Import Health Standard  
Issued under the Biosecurity Act 1993   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Zoo Equids  
ZOOEQUIDS.SPE  
[Document Date]  
 Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  1 of 15 
TITLE  
Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Import Health Standard  comes into force on [Effective Date ]  
REVOCATION  
This Import Health Standard revokes the following:  
a) Import Health Standard for the importation of Zebras from Australia into New Zealand, 
ZEBANIIC.AUS, 25 March 2004  
ISSUING AUTHORITY  
This Import Health Standard  is issued under section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993 . 
 
Dated at Wellington , [Document Date]  
 
 
Stephen Cobb  
Manager , Animal Health  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(acting under dele gated authority of the Director -General)  
 
For further information  contact:  
Animal Imports  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
 
Email: animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz  
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Contents  Page 
Introduction  3 
Part 1:  Requirements  6 
1.1 Application  6 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  6 
1.3 Definitions  6 
1.4 Requirements for authorisation into containment  7 
1.5 Exporting country systems and certification  7 
1.6 Pre-export isolation  8 
1.7 Diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatment  8 
1.8 Transport  9 
1.9 Import permit information  9 
1.10  Documentation that must accompany goods  10 
Part 2:  Specified requirements for identified risk organisms  12 
2.1 African horse sickness virus  12 
2.2 Trypanosoma evansi (S urra)  12 
2.3 Equine infectious anaemia (equine infectious anaemia virus)  12 
2.4 Equine influenza (equine influenza virus)  12 
2.5 Equine viral arteritis (equine arteritis virus)  13 
2.6 Rabies (rabies virus)  13 
2.7 Equine rhinopneumonitis (equine herpesvirus 1 exotic strains)  13 
2.8 External parasites (ticks)  13 
2.9 Seeds  13 
Schedule 1 – Document history  14 
Schedule 2 – Definitions  15 
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Introduction  
This introduction  is not part of this Import Health Standard  (IHS), but  is intended to indicate its general effect.  
Purpose  
This IHS specifies the minimum requirements that must be met when importing  zoo equids  into New Zealand . 
The identified  risk organisms associated with zoo equids  that are managed by this IHS are:  
a) African horse sickness virus  
b) Equine infectious anaemia (equine infectious anaemia virus ) 
c) Equine influenza (equine influenza virus)  
d) Equine viral arteritis  (equine arteritis  virus ) 
e) Rabies (rabies virus ) 
f) Equine rhinopneumoni tis (equine herpesvirus  1) 
g) Ectoparasites (ticks)  
h) Seeds  
Background  
The Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) provides the legal basis for excluding, eradicating,  and effectively 
managing pests and unwanted organisms.  
Import health standards issued under the Act set out requirements to be met to effectively manage biosecurity 
risks associated with importing goods. They include requirements that must be met in the e xporting country, 
during transit, and before biosecurity clearance can be given.  
Guidance boxes are included within this IHS for explanatory purposes. The guidance included in these boxes 
is for information only and has no legal effect.  
A guidance document  also accompanies this IHS providing information on how requirements may be met . 
Who should read this  Import Health Standard ? 
This IHS should be read by  importers of zoo equids.  
Why is this important?  
It is the importer’s responsibility to ensu re the requirements of this IHS are met. Consignments that do not 
comply with the requirements of this IHS may not be cleared for entry into New Zealand zoos and/or further 
information may be sought from importers. Consignments that do not comply with the requirements of this IHS 
may be re -shipped or destroyed under the Act or tested/treated in accordance with this IHS prior to release or 
equivalence determined. Importers are liable for all associated expenses.  
The costs to MPI in performing functions relat ing to the importation of zoo equids  will be recovered in 
accordance with the Act and any regulations made under the Act. All costs involved with documentation, 
transport, storage and obtaining a biosecurity clearance must be covered by the importer or a gent.  
Equivalence  Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) may issue a direction under section 27(1)(d) of the Act that measures 
different from those set out in this IHS may be applied to effectively manage risks associated  with the 
importation of  these goods.  
If an equivalent measure is approved, an import permit may be issued under section 24D(2) of the Act if the 
Director -General considers it appropriate to do so. The details of the CTO direction on equivalence will be 
included as notes in the special conditions section of the permit to inform the inspector’s assessment of the 
commodity.  
MPI’s preference is that the exporting country’s Competent Authority makes equivalence requests. 
Equivalence requests can be lodged with animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz . 
Transit ional facility  
Any containers not intact on arrival will be required to be made secure before the consignment is moved to the 
transitional facility. Any material which has leaked from the container will be destroyed at the port of entry.  
Following biosecur ity authorisation being given under section 25 of the Act, the zoo equids  will proceed 
directly to the transitional facility named on the import permit , which must be approved under the Facility 
Standard: Zoo Animals Transitional Facilities  (MPI -STD-ZOO), dated December 2018, and located within a 
containment facility that is approved under the Standard for Zoo Containment Facilities , dated April 2018. 
Animals must remain in the transitional fac ility for a minimum of seven days.  
At the transitional facility all documentation accompanying the consignment will be verified by an inspector. 
The documentation will be checked to ensure it meets all relevant requirements noted in Part 1: Requirements 
and specified requirements (veterinary certification) and in Part 2: Specified requirements for identified risk 
organisms of this IHS. The inspector will verify the microchips and that the animals are visibly free from signs 
of infectious or contagious disea se, external parasites, and seeds.  
Biosecurity authorisation into containment  
Zoo equids are r estricted organisms so will not be given biosecurity clearance . After meeting all the 
requirements of the IHS and o n authorisation from the biosecurity inspector,  they may be moved from the 
transitional facility but must remain in the containment facility  approved under the Standa rd for Zoo 
Containment Facilities . 
 
