Guidance Document  
 
A guidance document issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Zoo Equids  
ZOOEQUIDS .SPE 
[Document Date]  
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 Title 
Guidance Document : Zoo Equids . 
About this document  
This guidance document contains information about acceptable ways of ensuring compliance with the 
requirements in t he Import Health Standard ( IHS): Zoo Equids . 
Any guidance on how to comply with the applicable requirements may not be the only way to achieve 
compliance. Stakeholders are encouraged to discuss departures from the approaches outlined  in this 
guidance document with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to avoid expending resources on the 
development of alternative approaches which may later be considered unsuitable.  
The term “must” is not typically used in guidance. In this particu lar document if the term “must” is used, it is 
used in the context of quoting or paraphrasing the requirements set out in the related IHS: Zoo Equids . 
Related Requirements  
Import Health Standard: Zoo Equids  
Document  history  
Refer to Appendix 1.  
Contact Details  
For further information and questions about this guidance document, please contact:  
 
Animal Imports  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
 
Email: animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz  
Disclaimer  
This guidance does not constitute, and should not be regarded as, legal advice . While every effort has been 
made to ensure the inform ation in this guidance is accurate, the Ministry for Primary Industries does not accept 
any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be 
present, however it may have occurred.  
Copyright  
Crown copyright ©. This copyright work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand 
licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to the Ministry f or Primary 
Industries and  abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/nz/ . 
Please note that no governmental emblem, logo or Coat of Arms may be used in any way which infringes any provision of the Fla gs, 
Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 or would infringe such provision if the relevant us e occurred within New Zealand. 
Attribution to the Ministry for Primary Industries should be in written form and not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo  or Coat of 
Arms.  
Guidance Document : Zoo Equids  
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 Contents  Page 
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Definitions  3 
4 Importer Responsibilities  3 
5 Guidance  3 
5.1 Equivalence  3 
5.2 Incorporation of material by reference  4 
5.3 Exporting country systems and certification  4 
5.4 Diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatment  4 
5.5 Inspection and verification  5 
6 Specified Requirements for Identified Risk Organisms  6 
6.1 Model veterinary certificate  6 
6.2 Model export certificate  Error! Bookmark not defined.  
6.3 Model manufacturer’s declaration  Error! Bookmark not defined.  
Appendix 1 – Document History  11 
 
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 1 Purpose  
(1) This guidance document has been issued to accompany the IHS: Zoo Equids . This guidance 
document should be read in conjunction with that IHS.  
(2) This document includes:  
a) A model veterinary certificate.  
b) Links to n egotiated country specific veterinary certificates.  
2 Background  
(1) The IHS: Zoo Equids , which this guidance document acco mpanies, contains generic import 
requirements. These are the rules to manage the biosecurity risk of importing  zoo equids  from 
Australia, Canada, Europe (not limited to the European Union), Japan, Singapore, South Africa and the 
United States of America  that can meet the requirements of the IHS and in doing so meet New 
Zealand’s appropriate level of protection.  
(2) This guidance document contains a model veterinary certificate and agreed veterinary certification for 
trade in  zoo equids . The country -specifi c veterinary certificate s represent  what will be certified prior to 
exporting consignments of  zoo equids .  
3 Definitions  
(1) Refer to Schedule 2 of the IHS: Zoo Equids . 
4 Importer Responsibilities  
(1) The costs to MPI in performing functions relating to the import ation of  zoo equids  will be recovered in 
accordance with the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and any regulations made under that Act. All costs 
involved with documentation, transport, storage and obtaining a biosecurity clearance must be covered 
by the importer or agent.  
5 Guid ance  
5.1 Equivalence  
(1) MPI may accept an alternative method, system or process that can be shown to achieve the 
biosecurity requirements of the IHS (i.e. equivalence).  
(2) MPI’s preference is that the exporting country’s Competent Authority makes equivalence request s. 
Equivalence requests can be lodged with animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz . 
(3) Information may be added to the import permit where specific equivalence measures are approved by 
MPI. An import permit serves as evidence of equivalence decisions , which will be written as specific 
notes in the special conditions section of the permit.  
(4) Apply online for an import permit at the following weblink: https://animalplantimportpermit.mpi.govt.nz/  Guidance Document : Zoo Equids  
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5.2 Incorporation of material by reference  
(1) Incorporation by reference means that standards, guidelines or lists are incorporated into the IHS and 
they form part of the requirements. This is done because technical documents are too large or 
impractical to include in the IHS.  
(2) Where the IHS states that section 142O(1) of the Act does not apply, this means that importers need to 
refer to the most recent version of any standards, guidelines or lists that are incorporated by reference 
in the IHS.  
5.3 Exporting country systems and certification  
5.3.1 Recognition of  exporting systems  
(1) The exporting systems of Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Singapore, South Afr ica and the United 
States of America have met MPI’s general exporting requirements, but some specific requirements 
based on the World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Code), section 
3, titled “Quality of Veterinary Service s” may be requested by MPI regarding the capabilities and 
preferences of the exporting country’s Competent Authority.  
5.3.2 Agreed country specific veterinary certificates  
(1) Requests from exporting countries to negotiate veterinary certification for the import of  zoo equids  into 
New Zealand will be prioritised according to MPI resources available at the time of application.  
(2) A model veterinary certificate is provided in this guidance document and can be used by the 
Competent Authority as a reference for country -specific veterinary certificate negotiation.  
(3) All country -specific veterinary certificates agreed between an exporting country’s Competent Authority 
and MPI are included in the table below:  
 
