Guidance Document  
 
A guidance document issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Ruminant Meat and 
Ruminant Meat Products  
RUMNPROD.GEN  
[Document Date]  
 Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
 Draft for Consultation  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  1 of 15 
Title 
Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products . 
About this document  
This guidance document contains information about acceptable ways of ensuring compliance with the 
requirements in t he Import Health Standard ( IHS): Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products . 
Any guidance on how to comply with the applicable requirements may no t 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 particular 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 : Ruminant Meat and 
Ruminant Meat Products . 
Document  history 
Refer to Appendix 1.  
Contact Details  
For further information and questions about this guidance document, please contact:  
 
Ministry for Primary Industries  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Animal Imports  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6 140 
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 information 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 for 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 Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 or would infringe such provision if the relevant use occurred within New Zealand. 
Attribution to the Minis try for Primary Industries should be in written form and not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo or Coat of 
Arms.
 
Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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Contents  Page 
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Definitions  4 
4 Importer Responsibilities  4 
5 Guidance  5 
5.1 Equivalence  5 
5.2 Food Act 2014 and Animal Products Act 1999  5 
5.3 Incorporation of material by reference  6 
5.4 Harmonised System (HS) codes  6 
5.5 Exporting country systems and certification  7 
5.6 Inspection and verification  8 
6 Specified Requirements for Identified Risk Organisms 9 
6.1 Model veterinary certificate  9 
Appendix 1 – Document History  15 
 
