. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/152
8 August 2001
(01-3946)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health
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). Products:  Soy sauce, flavoured soy sauce, and sauce mixtures with a soy sauce
base.  Tariff Item No. 2103.10.00.  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the
extent relevant or practicable:  All countries.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  The New Zealand (Emergency)
Food Standard (No.2)  2001 (1 page, available in English)
5. Description of content: The New Zealand (Emergency) Food Standard (No.2) 2001 was
issued by the Director-General of Health on 24 July 2001.  This has the effect of
temporarily amending the New Zealand (Mandatory) Food Standard 1997, by adding soy
sauce, flavoured soy sauce, and sauce mixtures with a soy sauce base as prescribed foods
(high-risk foods).  The 'condition' to be monitored for is chloropropanols.  It is the potential
presence of these of these chemical contaminants that makes soy sauces high-risk foods.
The New Zealand (Emergency) Food Standard (No.2) 2001 was notified in the
Gazette on 24 July 2001 and came into effect on that day.  It will remain in force for a
maximum period of six months or until a permanent amendment to the New Zealand
(Mandatory) Food Standard is introduced (whichever is earlier).
The Ministry of Health has set the maximum permitted limit of 3-MCPD in soy
sauce, flavoured soy sauce, and sauce mixtures with a soy sauce base at 1.0mg/kg as an
interim measure.  This will remain in force until a risk assessment and review of the most
appropriate level is complete, and then a permanent level will be applied.
6. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,
[    ] protect territory from other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  Potential presence of carcinogenic chloropropanols in
soy sauce, flavoured soy sauce, and sauce mixtures with a soy sauce base sold in NewZealandG/SPS/N/NZL/152
Page 2
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations: The interim maximum permitted limit is
consistent with Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s guideline limit of 1 mg/kg.   It is
greater than the European Commission’s proposed legal maximum limit of 0.02 mg/kg (dueto come into force in April 2002).
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  The New Zealand
(Emergency) Food Standard (No.2) 2001 and the Ministry of Health's Standard
Management Rules (available in English).
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  Imported surveillance will
commence on 1 August 2001.
11. Texts available from/and 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:
Mr Keawe Woodmore
CoordinatorNew Zealand SPS Notification Authority
PO Box 2526, 101-103 The  Terrace
Wellington, New Zealand
Tel:  +64 4 474 4226
Fad:  +64 4 470 2730.
E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz
Webside at:  http:/www.maf.govt.nz/biosecuri ty/sps/transparency/not ifications/index.htm
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