Country  Link to certificate  S27 CTO direction 
#  Date agreed  Date ap plicable 
for use  
     
(4) Country -specific veterinary certificates with equivalent measures will be recorded with a number 
relevant to a chief technical officer (CTO) direction under section 27(1)(d)(iii) of the Act, to enable 
border staff to clear the goods and record the number i n the MPI database.  
(5) Currently there are no country -specific veterinary certificates for zoo equid imports into New Zealand.  
5.4 Diagnostic tests , vaccines and treatment  
(1) MPI lists all approved diagnostic tests and vaccines in the MPI document: Approved Diagnostic Tests, 
Vaccines, Treatments and Post -Arrival Testing Laboratories for Animal Import Health Standards, 
MPI-STD-TVTL. . 
(2) Where World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)  recommended diagnostic tests and vaccines are 
listed, details can be found in the WOAH  Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines  found on the 
WOAH  website: Terrestrial Manual Online Access - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health . 
(3) Prior to agreement of any country -specific veterinary certificates, there may not be any approved 
diagnostic tests or vaccines listed in MPI -STD-TVTL. These will be agreed during certificate 
negotiation and then added to MPI -STD-TVTL.  
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5.5 Inspection and verification  
(1) On arrival, all documentation accompanying the consignment will be verified by an inspector.  
(2) Any containers not intact on arrival will be required to be made secure before the consignment is 
moved to the transitional facility. Any material which has leaked from the container will be destroyed at 
the port of entry.  
(3) Following biosecurity authorisation, the zoo equids will proceed directly to the transitional facility 
named on the import permit.  
(4) Inspectors can inspect and verify due to their authorised powers under the Act.  
(5) These requirements are independent of the IHS requirements.  
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 6 Specified Requirements for Identified Risk Organisms  
6.1 Model veterinary certificate  
(1) Below is a model veterinary certificate for trade in  zoo equids from Australia, Canada, Europe (not 
limited to the European Union), Japan, Singapore, South Africa and the United States of America  into 
New Zealand . This can be used by the exporting Competent Authority and zoo as a reference for 
country specific veterinary certificate negotiation, but a certificate must be agreed by MPI before 
trade can commence.  
 