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1 Purpose  
(1) This guidance document has been issued to accompany the IHS : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat 
Products . This guidance document should be read in conjunction with that IHS.  
(2) This document includes : 
a) A list of c ountries with MPI -recognised exporting systems to import  ruminant meat and ruminant 
meat products  into New Zealand . 
b) A model veterinary certificate . 
c) Links to n egotiated country -specific veterinary certificates  once these are agreed . 
2 Background  
(1) Import of ruminant meat and ruminant meat products is currently allowed under multiple import health 
standards (IHS):  
a) Beef/Deer/Sheep/Goat Meat and Meat Products from Australia, MEABDSIC.AUS, 23 May 2000   
b) Bovine Meat (Beef) for Human Consumption from the European Union, MEABEEIC.EEC, 29 
September 2004   
c) Bovine Meat (Beef) for Human Consumption from Japan, MEABEEIC.JAP, 3 February 2014  
d) Bovine Meat and Meat Products from Canada and the USA, MEABEEIC.NAM, 31 October 2014    
e) Cervine (Deer) Meat for Human Consumption from the European Union, MEADEEIC.EEC, 30 September 2004  
f) Cervine (Deer) Meat for Human Consumption from New Caledonia, ME ADEEIC.NCA, 13 
February 2003  
g) Cattle Meat Products for Human Consumption from  Vanuatu, MEABEEIC.VAN, 17 September 
2004   
h) Sheep and Goat Meat Products for Human Consumption from Chile, MEASAGIC.CHI, 25 May 
2000  
i) Sheep and Goat Meat for Human Consumption from the European Union, MEASHGIC.EEC, 4 October 2004   
j)  Bovine Blood Dried for Human Consumption from Canada and the USA, EDIBLOIC.NAM, 4 
November 2014  
k) Frozen Goat/Sheep Runners from Australia, MEARUNIC.AUS, 31 January 2000  
l) New Zealand origin sheep meat/sheep meat products & casings for human consump tion from 
Australia and the Uni ted States, MEASHIC.SPE, 01 May 2007  
m) Products manufactured from New Zealand Origin Venison into New Zealand from the USA, MEAVENIC.USA, 26 August 1998  
n) Edible Tallow Products from Australia, EDITALIC.AUS, 20 August 2003  
o) Edible Tallow Products from Canada and the United States of America, EDITALIC.ALL, 20 
August 2003  
p) Frozen Goat/Sheep By -products from Canada and the United States of America, 
INEGSPIC.NAM, 14 March 2001  
q) Spray dried bovine blood products for further processing  into animal food  from the USA, 
FODBL OIC.USA, 31 October 2014  
r) Frozen Deer By -Products for Further Processing from Australia, INEDEEIC.AUS, 28 January 
2000  
s) Frozen Deer By -Products for Further Processing from New Caledonia, INEDEEIC.NCA, 28 
January 2000  
t) Frozen Inedible Deer By -Products for Furt her Processing from Norway, INEDEEIC.NOR, 28 
January 2000  
u) Inedible Beef Serosa for Further Processing from Australia, INESERIC.AUS, 31 January 200 0 
v) Frozen Sheep Pituitary Glands for Further Processing from Australia (South Australia, Tasmania, 
Victoria and  Western Australia South of 26º Latitude South), INESHPIC.AUS, 13 December 2000  Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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w) Inedible Tallow from Australia, INETALIC.AUS, 12 January 2004  
x) Inedible Tallow from Canada, INETALIC.CAN, 6 June 2003  
y) Inedible Tallow from the United States of America, INETALIC .USA, 12 January 2004  
z) Deer/Elk Velvet from Approved Countries, DEEVVTIC.ALL, 14 March 2001  
aa) Deer/Elk Velvet from Australia, DEEVVTIC.AUS, 26 June 2001   
(2) The following IHSs include a combination of ruminant products as well as non -ruminant products : 
a) Lard and Rendered Fats for Human Consumption from the European Community, 
MEATALIC.EEC, 13 October 2004  
b) Lard, Rendered Fats and Oils, and Fish Oil Not for Human Consumption from the European Union, INETALIC.EEC, 11 October 2004  
c) Spray -Dried Cattle, Deer, G oat, Pig and Sheep Blood Products for Further Processing into 
Animal Food from Australia, FODBLOIC.AUS, 15 March 2000  
d) Frozen Raw Pet Food (Derived from Cattle, Deer, Goats, Horses, Sheep) for Further Processing 
from Australia, FODPETIC.AUS, 28 January 2000  
e) Frozen Animal By -Products (Derived from Bovines, Goats, Horses, Pigs, and Sheep) for Further 
Processing from Australia, INEPHPIC.AUS, 28 January 2000 
f) Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Deer, Horse and Pig By -Products Derived from Category 3 Material only, for 
Pharmaceu tical Use, Technical Use or Petfood from the European Community, INERMLIC.EEC, 
11 October 200 4 
g) Sausage Casings for Human Consumption from Australia, MEACASIC.AUS, 31 January 2000  
h) Natural Casings (Porcine/Ovine/Caprine) for Human Consumption from the Europe an Union, 
MEACASIC.EU, 28 June 2012  
(3) The IHS:  Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products, which this guidance document accompanies, 
contains generic import requirements. These are the rules to manage the biosecurity risk of importing  
ruminant meat and rumin ant meat products  from all countries that can meet the requirements of the 
IHS and in doing so meet New Zealand’s appropriate level of protection. The generic IHS serves as 
the basis for country -to-country (bilateral) negotiations. This guidance document  contains a model of a 
bilaterally  agreed veterinary certificat e for trade in  ruminant meat and ruminant meat products . This 
country -specific veterinary certificate represents what will be certified prior to exporting consignments 
of ruminant meat and ruminant meat products  from the country specified.  
(4) MPI will agree  to country -specific veterinary certificates with the exporting country’s Competent 
Authority once MPI is satisfied with the exporting country’s export systems. Negotiations will take into 
account the verifiable health status of the exporting country, the national sys tems, legislation and 
standards  in the exporting country for regulatory oversight of the  ruminant meat  industry , and the 
capabilities and preferences of the exporting country’s Competent Authority. The assessments will be based on the World Organisation  for Animal Health  Code section 3, Quality of Veterinary Services
. 
(5) The IHSs listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) above will be revoked once each relevant country -specific 
veterinary  certificate is issued.  
(6) General information about importing animal products can be found here:  
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/import/food/    
3 Definitions  
(1) Refer to Schedule 2 of the IHS: Ruminant Meat and Rumina nt Meat Products . 
4 Importer Responsibilities  
(1) The costs to MPI in performing functions relating to the importation of  ruminant meat and ruminant 
meat products  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.  Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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(2) Cons ignments that do not comply with the requirements of the IHS may be re -shipped, rendered or 
destroyed using an MPI -approved destruction method .  
5 Guidance  
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 requests. Equivalence requests can be lodged with animal.imports @mpi.govt.nz
. 
(3) An import permit is not required to import  ruminant meat and ruminant meat products  into New 
Zealand if the requirements of the IHS are met.  
(4) An import  permit may be required where specific equivalence measures are approved by MPI. A n 
import permit serves as evidence of equivalence decisions and will be written as specific notes in the 
special conditions section of the permit.  
(5) Trade samples that include ruminant meat and ruminant meat products may be imported into New Zealand. These produc ts are imported in small volumes for product evaluation and are not for sale or 
re-distribution. The products must meet certification requirements to mitigate all biosecurity risks but 
may not meet some packaging and transport requirements in the IHS. Impo rters of trade samples that 
are unable to meet all requirements under this IHS can apply for an import permit.  
(6) Import permit s can be applied for at the following weblink: https://animalplantimpo rtpermit.mpi.govt.nz/
 
(7) Completed applications are lodged with animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz . 
5.2 Food Act 2014 and Animal Products Act 1999 
(1) Importers of food intended for sale for human consumption must be registered with MPI. These requirements are independent of the IHS requirements. Importers are advised to consult MPI’s 
website: http://www.m pi.govt.nz/importing .
 
