. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/172
22 May 2002
(02-2821)
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 should be provided in addition, where
applicable):   Specified pig-meat products for human consumption
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:   Italy
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Import health standard
for the importation into New Zealand of specified pig-meat products for human
consumption from Italy, 1 May 2002 (7 pages) (English)
6. Description of content  This import health standard allo ws for the importation of specified
pig meat products for human consumption from Italy.  It includes the following safeguards
against diseases of concern:
(i) The pig meat products must EITHER  qualify for official certification as
Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham) or have undergone an equivalent 12 month
curing process OR be free of bone and have been subjected to a heat treatment
(cooked) resulting in a core temperature of 70ºC or higher for a minimum of 25
minutes.
(ii) The products must be derived from animals which passed veterinary ante-
mortem and post-mortem inspection.
(iii) The products must originate from a government licensed slaughtering
establishment that slaughters animals for human consumption and operates
under Government Veterinary Supervision.
This is a new standard based on the import risk analysis: “Importation into New Zealand of
Meat and Meat Products” dated March 1991. A further risk assessment of porcinereproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) was also carried out.
7. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety, [ X ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or di sease,  [   ]  protect territory from other
damage from pestsG/SPS/N/NZL/172
Page 2
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ X ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [   ] None
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 standard is based on, is aligned with the OIE International Animal Health
Code  recommendations for importation of pig meat products.  Diseases not listed in the OIE
Code  are also considered.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  "Importation into
New Zealand of Meat and Meat Products" dated March 1991 (English)
10. Proposed date of adoption:   14 May 2002
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   14 May 2002
12. Final date for comments:   22 July 2002  As this is a trade-facilitating measure,
New Zealand implemented it on 14 May 2002 to allow for the commencement of trade
with New Zealand.  New Zealand welcomes comments on the new import health standardand will take them into account and amend the import health standard as necessary.
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 Gillian Mylrea, National Adviser International Animal Trade,
Animal Biosecurity Group, MAF Biosecurity Authority, PO Box 2526, Wellington,
New Zealand;  Tel:  +64 4 470 2778, Fax:  +64 4 474 4227, E-mail:  mylreag@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:   M r .  K e a w e
Woodmore, Coordinator, SPS New Z ealand, 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