Exporting Country:  Certificate Reference Number:  
 
1. Consignor (exporter)  
Name:  
Address:  
 
 2. Competent authority:  
 
 
3. Consignee: (importer)  
Name:  
Address:  
 
 4. Country of origin:  
ISO Code*:  
 
5. Country of destination: NEW ZEALAND  
ISO Code*: NZL 
 
6. Date of departure:  
 7. Place of shipment:  
 
 
8. Place of origin:  
Name:  
Address:  
 
 9. Means of transport  
☐   Aeroplane  
☐   Ship 
 
Identification:  
 
10. Expected border post:  
 
 11. Description of commodity:  
12. Total number of animals /packages : 
 13. Country of transit/transhipment (if applicable):  
 
 
14. Permit number:  
 
  
15. Identification of commodity:    
 
 
Species  Breed  Microchip 
Number  Microchip 
Location  Age Sex Desexed or 
Entire  
       
       
       
       
       
       
*optional  
 
 
 
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 Exporting Country:  Certificate Reference Number:  
 
I, the undersigned Official Veterinarian, certify that the animals described above satisfy the following  requirements:  
 
Exporting zoo premises  
(1) The animals were resident in one or more approved, licensed, or registered zoos or wildlife parks in the exporting country 
since bir th or for at least the 12 months immediately before export.  
(2) The premises in which the animals resided ensured separation of the animals from other animal populations not of the 
same health status.  
(3) The premises were under direct veterinary supervision, and a health monitoring programme was followed including 
necropsies, and microbiological and parasitological testing.  
(4) The exporting premises was free of quarantine restrictions for the 90 days before the date of export . 
Pre-export isolation and inspection  
(5) Each animal was:  
(a) Held in pre -export isolation for a minimum of 30 days before the date of export; and  
(b) Isolated from other animals not of equivalent health status.  
(6) Individual health records were kept for each animal during the pre-export isolation period and any health problems during 
this time were reported to MPI.  
(7) The pre -export isolation premises was:  
(a) Approved and supervised by an Official Veterinarian of the exporting country’s Competent Authority;  and 
(b) Free of grass and pasture.  
(8) Before the animals enter ed the pre -export isolation  premises , the premises was  thoroughly cleaned and sprayed with an 
acaricide , which was then repeated as pe r the manufacturer’s recommendations . 
(9) Bedding used during pre -expo rt isolation was clean and free from evidence of contamination with ticks and seeds.  
(10) Bedding was removed and the premises cleaned every 10 days.  
(11) Animals were only fed feed showing no evidence of contamination with ticks and seeds.  
(12) Each animal was examined during pre -export isolation to ensure it was free from external parasites and seeds.  
(13) Each animal was examined by an Official Veterinarian in the 72 hours before leaving the pre -export isolation premises for 
the port of departure to verify:  
(a) Each microchip; and 
(b) The animals were fully weaned ; and  
(c) The animals were n ot in the third term of pregnancy ; and  
(d) The animals were f ree from clinical evidence of infectious disease ; and  
(e) The animals were f it for travel.  
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 Exporting Country:  Certificate Reference Number:  
 
Transport  
(14) As far as can be determined:  
(a) If shipped by (delete clause i or ii as appropriate)  
(i) Air, each animal will be shipped in accordance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live 
Animal Regulations; or  
(ii) Sea, the animals will be shipped in accordance with the Australian Marine O rders Part 43, Issue 6.  
(15) No animals other than those that meet the import requirements for entry into New Zealand will be permitted to be 
transported with the zoo equids  on the aircraft or ship.  
(16) Transhipment of animals through a third country will not occur  (delete clause as applicable); or  
(a) The animals will be transhipped through [country] as per approval by MPI and the air stalls will be covered with 
insect -proof netting and the cargo hold will be sprayed with an effective insecticide during transit.  
(17) The ve hicles in which the animals will be transported to the port of departure will be cleaned and disinsected before 
loading.  
(18) The crates or pens to be used for transporting the zoo equids  to New Zealand are either new or if previously used will be 
cleaned and disinsected.  
(19) All feed and bedding during transportation will be free from seeds and ticks.  
Tests and treatments  
(20) All pre -export and surveillance tests were conducted by a laboratory (d elete clause a or b as appropriate):  
(a) Approved by [Competent Authority of the exporting country]; or  
(b) Approved by [Competent Authority of any other country approved under the import health standard to export zoo 
equids to New Zealand].  
(21) All diagnostic tests  and treatments were approved by MPI.  
(22) African horse sickness virus  
(a) Each animal :  
(i) Resided since birth or for at least the 40 days prior to export  in a country officially  free from African horse 
sickness virus in accordance with the Code ; and  
(ii) Was not vaccina ted against African horse sickness ; and  
(iii) Showed no clinical sign of African horse sickness on the day of export ; or 
(b) Each animal : 
(i) Showed no clinical si gns of African horse sickness on the day of export ; and  
(ii) Was not vaccinated against African horse sickness in the 40 days  prior to export ; and  
(iii) Was held in insect proofed pre -export isolation premises and during this time:  Guidance Document : Zoo Equids  
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 Exporting Country:  Certificate Reference Number:  
 