Document history  
Refer to Schedule 1 . 
Other information  
This is not an exhaustive list of compliance requirements and it is the importer’s responsibility to be familiar 
with and comply with all New Zealand laws . 
Import health standards  
Other re levant IHSs must also b e complied with before biosecurity authorisation into the zoo will be issued. 
These may include the following:  
a) All equipment entering New Zealand with the zoo equids  must comply with the Import Health 
Standard for the Importation into New Zealand of Equipment Associated with Animals or Water . Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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b) Containers made of timber must meet th e requirements of the: IHS: Woodware from All 
Countries  
c) Containers made of timber must m eet the requirements of the : IHS: Wood Packaging Material 
from All Countries  
CITES   
It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that the consignment is acco mpanied by any permit(s) required 
to meet the legislation of the country of origin and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered 
Species (CITES) http://www.cites.org . See t he Department of Conservation for further details 
https://www.doc.govt.nz/cites . 
The importer is advised to clarify the status of the species of animal in relation to internati onal agreements on 
their trade, prior to export. Material arriving in New Zealand without the relevant CITES permits may be 
subject to seizure by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.  
Any requirement for CITES or other conservation -related documentation must be met by the 
exporter/importer.  
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)  and new organisms  
Importers of new organisms must meet all requirements of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms 
(HSNO) Act 1996.  
Before an inspector can authorise a new organism to go to a containment facility, the EPA must have given 
approval for importation of that organism into containment in accordance with the HSNO Act.  
Trade Single Window (TSW)  and Customs clearance  
All goods imported into New Zealand need to be cleared by the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) 
and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). To gain customs clearance, the  required documentation must be 
lodged  through the Trade Single Window (TSW) po rtal.  
For more information about TSW please visit https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/trade -single -window/  
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Part 1:  Requirements  
1.1 Application  
(1) This IHS a pplies to all imports  of the following zoo equid  species  from Australia, Canada, Europe  (not 
limited to the European Union) , Japan, Singapore, South Africa and the U nited States of America , into 
New Zealand : 
a) Grevy’s  zebra  (Equus grevyi ) 
b) Mountain zebra  (Equus zebra ) 
c) Plains zebra (Equus quagga ) 
d) Przewalski’s horse  (Equus przewalskii ) 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  
(1) The following international standards are incorporated by reference in this IHS under section 142M of 
the Act:   
a) The World Organisation for A nimal Health Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for 
Terrestrial Animals , available  at: Terrestrial Manual Online Access - WOAH - World Organ isation 
for Animal Health  
b) The World Organisation for Animal Health  Terrestrial Animal Health Code , available at: 
Terrestrial Code Online Access - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health  
c) The International Air Transport Asso ciation Live Animals Regulations : a copy is available for 
reading, free of charge, at MPI, Pastoral House, 25 The Terrace , Wellington.  
d) The Australian Marine Order  43 (Cargo and cargo handling – livestock) 20 18, available at: 
Federal Register of Legislation - Marine Order 43 (Cargo and cargo handling — livestock) 2018 . 
(this is equivalent to the New Zealand Marine Rules  Part 24 C Section 4 ) 
(2) The following material is incorporated by reference in this IHS under section 142M of the Act:  
a) MPI’s Approved Diagnostic Tests, Vaccines, Treatments and Post -arrival Testing Laboratories  
for Animal Import Health Standards, MPI -STD-TVTL . 
 
