G/SPS/N/NZL/630  
 
5 June 2020  
(20-4037) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  NEW ZEALAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry for Primary Industries  
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):  Horses, assess, mules and hinnies  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Import health standard: Equids 
(Livequid.gen)  - suspension . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 28 
6. Description of content:  New Zealand's new import health standard Equids (issued 
5 September 2019). New Zealand was in the process of transitioning import requirements 
from the existing IHS Horses to this new IHS Equids. This IHS will be suspended as there 
is currently no trade u nder this standard. This will allow time to undertake an updated 
risk assessment and consult on risk management measures for piroplasmosis. In the 
meantime an urgent amendment has been made to the IHS Horses.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  A horse imported 
into New Zealand in February 2019 has been confirmed positive to Theilereria equi in May 
2020. This is the first time a positive case has been confirmed in New Zealand. Initial 
investigation suggests it is likely the imported animal was infected prior to import. 
An urgent amendment has been made to the IHS Horses, to add an additional test 
requirement for piroplasmosis. As there is currently no trade under the IHS Equids, the 
IHS has been suspended to allow time for an updated risk assessment and consultation 
to be carried out for piroplasmosis risk management. Once this is completed MPI will 
continue transitioning to the requirements set out in the IHS EQUIDS.  G/SPS/N/NZL/630  
 
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  9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Chapter 12  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
2 June 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Mrs Sally Jennings, Coordinator, SPS  New Zealand  
PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand  
Tel: +(644) 894 0431  
Fax: +(644) 894 0733  
E-mail: sps@mpi.govt.nz   
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Mrs Sally Jennings, Coordinator, SPS New Zealand  
PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand  
Tel: +(644) 894 0431  
Fax: +(644) 894 0733  
E-mail: sps@mpi.govt.nz