Ministry for Primary Industries  
Standards  
Animal & Animal Products  
PO Box 2526, Wellington 6140  
animalimports@mpi.govt.nz  
 
 
Import Health Standard  
 
Laboratory Animals  and Germplasm 
 
LABANIIC.ALL  
 
 
 
 
 
 
May 2013 
  
 
 
 
Issuing Authority  
 
This standard is issued under section 2 4A of the Biosecurity Act 1993.  
 
 
 
Dated at Wellington this               day of                                           201 3 
 
 
 
 
Howard Pharo  
Manager Import and Export  Animals   
For Director General  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(Under  delegated authority)   
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 2 of 12  
 
 
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Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 3 of 12 Contents 
 
 
Contents  3 
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and Germplasm  4 
Background  4 
Scope 4 
Importer’s responsibilities  4 
Definitions  4 
Part B: General Requirements 5 
Eligibility  5 
Permit to Import  5 
Documentation accompanying the consignment  6 
Transport  6 
Biosecurity authority  7 
Post arrival quarantine  7 
Containment facility  7 
Incorporation of material by reference  7 
Equivalence  8 
Part C: Zoosanitary Certification  8 
Model Zoosanitary Certificate  9 
Appendix 2: Post Arrival Quarantine of Laboratory Animals and Germplasm  11 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
  
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 4 of 12 Import Health Standar d for Laboratory Animals and Germplasm  
 
  
Part A: Introduction  
 
Background  
 
1. This document, issued under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993, is the import 
health standard (IHS) for the importation into New Zealand of animals and germplasm 
for laborator y purposes from a pproved  countries . 
 
 
Scope  
 
2. This standard specifies the requirements that must be met to import, into New Zealand, laboratory animals and germplasm of laboratory animals  from approved countries . 
 
 
Importer’s responsibilities  
 
3. It is the re sponsibility of the importer to ensure that the consignment is accompanied by 
a permit to export, if required, in accordance with the legislation of the country of origin 
and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 
http://www.cites.org   The importer is advised to clarify the status of the species of animal 
in relation to international agreements on their trade prior to export. Material arriving in New Zealand without the correct CITES cert ification may be subject to seizure by the 
New Zealand Department of Conservation. [Note: Any requirement for CITES or other 
conservation- related documentation must be met by the exporter/importer and is 
independent of this certification.]  
 
4. The importer must obtain a permit to import prior to proceeding with importation.  
 
5. The importer must notify the date, expected time, port of arrival and the flight number to 
MPI Biosecurity at the airport of entry at least 72 hours in advance of each consignment 
being im ported.  
 
 
Definitions  
 
Import Health 
Standard Term  Definition  
Animals for laboratory 
purposes A group of animals used in laboratories for research .  Such animals may only be from 
colonies maintained for scientific purpose.  Species  currently approved for import ation 
into New Zealand are mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and zebrafish.  Any other species 
must be MPI -approved prior to import.    
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 5 of 12 Colony  The entire group of animals that is in direct or indirect (includes uncontrolled airspace, 
handlers and equipment) contact with the animals to be exported, or donors of the 
reproductive material to be exported.   
Competent 
Authority  The Veterinary Authority or other governmental authority of an OIE member having the 
responsibility and competence for ensuring or s upervising the implementation of animal 
health and welfare measures, international veterinary certification and other standards and recommendations in the OIE  Code in the whole territory . 
Germplasm  Ova, semen or embryos collected from animals that are eli gible for importation under 
this import health standard.  
IATA  The International Air Transport Association .  
New organism   The full definition is a s defined in the Hazardous Substances and New Organism Act . 
For the purposes of this import standard, a new  organism is one that is not present  in 
New Zealand apart from in containment.   
Official 
Veterinarian  A veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Administration of the country to perform 
certain designated official tasks associated with animal health and/ or public health and 
inspections of commodities and, when appropriate, to certify in conformity with the 
provisions of the Section 5.2 of the OIE Terrestrial Code pertaining to principles of 
certification . 
OIE World Organisation for Animal Health . 
OIE Co de The World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Any 
reference in this standard to the OIE Code is to the most current as found on the OIE 
website: http://www.oie.int/international -standard -setting/terrestrial -code/access -online/   
Restricted 
organism  Any organism for which a containment approval has been granted under the 
Hazardous Substances and New Organism Act.  
 
 
 
Part B: General Requirements  
 
 
Eligibility  
 
6. Only laboratory animals and germplasm from coloni es maintained for s cientific use 
under veterinary supervision may be imported .  
 
7. The animals  and donor animals of germplasm and the colony must have been free of 
quarantine restrictions for at least 90 days prior to the date of export.   
 
