 2526, 101-103
The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand.  Tel:  +64 4 474 4226;  Fax:  +64 4 470 2730;  E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz
Website at:  http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecu rity/sps/transparency/notifications/index.htm