Risk Management Proposal  
 
Japanese encephalitis in Horses   
HORANIIC .GEN  
 
 
 
 
8 April 2022 Risk Management Proposal:  Japanese encephalitis in Horses  8 April 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 1  
 
 
Disclaimer  
This risk management proposal does not constitute, and should not be regarded as, legal advice. While every 
effort has been made to ensure the information in this document 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.  
© Crown Copyright -  Ministry for Primary Industries  
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
  Contact for further information : 
Ministry for Primary Ind ustries (MPI)  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Animal Imports  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
Email: animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz
 
 
 
  Risk Management Proposal:  Japanese encephalitis in Horses  8 April 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 2  
Contents  
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Objective  3 
4 Options assessment  3 
5 Updates  4 
6 Considerations for specific requirements for Japanese encephalitis virus  4 
7 Recommendations for Japanese encephalitis virus  4 
Appendix 1 – Document History  5 
 
 Risk Management Proposal:  Japanese encephalitis in Horses  8 April 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 3 1 Purpose  
(1) The purpose of this document is to:  
a) Show how options for the management of Japanese encephalitis  virus have been assessed.  
b) Provide recommendations for import requirements.  
2 Background  
(1) Japanese encephalitis is a World Organisation for Animal Health ( OIE) listed disease  and the Terrestrial 
Anim al Health Code provides recommendations for importation of horses from infected countries or zones.  
(2) Japanese encephalitis is an insect -borne disease. Horses do not develop sufficient viraemia to infect 
mosquitoes and are considered dead -end hosts.  Neverthe less, t he Ministry for Primary Industries ( MPI) 
adopted the Code  recommendations  for the disease  in its generic import health standard (IHS) for horses , 
first issued on 22 May 2014 . 
(3) On 2 March 2022, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the E nvironment (DAWE) notified 
MPI of recent detection s of Japanese encephalitis in piggeries in mainland Australia. The detections 
represented a significant change to  the virus’ geographical  distribution in the country . With additional 
detections over the fol lowing weeks and the true extent of virus distribution unknown but still expected to 
grow, it became apparent that trade in horses would be severely affected.  
(4) The Japanese encephalitis requirements agreed in the country -specific veterinary certificate for import of 
horses from Australia into New Zealand were based on a zoning arrangement . The  measures  mitigate d 
the risk of exposure in the Torres Strait -Northern Peninsula Area, where Japanese encephalitis  virus was 
previously  known to circulate in the wet se ason.  Since  the outbreak, m any horses destined for export 
reside  in area s less than 100km from where Japanese encephalitis is  reported or are at risk of this 
happening retrospectively over the required  period of 21 days before export.  
(5) To help facilitate trade in the short term, MPI add ed a Japanese encephalitis vaccination clause  to the 
Australian veterinary certificate , which is in line with the OIE Code  recommendations . However, due to 
issues with vaccine supply and  regulatory  implementation,  horse industry stakeholders indicated the 
addition  did not address the negative effect on trade.  
3 Objective  
(1) The objective is to  facilitate trade of horses from countries or zones infected with Japanese encephalitis 
while  effectively managing  biosecurity ri sks consistent with New Zealand’s domestic legislation and 
international obligations . 
4 Options assessment  
(1) The OIE has indicated that a country undertaking a full risk assessment to support its risk management 
decisions should not be considered in contradict ion of Article 1.4.6, Clause 2.a.iii of the Terrestrial Code  
stating that “…the importations or movements of commodities into the country or zone have been carried 
out in accordance with the relevant chapters of the Terrestrial Code ”, if other principles a re respected.  
(2) For a detailed analysis of Japanese encephalitis  and its risks please refer to the supporting document, the 
early release of the chapter Japanese encephalitis  from the draft Import  Risk Analysis: Live Equids , which 
contains the relevant risk assessment and an analysis of management options for the risk organism  in 
horses.  
(3) The risk analysis concluded  that biosecurity  risk management measures were not justified for Japanese 
encephalitis  in imported horses.  Risk Management Proposal:  Japanese encephalitis in Horses  8 April 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 4 5 Upda tes 
(1) This risk management proposal overrides the previous clause on Japanese encephalitis in the  Risk  
Management  Proposal : Horses , Donkeys and M ules. It will be incorporated into the Risk Management 
Proposal: Equids . 
6 Considerations for specific requirements for Japanese 
encephalitis virus  
(1) New Zealand claims historical freedom from Japanese encephalitis. Some overseas market access 
requirements (OMARs) for commodities that New Zealand exports are agreed based on this freedom claim. However, Japanese encephalitis is not one of the diseases fo r which the OIE grants official 
recognition of animal health status, and recognition of New Zealand’s claim is done by trading partners on 
a bilateral basis. The importation of horses, which are dead -end hosts, infected with Japanese 
encephalitis virus will not affect the importing country’s freedom status.  
7 Recommendations for Japanese encephalitis virus 
(1) No specific measures are necessary.  
 
 
 
 
  Risk Management Proposal:  Japanese encephalitis in Horses  8 April 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 5 Appendix 1 – Document History  
Date First Issued  Title 
8 April 2022  Risk Management Proposal: Japanese encephalit is in Horses