8. Species commonly imported are rats, m ice, rabbits, guinea pigs and zebra fish. 
Import ation  of animals other than these must be pre- approved by MPI.  
 
 
Permit to I mport 
  
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 6 of 12 9. A permit to import is required , before the importation of all animals  and germplasm for 
laboratory purposes  into New Zealand.  
 
An application form for a permit to import can be obtained from the MPI website: 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/forms/imports -live-animals -into-trans -facility  or by 
contacting:  
Animal Imports  
Animals and Animal Products Directorate  Ministry for Primary Industries  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington  
New Zealand  
Email: 
animalimports@ mpi.govt.nz   
 
10. The importer must supply the follow ing information:  
• name and address of importer;  
• name and address of exporter/s;  
• breed/strain/type or description of the animals/germplasm;  
• name and address of the containment facility in New Zealand to which the 
consignment/s is to proceed following import ation;  
• if the animal is a new organism, evidence to show that approval has been given by the Environmental Protection Authority for the organism to be held in 
containment, and the containment controls that apply . 
 
11. The permit to import may be issued for multiple consignments for a period of up to 6 
months.  
 
 
Documentation accompanying the c onsignment  
 
12. Documentation presented in accordance with the requirements of this import health 
standard must be original (unless otherwise specified), in English, and clearly legible. 
Inadequate documentation may result in delays in obtaining biosecurity authority or 
rejection of the consignment.  
 
13. The consignment must be accompanied by:  
• a signed copy of the permit to import; AND  
• health certification that meets the requirem ents of Part C. Zoosanitary 
Certification.  
 
14. The Official Veterinarian of the exporting country must sign, date and stamp each page 
of the veterinary certificate and any documents that form part of the extended certificate.  
 
 
Transport  
 
15. Animals must be tra nsported in a container that meets the standards prescribed in the 
International Air Transport Association (IATA) live animal regulations.  
  
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 7 of 12 16. The importer must notify biosecurity inspectors at the airport of arrival at least 72 hours  
before the expected time of arrival of the animals/germplasm, flight number  and arrival 
time. Contact details can be found at the following MPI website:  
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/biosec/org/structure/ clearance  
 
Biosecurity authority  
 
17. On arrival of the consignment in New Zealand, a  biosecurity ins pector must inspect the 
documentation accompanying the consignment. The biosecurity i nspector may examine 
outer packaging, but m ust not open germplasm shippi ng container s, or animal cages 
unless for animal welfare reasons.  
 
18. The biosecurity inspector will authorise movement of the consignment if the 
documentation meets all requirements noted under Part C Zoosanitary Certification and 
the consignment meets all the requirements if part B of the  IHS.  
 
19. The consignment must proceed directly from the port of arrival to the containment facility 
named in the permit to import approved to the MPI Standard 154.03.03 Containment 
facilities for vertebrate laboratory animal s, by an MPI -approved method of transport .  
 
20. If documentation is not compliant, a  biosecurity inspector  may still authorise the 
consignment to move to the containment facility. The correct paperwork must be 
forwarded by the importer to the biosecurity inspector as soon as possible, and if the 
correct paperwork is not confirmed the consignment may be reshipped or destroyed.  
 
Post arrival quarantine  
 
21. On arrival at the facility the animals or germplasm must be move d to a quarantine area 
in the containment faci lity. The quarantine requirements for laboratory animals and 
germplasm are detailed in Appendix 2 of this IHS.  
 
 
Containment facility  
 
22. On successful completion of all terms of this IHS, a biosecurity inspector may give the 
consignment clearance pursuant t o section 26 of the B iosecurity Act 1993.  
 
23. Restricted  organisms will not be given biosecurity clearance. On authorisation from the 
biosecurity i nspector, they may be moved from quarantine but must remain in the 
containment facility.  
 
 
Incorporation of m aterial by r eference  
 
24. The following international standards are incorporated by reference in this import health standard under section 142M of the Biosecurity Act:   
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 8 of 12 • The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR): 
a copy is a vailable for reading free of charge at MPI, Pastoral House, 25 The 
Terrace, Wellington.  
• The OIE Code  is available on the OIE website free of charge: 
http://www.oie.int/en/international -standard- setting/terrestrial -code/access- online/  
 
All Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) standards are available on the MPI 
Biosecurity website free of charge: http://www.bio security.govt.nz/regs  
 
25. Under section 142O (3) of the Biosecurity Act it is declared that section 142O(1) does 
not apply; that is, a notice under section 142O(2) of the Biosecurity Act is not required to 
be published before material that amends or replaces  the above listed standards has 
legal effect as part of these documents.  
 