(2) Bovine meat products and products containing bovine meat are  High  Regulatory Interest Foods  due to 
the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) prion . As a result, they  will require food safety 
clearance on arrival. A full list can be found in the Schedules to the Food Notice: Importing Food . Food 
safety clearance will include a documentation check and may include inspection, sampling and testing at the importers co st.   
(3) The importation of the following animal material s or product s must comply with the requirements 
issued in Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMAR) 01/172 under the Animal Products Act 
1999:  
a) Imported animal material or product, or product containing  animal material or product, that is of 
New Zealand origin and has been returned to New Zealand for re -export where official assurance 
is required, and  
b) Imported animal material or product of foreign origin intended for export or further processing for export where official assurance is required.  
(4) To arrange for inspection of any animal material or animal product, contact your primary verifier or local MPI Verification Services office.  
(5) Animal products containing bovine meat intended for human consumption require food clearance. For 
more information on how to  obtain food clearance, visit 
How to Import Food Into New Zealand: Getting 
clearance for your food  or send  an email to  imported.food@mpi.govt.nz . Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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5.3 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 tha t importers need to 
refer to the most recent version of any standards, guidelines or lists that are incorporated by reference in the IHS.  
5.4 Harmonised System (HS) codes 
(1) The harmonised system is an international product numbering classification developed by t he World 
Customs Organisation (WCO). The New Zealand H armonised S ystem is found here: Tariffs in New 
Zealand | Ministry of Business, Innovat ion & Employment (mbie.govt.nz)  
(2) Animal products imported using the  IHS will be under one of the following HS Codes:  
 
HS Code  Commodity Description  
0201  Meat of bovine animals; fresh or chilled   
0202  Meat of bovine animals; frozen  
0204  Meat of sheep or goats; fresh, chilled or frozen  
0206  Edible offal of bovine animals, [swine], sheep, goats, [horses, assess, mules or hinnies] 
fresh chilled or frozen  
0208  Meat and edible meat offal; n.e.c. in chapter 2, fresh, chilled or frozen  
0210  Meat and edible meat offal; salted, in brine, dried or smoked; edible flours and meals of 
meat or meat offal  
0504  Guts, bladders and stomac hs of animals (other than fish)  
0506  Bones and horn -cores, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to  shape), 
treated with acid or degelatinised; powder and waste of these products  
1502  Fats of bovine animals, sheep or goats, other than those of heading 1503  
1503  Lard stearin, lard oil, oleostearin, oleo -oil and tallow oil; not emulsified or mixed or 
otherwise prepared  
1506  Animal fats and oils and their fractions; whether or not refined, but not chemically 
modified, n.e.c. in chapter 15  
1601  Sausages and similar products of meat, meat offal or blood; food preparations based on 
these products  
1602  Prepared or preserved meat, meat offal or blood  
1603  Extracts and juices of meat, fish or crustaceans, molluscs,  or other aquatic invertebrates  
3503  Gelatin e Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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5.5 Exporting country systems and certification 
5.5.1 Recognition of exporting systems  
(1) MPI recommends that  Competent Authorities that request the recognition  of their exporting systems 
refer to Section 3 of the Code  titled Quality of Veterinary Services , to prepare evidence for MPI 
regarding the capabilities and preferences of the exporting country’s Competent Authority.  
(2) The table below lists those exporting countries that meet the requirements set out in the IHS : Ruminant 
Meat and Ruminant Meat Products . 
(3) New Zealand recognises Australia’s national animal health and food safety systems. Therefore, 
veterinary certificates will not be required for imports of ruminant meat and ruminant meat products , 
produced to  human consumption standard from Austral ia.  
(4) New Zealand has a treaty level veterinary agreement with the EU. Certificates from the EU for ruminant meat and ruminant meat products have been pre -agreed in alignment with the agreement 
and EU legislation, which has been assessed as of equivalent bi osecurity status to New Zealand.  
(5) New Zealand has a treaty level agreement with the United Kingdom. Certificates from the UK for ruminant meat and ruminant meat products have been pre -agreed in alignment with the agreement 
and UK legislation, which has been assessed as of equivalent biosecurity status to New Zealand . 
5.5.2 Agreed country specific veterinary certificates  
(1) Requests from exporting countries to negotiate veterinary certification for the import of  ruminant meat 
and ruminant meat products  into New Zeal and 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 applicable 
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 in the MPI database.  
(5) When a newly negotiated country -specific veterinary certificate replaces one that  is currently in use, 
the application of new import conditions will apply according to the dates listed in the table. At that time 
previous veterinary certi ficates for that country can no longer be used.  
(6) When a country -specific veterinary certificate is agreed, there will be a six -month transition period to 
allow consignments  to be prepared in accordance with the new conditions. After transition, the 
previo us veterinary certificate for that country can no longer be used.  
(7) Existing country -specific veterinary certificates for  ruminant meat and ruminant meat product s, for 
import  into New Zealand, will be added to the table under 5.5.2 (3) once the IHS is issu ed.  Countries  Date agreed  
Australia  Trade ongoing  
EU Trade ongoing  
UK Trade ongoing  Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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5.6 Inspection and verification  
(1) On arrival, all documentation accompanying the consignment will be verified by an inspector. The 
inspector may also inspect the consignment, or a sample of the consignment , on arrival.  
(2) Inspectors are able to  inspect and verify due to their authorised powers under the Act.  
(3) 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 tr ade in  ruminant meat and ruminant meat products . This 
can be used by the exporting Competent Authority as a reference for country -specific veterinary 
certificate negotiation , but a certificate must be agreed between  the exporting Competent Authority 
and MPI before trade can  commence .  
 
