G/SPS/N/NZL/698  
 
3 October 2022  
(22-7427) 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):  Aquatic animal products from all countries for all uses other than as 
bait or feed for aquatic animals  
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: Aquatic Animal Products 
(Short  Name: AQUAPROD.GEN) . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  38 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/NZL/22_6730_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Import Health Standard: Aquatic Animal Products  contains 
New Zealand's specific biosecurity import requirements for products derived from fish, 
aquatic crustaceans, aquatic molluscs, echinoderms, cnidarians, tunicates, and annelids 
imported from all countries for all uses other than for use as bait and feed for aquatic 
animals. Products that comply with the requirements of the standard will meet 
New Zealand's appropriate level of biosecurity protection.  
This notification is for consultation pertaining only to the following proposed amendments 
to the Import Health Standard: Aquatic Animal Products:  
1. Redefining the ocean areas for importing fish from Australia;  
2. Government -endorsed manufacturer's declaration as an alternative option to health 
certification for aquatic animal products;  
3. Exporter's declaration a s an alternative to health certification for aquatic animal 
products from Australia;  
4. Schedules 4 and 6 of AQUAPROD.GEN IHS have updated fish species list;  
5. Removal of health certification requirement for fish imported for further processing in 
New Zealand;  
6. Bill of lading as acceptable document for freezing duration calculation;  
7. Inclusion of a new section for composite products (products containing a mix of aquatic 
and non -aquatic animal ingredients);  
8. Inclusion of a new section for importing marine annelid pr oducts;  
9. Rephrasing some clauses for added clarity.  
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.   G/SPS/N/NZL/698  
 
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  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, chapter number) : AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH CODE  
− Section 3. Quality of aquatic animal health services  
− Section 5. Trade measures, importation/exportation procedures and h ealth 
certification  
− Section 9. Diseases of crustaceans  
− Section 10. Diseases of fish  
[ ] 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:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
− Draft Risk Management Proposal: Aquatic Animal Products  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/NZL/22_6730_01_e.pdf  
− Draft Guidance Document: Aquatic Animal Products  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/NZL/22_6730_02_e.pdf  
(available in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 11 November 2022  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 11 November 2022  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 11 November 2022  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 24 October 2022  
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:   
Sally Griffin, 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  
Website:  https://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/overview/access -and-trade -into-new-
zealand/world -trade-organization -notifications/  
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:   
Sally Griffin, 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  
Website:  https://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/overview/access -and-trade -into-new-
zealand/world -trade-organization -notifications/