 
Equivalence  
 
26. The IHS has been agreed as suitable for trade between New Zealand and the exporting 
countries. It is expected that the consignment will  meet the requirements of this I HS in 
every respect.  
 
27. The requirements for laboratory animals and germplasm  are met if, in the opinion of the 
Director -General, the measures taken for managing the risks associated with the 
importation are equally effective at managing those risks as the requirements specified 
in this standard. If an equivalence measure(s) is approved MPI will issue a permit to 
import (under Section 24 (D)(2) of the Biosecurity Act).  
 
 
Part C: Zoosanitary Certification  
 
The animals  and germplasm for laboratory purposes mus t be accompanied by:  
1. An original certificate identifying the animals  and germplasm in the consignment, 
including number, species/breed/ strain/ type and any associated biota, consistent with 
the Permit to Import.  (A model certificate is included at the end o f the Zoosanitary 
Certificate requirements) . 
 
2. A declaration from the director or supervising veterinarian of  the institute of origin named 
in the permit to import, stating that:  
(i) the premises of origin of the animals/donor animals are under veterinary 
super vision, the health of the animal(s) is  monitored so that disease i ncursions 
are identified, and control and/or eradication measures are applied. A health 
monitoring program me should include microbiological and paras itological tests 
and necropsies ; 
(ii)  the ani mals/donor animals were born in the institution and have not been in contact 
with any diseased animals, and at the time of export/germplasm collection the 
animals/donor animals showed no evidence of infectious or contagious disease including ectoparasites ;  
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 9 of 12 (iii) the primary containers for importation were appropriately cleaned and disinfected 
prior to use.  
(iv) in addition, for rodent/rabbit embryos, ova and semen:  
a. collection and processing was in accordance with the OIE Code chapter for 
Laboratory rodent and rabbit embryos/ova, or a method pre- approved by 
MPI; 
b. the germplasm was  identified and stored since collection only with material of 
equivalent health status, and under supervision of t he facility veterinarian;  
c. the germplasm  was placed in new or disinfected transport containers. For 
frozen material  the containers were filled with fresh (previously unused) liquid 
nitrogen ; 
d. the facility veterinarian or senior officer sealed the transport container with an 
official seal prior to shipment, and the number of the seal was recorded on 
the veterinary certificate.  
 
3. A certificate from an Official Veterinarian of the country of origin  certifying that after due 
enquiry he/she is satisfied that the animals/donor animals /germplasm  have not been in 
contact with any animal or germplasm carrying  infectious disease s. 
 
 
Model Zoosanitary Certificate  
 
 
COUNTRY:  X                                                           PART I:  Details of consignment  Exporting Animal Facility:  
 
 
 
 Name of Importer:  Official Stamp : 
Veterinary signature:  
Certificate reference number:  
 MPI permit number:  
 
Address of Exporting Facility:  
 
 
 Address of Importer:  
Port of  embarkation country of origin:  Port of arrival New Zealand:  
 
Contact Person:  
  
Identification of animals  
 Total number of animals:  
 Description/amount o f germplasm:  
 
 
Germplasm species/breed/type /strain : 
 
  
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 10 of 12 Species and breed/type /strain : Container seal numbers for genetic material:  
 
                                                                                                                                                                         Part II; Zoosanitary information  
I, ………………………………………………………………………………...., the director, manager or veterinarian responsible for the exporting 
facility of the above laboratory animals or germ plasm certify as follows:  
 
1. The animals/donor animals were born in the named institution, from colonies maintained for scientific use and under veterinary 
supervision, where the health of the animals is monitored so that incursions of disease are identified, and control and/or eradication 
measures can be applied. The health monitoring programme includes microbiological and parasitological tests and necropsies.  
 
2. The animals/donor animals have not been in contact with any diseased animals, and at the time of export/germplasm collection, 
the animals/donor animals showed no evidence of infectious or contagious disease including ectoparasites.  
 
3. The primary containers for importation were appropriately cleaned and disinfected prior to use.   
4. In addition, for mammalian embryos, ova and semen:  
a. Collection and processing was in accordance with the OIE Animal Health Code Laboratory rodent and rabbit 
embryos/ova, o r a method pre- approved by MPI.  
 
b. The germplasm was identified and stored since collection only with material  of equivalent health status, and under 
supervision of the facility veterinarian.  
 
c. The germplasm was placed in new or disinfected transport containers. For frozen material the containers were filled with fresh (previously unused) liquid nitrogen.  
 
d. The fac ility veterinarian or senior officer sealed the transport container with an official seal prior to shipment, and the 
number of the seal was recorded on the veterinary certificate.  
 