Part 1: Details of dispatched consignment  1.1.  Consignor (Exporter):  
Name:  
Address:  
 1.2.  Certificate reference number:  
 
1.3.  Competent Authority:  
 
1.4.  Consignee (Importer):  
Name:  
Address:  
 
 
1.5.  Country of origin:  
ISO Code*  1.6.  Zone or compartment of origin:**  
 
1.7.  Country of destination :  
ISO Code*  1.8.  Zone o r compartment of destination:**  
1.9.  Place of origin:  
Name:  
Address:  
1.10.  Place of shipment:  1.11.  Date of departure:  
1.12.  Means of transport:  
 
☐ Aeroplane        ☐  Ship  
 
Identification:  
 1.13.  Expected border post:  
 
1.14.  Description of commodity:  
 1.15.  Commodity Code (ISO Code*):  
1.16.  Total  quantity : 
1.17.  Temperature of commodities for transport:  
 1.18.  Total number of packages:  
1.19.  Identification of container/serial number:  
 1.20.  Type of packaging:  
1.21.  Identification of commodity:  
Species (Scientific Name)  ID Number/Details  Breed/Category  Age Quantity  ID System  
      
      
      
 
* Optional  
** If referenced in Part 2   Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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Part 2:  Veterinary Information  Country:  Certificate reference number:  
I, the undersigned Official Veterinarian, certify that the product described above satisfy the following requirements:   
Commodity  eligibility  
All appropriate clauses and eligible c ommodit ies to be determined at the time of country negotiations  
Processing,  packaging,  and storage requirements  
 
(1) The products were processed in premises that operate Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis 
and Critical Control Point  (HACCP) programmes to the satisfaction of the Competent Authority, and that are 
approved for export , and:   
(a) Animals were slaughtered in premises approved by the Competent Authority for export of ruminant meat 
and ruminant meat products for human consumption to New Zealand, passed ante- mortem and post -
mortem inspection, and are eligible to enter the food chain, or  
(b) Animals were slaughtered in premises approved by the Competent Authority for export of ruminant meat 
and ruminant meat products for non- human cons umption to New Zealand and passed ante- mortem and 
post-mortem inspection.  
(2) To the best of my knowledge,  the products were commercially manufactured and packaged in clean, secure, 
contaminants -free and leak proof packaging, has been stored and subsequently t ransported in a hygienic manner 
free of contaminants.  
The container, in which the product for export will be transported, has been sealed under Competent Authority 
supervision. The unique seal number and date of sealing are recorded on this certificate.  
(3) Tallow intended for inclusion in livestock feed and having insoluble impurities of more than 0.15% in weight is  
labelled with the following statement in accordance with the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999:  
“Notice: Do not feed to sheep, cattle, deer, goats, buffaloes, or other ruminant animals. This product contains or 
may contain ruminant protein.” and must:  
(a) have text at least 20mm high, or  
(b) occupy at least 2.5% of the total are of:  
(i) the outside of a flattened package, or  
(ii) the container (excluding the top and bottom), or  
(iii) the printed side of an invoice, waybill or document.  
Third country product  
(Delete this clause if not applicable to the product for export ) 
 
