. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/169
26 March 2002
(02-1552)
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).  Bovine semen  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent
relevant or practicable:  Japan
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft import health standard for the
importation of bovine semen into New Zealand from Japan (10 pages) (Available in
English)
5. Description of content:  This draft import health standard  (IHS) allows for the importation
of bovine semen into New Zealand from Japan.  It includes the following safeguards against
diseases of concern:
(a) Due to a case of BSE confirmed in an indigenous cow in Japan on
22 September 2001. All references to BSE have been removed as semen has been
shown to not be a vehicle for the BSE agent (OIE Code ).  The previous IHS required
that the exporting country was free of BSE.
(b) As the OIE declared Japan to be free of FMD on the 29 September 2000.  The draft
IHS has been amended to only allow the export of bovine semen collected since
1 October 2000.
(c) Due to a detection of bluetongue in Japan on 12 November 2001, clause 6.2 of
Veterinary Certificate A has been amended to incorporate the relevant Articles from
Chapter 2.1.9 on bluetongue from the 2001 OIE International Animal Health Code,
mammals, birds and bees . Previously there were no safeguards against bluetongue in
the IHS.
All references to the New Zealand Semen Standard 93/105S/NZ have been removed and
replaced with reference to the OIE International Animal Health Code, mammals, birds and
bees or an actual laboratory test.
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           
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:  OIE Animal Health Code Appendix 3.2.1G/SPS/N/NZL/169
Page 2
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  None
9. Proposed date of adoption:  15 June 2002
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  15 June 2002
11. Final date for comments:  8 June 2002
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:  Joanne Thompson, National Adviser, International Animal Trade,
Animal Biosecurity Group, MAF Biosecurity Authority, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New
Zealand;  Tel: (+64) 6 323 1183;  Fax: (+ 64) 4 474 4227;  E-mail:  thompsonj@maf.govt.n
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, SPS New Zealand, 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: www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/sps/transparency/notifications/index.htm