 
Name and position of director, manager or veterinarian responsible for fac ility:  
 
Address:  
 Contact details:  
 
 
 
Official declaration  
 
 I, …………………………………….., an Official Veterinarian of the country of origin, certify that after due enquiry I am satisfied that the 
animals/donor animals of germplasm have not been in contact with any  animal with an infectious or contagious disease.  
Signature of official veterinarian:  
 
Address:  
Official stamp:  
  
 
 
  
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 11 of 12  
Appendix 2: Post Arrival Quarantine of Laboratory Animals and 
Germplasm   
 
1. The imported animals, any progeny born in quarantine, progeny born directly from 
imported germplasm, and any animals introduced to the quarantine area must remain in 
an MPI -approved quarantine area in the containment facility for no less that 30 days or 
for a longer period if required by the biosecurity inspec tor.  
 
2. Full records must be kept of:  
• all morbidity and mortality  during the quarantine period  
• any treatments given during the quarantine period  
• movement of animals into, during and out of the quarantine  area. 
 
These records must be reviewed  by the biosecurity i nspector and permission granted  
prior to the animals  being transferred from quarantine into containment , or clearance . 
 
3. Quarantine must operate as all -in/all- out, with the quarantine period for all animals 
starting from the day that the last animal enter s, unless MPI -approved measures are 
used to separate animals in the quarantine area.   
 
4. Material  imported with the animals (cages  and bedding, shipping containers, water and 
packaging that has been in contact with water from imported fish or embryos) must be 
treated or destroyed as biosecurity waste if released prior to the end of quarantine. At 
the end of the quarantine period,  if the biosecurity i nspector has not raised any 
biosecurity concerns , cleaning and waste disposal do not need to follow biosecurity 
methods.  
 
5. For laboratory fish and fish embryos , effluent water during the quarantine period must be 
treated to kill any biological agents present  by EITHER :  
 
5.1 Chlorination:  
• All water must pass through a filter capable of removing suspended organic mater ial 
prior to chlorination ;  
• Chlorine compound must  be added to the effluent to achieve a minimum 
concentration of free residual chlorine of 200 ppm (200 mg per litre) at 1 hour post 
treatment;  
• Before the treatment period commences, the chlorinated effluent  must  be brou ght to 
a pH between 5.0 and 7.0;  
• Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) may be used at 1.6 millilitres of hypochlorite solution 
(12.5% available chlorine) per litre of water ; calcium hypochlorite powder (eg Pool 
Chlor, 65- 70% available chlorine) may be used at 0.3 gram of powder per litre of 
water ; 
• The tank must  be agitated for a period of not less than 10 minutes to ensure 
thorough mixing of hypochlorite, and the hypochlorite retained for a period of not less 
than 1 hour;   
Import Health Standard for Laboratory Animals and G ermplasm  
LABANIIC.ALL  May 2013  Page 12 of 12 • Tanks not achieving this free r esidual chlorine level at the allotted time must  be re -
treated until the requirement is met;  
• The chlorine in the wastewater may be neutralised by adding sodium thiosulphate at 
a rate of 1.25 grams (2.5 ml of 50% sodium thiosulphate solution) per litre of t reated 
wastewater, then agitated for not less t han 10 minutes before discharge;  
• Chlorination records must  be maintained noting the: 
- amount of compound added  
- volume of effluent  
- time that the treatment period commenced  
- pH at the commencement of the treatm ent period.  
 
OR 
5.2 Ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation : 
 
• All water to be treated must pass through a filter capable of removing suspended 
organic material and, where necessary, other filtration to ensure that the UV 
transmittance of the water is within manufacturer’s specifications prior to irradiation;  
• Commercial UV water treatment units operating in the spectral range of190- 280 nm 
(254 nm recommended) delivering doses of at least 130 mW/cm2 are required. The dose is calculated as the product of the intensity (MW/cm2) and the exposure time in seconds (s). Servicing and maintenance must be done at least as frequently as 
required by the manufacturer of the UV sterilisation system. The bulbs must be 
monitored regularly to ensure they are working.  
 
6. While in th e quarantine area, the animals  may be subjected to such testing, treatments 
or procedures required by MPI  as are reasonably necessary to determine the health 
status of the consignment.  
 
7. All cryopreserved germplasm must remain in an MPI -approved quarantine area in the 
facility. Waste associated with germplasm manipulations must be destroyed as 
biosecurity waste or sterilised (autoclaved 121 C for 15 mins or 134 C for 3 mins). 
Progeny born from imported germplasm must undergo quarantine as per this IHS 
protocol starting from the time of birth.