1. A serological test to detect antibodies against African horse sickness virus was carried ou t with 
negative results on a blood sample collected at least 28 days after entry into pre - export isolation; or  
2. An agent identification test was carried out with a negative result on a blood sample collected at 
least  14 days after entry  into pre -export iso lation.  
(23) Trypanosoma evansi  (Surra)  
(a) Each animal originate d from a country recognised by MPI as free from surra.  
(24) Equine infectious anaemia (equine infectious anaemia virus)  
(a) Each animal resided since birth or for at least the 90 days prior to export  in [inser t equine infectious anaemia -free 
country as agreed by MPI] ; or 
(b) Each animal:  
(i) Showed no clinical sign s of equine infectious anaemia within  the 48 hours prior to export; and 
(ii) Resided since birth or for at least the 90 days  prior to  export , in zoo premises where no official case of 
equine infectious anaemia was reported during that period; and 
(iii) Was subjected to a diagnostic test for equine infectious anaemia  as described in the document MPI-STD-
TVTL  with negative results. Samples fo r testing must be  collected during pre -export isolation within the 30 
days prior to export.  
(25) Equine influenza (equine influenza virus)  
(a) Each animal resided since birth or for at least the 30 days prior to export in [insert equine influenza virus -free 
country as agreed by MPI ] and showed no clinical signs of equine influenza on the day of export ; or 
(b) Each animal:  
(i) Resided for at least the 30 days prior to export  in zoo premises where no clinical, epidemiological or other 
evidence of equine influenza virus has occurred in any animal species during the previous 2 years; and  
(ii) Showed no clinical signs o f equine influenza on the day of export . 
(26) Equine viral arteritis (equine arteritis virus)  
(a) Each animal showed no clinical signs of equine viral arteritis during pre -export isolation.  
(27) Rabies (rabies virus)  
(a) Each animal resided since birth or for at least the six months prior to export  in [insert rabies -free count ry as agreed 
by MPI] and showed no clinical signs of rabies on the day of export ; or 
(b) Each animal was:  
(i) Kept for the six months prior to export  in zoo premises where there has been no case of rabies for at least 
the 12 months immediately prior to export ; and 
(ii) Free from clinical signs of rabies on the day of export . 
 
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 Exporting Country:  Certificate Reference Number:  
 
(28) Equine rhinopneumonitis (equine herpesvirus 1 exotic strains)  
(a) Each animal:  
(i) Resided for at least the 30 days prior to export  in zoo premises where no clinical, epidemiological or other 
evidence of equine herpes virus 1 occurred during that period; and  
(ii) Showed no clinical signs of equine herpesvirus 1 on the day of export . 
(29) External parasites (ticks)  
(a) Within the 30 days prior to export , each animal was treated twice at least 14 days apart, with an external 
parasiticide effective against ticks.  
             First treatment:  
           Name of ectoparasiticide:………………………..  
             Active ingredient(s):………………………………  
             Dose rate:………………………………………….  
             Date of treatment:…………………………………  
 
             Second treatment:  
             Name of ectoparasiticide:………………………..  
             Active ingredient(s):………………………………  
             Dose rate:…………………………………………  
             Date of treatment:………………………………..  
 
 
 
 
 
Note: each p age of the certificate must be signed must be signed, stamped, dated ad identified with a unique reference number.  
Official Veterinarian  
Name:  
Address:  
Email:  
  
Signature:  
Date:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Official Veterinarian signature, 
Official stamp and date  Guidance Document : Zoo Equids  
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 Appendix 1 – Document History  
Date First Issued  Title Shortcode  
8 March 2024  
Internal Consultation  Guidance Document:  Zoo Equids  ZOOEQUIDS.SPE  
Date of Issued Amendments  Title Shortcode