. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/171
15 May 2002
(02-2692)
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 Health
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):  All food products
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:   Revoking New Zealand’s
Food Regulatory Measures to be Covered by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards
Code: A Discussion Document (Available in English) (47 pages)
6. Description of content:  The purpose of the discussion document is two-fold:  first, to
consult on the proposed date in which the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
will take full effect (this date will also spell the end of the transition period within which
alternative food standards and regulations are available to the food industry);  and second,to invite comment on the food regulatory measures that are proposed for revocation,
replacement, and retention.
The Code, which is proposed to take full effect at the end of 2002, comprises the sole set of
food standards for composition, labelling and other matters included within the scope of the
Joint Food Standards System.  For the Code to enter into full effect, however, it will be
necessary to revoke those standards provided under the New Zealand Food Regulations1984 and the New Zealand Food Standard 2001 that fall within the scope of the Code.  At
the same time, food regulatory matters that  fall outside the scope of the Joint Food
Standards System (eg, processing requirements and public health and safety issues) will
continue to remain in force in New Zealand food legislation.  This document has also been
notified under the TBT Agreement.
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or di sease,  [   ]  protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] 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:  NoneG/SPS/N/NZL/171
Page 2
10. Proposed date of adoption:  End of 2002/beginning of 2003
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  End of 2002/beginning of 2003
12. Final date for comments:  31 May 2002.  Late comment w ill be considered up to
28 June 2002, if the intention to comment is communicated by 31 May 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:   Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington, New Zealand.
Tel:  +64 4 496 2094;  Fax:  +64 4 496 2340;  E-mail:  jacquilyn_bird@moh.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:  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