(4) The ruminant meat product in this consignment originates from                                                                   (country 
or countries agreed between New Zealand and the recognised country ).  
(a) The consignment:  
(i) Is eligible for export directly from the country of origin to New Zealand and/ meets New Zealand’s 
import requirements; and  
(ii) Was processed and stored separately from all other products not eligible for export to New Zealand.  
Specified requirements for identified risk organisms  
(Delete those clauses not applicable to the product for export ) 
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Foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus  
(5)                                                                                   ( source country  or countries , zone or compartment ) is/are 
FMD  free and FMD vaccination  is not practised ; or 
(6)                                                                                   ( source country or countries, zone or compartment ) is/are 
FMD free and FMD vaccination is practised  and the f resh meat or meat products exclude the head, pharynx 
tongue and associated lymph nodes ; or 
(7) Fresh meat , excluding feet, head and viscera, were  entirely derived from cattle and water buffaloes (Bubalus 
bubalis)  from ………………………………….  (an FMD infected country(s)  or zone where an official  and MPI -
recognised control programme exists) , and: 
(a) Have r emained, for at least three months prior to slaughter, in a zone of the exporting country where cattle 
and water buffaloes are regularly vaccinated against FMD  and where an official control programme is in 
operation, and  
(b) Have been vaccinated at least twice with the last vaccination not more than six months, unless protective 
immunity has been demonstrated for more than six months, and not less than one month pri or to 
slaughter, and  
(c) Were kept for the past 30 days in an establishment, and that FMD has not occurred within a 10- kilometre 
radius of the establishment during that period, or the establishment is a quarantine station, and  
(d) Have been  transported, in a vehic le which was cleansed and disinfected before the cattle and water 
buffaloes were loaded, directly from the establishment of origin or quarantine station to the approved 
slaughterhouse without coming into contact with other animals which do not fulfil the r equired conditions 
for export, and  
(e) Have been  slaughtered in approved slaughterhouse in which no FMD has been detected during the period 
between the last disinfection carried out before slaughter and the shipment for export has been dispatched, or  
(f) Come from deboned carcasses  from:  
(i) Which the major lymphatic nodes have been removed, and  
(ii) Which, prior to deboning, have been submitted to maturation at a temperature greater than + 2°C 
for a minimum period of 24 hours following slaughter and in which the pH value w as less than 6.0 
when tested in the middle of both the longissimus dorsi muscle; or 
(8) The ruminant meat products  have been:  
(i) Canned : meat and meat products have been heat treated in a hermetically sealed container to 
reach an internal core temperature of at l east 70˚C for at least 30 minutes ; or 
(ii) Cook ed: meat (previously deboned and defatted) and meat products have been heat treated to 
reach a core temperature of at least 70˚C for at least 30 minutes ; or  
(iii) Dried after salting: when rigor mortis was complete, the meat was deboned, treated with salt 
(NaCl) and completely dried. It should not deteriorate at ambient temperature. Note: completely dried is defined as a moisture protein ration that is not greater than 2.25:1 or a water activity (Aw) that is not greater than 0.85 ; and 
(a) Necessary precautions were taken after processing to avoid contact of the meat products with any potential source of FMD virus.  
Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)  (delete not applicable)  
(9) The meat and meat products were entirely derived from:   
(a) animals from establishments that are not under quarantine restrictions for anthrax; and  Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
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(b) where no case of anthrax has occurred on the establishment of origin during the 20 days preceding 
slaughter ; and 
(c) animals which were not vaccinated against anthrax with a live vaccine during the 14 days prior to 
slaughter, or a longer period in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.  
Brucella spp. (Brucellosis)   
(10) The meat and meat products are entirely comprised of:  
(a) Skeletal muscle meat, digestive tract, thymus, thyroid and parathyroid glands , and derived products; or  
(b) Brain and spinal cord; or  
(c) Tallow ;  
(11) The meat and meat products were entirely derived from ruminants which:  
(a) Originate from a country or zone f ree from infection with Brucella, as relevant ; or 
(b) Originate from a herd or flock free from infection with Brucella; or  
