G/SPS/N/NZL/579  
 
25 July 2018  
(18-4704) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
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): Catfish ( Pangasius  spp.) fillets  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to th e extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Thailand  
5. Title of the notified document: Import Health Standard for Processed Tilapia and 
Catfish for Human Consumption . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 7 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/NZL/18_3902_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/NZL/18_3902_01_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: This is an amendment to the existing "Import Health Standard 
for Processed Tilapia and Catfish for Human Consumption" published in February 2011 
(available at: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/1777 -processed -tilapia -and-catfish -
for-human -consumption -from-specified -countries -import -health -standard ). 
Currently, the above Import Health Standard allows pangasid catfish products to be 
imported only from Malaysia and V ietnam. The amendment is for including Thailand, in 
addition to Malaysia and Vietnam, to import the commodity to New Zealand.  
The draft of the amended Import Health Standard is available at: 
https://mpi .govt.nz/dmsdocument/29927  
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. 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, chapte r number) : OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No G/SPS/N/NZL/579  
 
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  If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 
Risk Management Proposal: Pangasid Catfish Products for Human Consumption from 
Thailand  (available in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 31 August 2018  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 31 August 2018  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 31 August 2018  
[X] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 17 August 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  Nationa l 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:  +(64 4) 894 0431; Fax: +(64 4) 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:  +(64 4) 894 0431; Fax: +(64 4) 894 0733; E -mail: sps@mpi.govt.nz