(c) Have not been culled as part of an eradication programme against  infection with Brucella;   
Echinococcus granulosus  (hydatidosis)  
(12) For ruminant meat and ruminant meat products from Australia  
(a) Meat or meat products, excluding offal, have passed ante-  and post -mortem inspection; or  
(b) Offal has passed ante-  and post -mortem inspection and has undergone one of the following treatments;  
(i) Heat treatment to a core temperature of at least 80°C for ten minutes or …………………..(an 
agreed equivalent time and temperature); or  
(ii) Freezing to minus 20°C or below for at least two days.  
(13) For ruminant meat and ruminant meat products from all countries other than A ustralia  
(a) Meat or meat product s, excluding offal, have  passed ante-  and post -mortem inspection in a 
slaughterhouse approved for export ; or 
(b) Offal has passed ante-  and post -mortem inspection in a slaughterhouse approved for export and has 
undergone one of the following treatments;  
(i) Heat treatment to a core temperature of at least 80°C for ten minutes or …………………..(an 
agreed equivalent time and temperature) ; or 
(ii) Freezing to minus 20°C or below for at least two days.  
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy  prion (applicable to products from Bos taurus and B.  indicus only)   
(14) The meat and meat products are comprised, entirely,  of any  of the following:  
(a) Collagen (from hides and skins , and tendons)  
(b) Dicalcium phosphate  
(c) Gelatine 
(d) tallow with  a maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15 percent in weight and derivatives made from 
this tallow ; or Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
 Draft for Consultation  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  13 of 15 
(15) The meat  and meat products  were  entirely derived from cattle  born and continuously raised in  
………………………………….  (a country, zone or compartment posing a negligible BSE risk  in accordance with 
the Code ), and 
(a) Where t here have been indigenous cases  of BSE in the country of export , the cattle from which the fresh 
meat  and meat products  were derived from were born after the date from which the ban on the feeding of 
ruminants with meat -and-bone meal  and greaves  derived from ruminants had been effectively enforced; or 
(16) The meat  and meat products  were entirely derived from cattle  born and cont inuously raised in 
…………………………………. (a country, zone or compartment posing a controlled BSE risk , in accordance with 
the Code ), and  
(a) The cattle were not subjected to a stunning process, prior to slaughter , with a device injecting compressed 
air or gas into the cranial cavity, or to a pithing process ; and 
(b) The fresh meat  and meat products  were produced and handled in a manner which ensures that such 
products do not contain and are not contaminated with:  
(i) The tonsils or distal ileum of cattle of any age,  and 
(ii) The brains, eyes, spinal cord, skull and vertebral column of cattle that were over 30 months of age, 
and 
(iii) Mechanically separated meat from the skull and vertebral column from catt le over 30 months of 
age; or 
(17) The meat and meat products were entirely derived from cattle born and continuously raised in                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
………………………… ………. (a country, zone or compartment posing an  undetermined BSE risk , in 
accordance with the Code) , and 
(a) The cattle from which the fresh meat and meat products originate:  
(i) Have not been fed meat and bone meal or greaves derived from ruminants, and  
(ii) Were not subjected to a stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed 
air or gas into the cranial cavity, or pithing process ; or 
(b) The fresh meat  and meat products  were produced and handled in a manner which ensures that such 
products do not contain and are not contaminated with:  
(i) The tonsils or distal ileum of cattle of any age,  and 
(ii) The brains, eyes, spinal cord, skull and vertebral column of cattle that were over 12 months of age, 
and 
(iii) Nervous and lymphatic tissues exposed during the deboning process, and  
(iv) Mechanically separated meat from the skull and vertebral column from cattle over 12 months of 
age. 
 Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
 Draft for Consultation  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  14 of 15 
 Official Veterinarian  
Name:  
Address:  
Email:   
Signature:   
Date:  
 
  
Official Veterinarian signature, 
Official stamp and date  Guidance Document : Ruminant Meat and Ruminant Meat Products  
 Draft for Consultation  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  15 of 15 
Appendix 1 – Document History  
Date First Issued  Title Shortcode  
3 February  2021  
Internal Consultation  Guidance Document:  Ruminant Meat and Meat 
Products  GD RUMNPROD.GEN  
16 September 2021  
External Consultation  Guidance Document:  Ruminant Meat and Meat 
Products  GD RUMNPROD.GEN  
Date of Issued Amendments  Title Shortcode