(3) Under section 142O(3) of the Act it is declared that section 142O(1) does not apply . That is, a notice 
under section 142O(2) of the Act is not required to be published before material that amends or 
replaces the standards, guideline or lists incorporated under clauses 1.2(1) and (2) above has legal 
effect as part of this IHS . 
 
Guidance  
• Incorporation by reference means that standards, guidelines or lists are incorporated into the IHS 
and they form part of the requirements  
 
1.3 Definitions  
(1) For the purposes of this IHS, terms used that are defined  in the Act have the meanings set out there. 
The Act is available at http://www.legislation.govt.nz/ . 
(2) See Schedule 2  for additional definitions that apply . Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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1.4 Requirements for authorisation into containment  
(1) To obtain  authorisation into a zoo containment  facility , zoo equids must:  
a) Have been resident in one or more approved, licensed, or registered zoos or wildlife parks in the 
exporting country since birth or for at least the 12 months immediately before export;  
b) Be fre e from quarantine restrictions imposed by the exporting country for at least 90 days before 
the date of export;  
c) Originate from premises that are under direct veterinary supervision and provide separation from 
other animal populations not of an equivalent h ealth status. The zoo or wildlife park premises 
must follow a documented health monitoring programme that includes necropsies and 
microbiological and parasitological testing that would be effective in monitoring for diseases of 
biosecurity concern identifi ed in Part 2: Specified requirements for identified risk organisms ; 
d) Meet the requirements of clauses 1.6 -1.10 of Part 1: Requirements  and Part 2: Specified 
requirements  for identified risk organisms;  
e) Be imported from a country that the CTO is satisfied mee ts the export country systems and 
certification requirements of clause 1.5;  
f) Be accompanied by a veterinary certificate that meets the requirements of clause 1.10.2, has 
been agreed by a CTO, and details the measures in Part 2: Specified requirements for id entified 
risk organisms  that the exporting country will meet; and  
g) Be accompanied by an import permit as required by clause 1.9.  
 
1.5 Exporting country systems and certification  
(1) Importers may import zoo equids  only if a CTO is satisfied, on the basis of evide nce, that the 
Veterinary Services of the exporting country are capable of ensuring that zoo equids  imported from 
that country can meet the requirements of this IHS.  
(2) The evidence must include details about all of the following, that the CTO considers app licable to the 
zoo equids  from that exporting country:  
a) The ability of the exporting country’s Competent Authority to verify the animal health status of zoo 
equids in the exporting country, zone or compartment, with respect to the risk organisms 
identif ied in  Part 2: Specified requirements for identified risk organisms .  
b) The adequacy of the exporting country’s national systems and/or programmes and standards in 
the exporting country for regulatory oversight of the zoo industry.  
c) The capability of the ex porting country’s Competent Authority to support the issue of veterinary 
certificates as required by this IHS. 
(3) Importers may not import from a country where a CTO has determined that the Veterinary Services of 
the exporting country are no longer capable of  ensuring that zoo equids  imported from that country can 
meet the requirements of this IHS.  
 
Guidance  
• The evidence will be obtained during evaluation of the Veterinary Services of the Competent 
Authority of the exporting country in accordance with section 3 of the Code, titled Quality of 
Veterinary Services . 
• Once a CTO is satisfied with the exporting count ry’s evidence for exporting systems and 
certification, MPI and the Competent Authority may commence negotiation of the country -specific 
veterinary certificate.  
• For the CTO to  be satisfied with the evidence provided an in -country or desk -top audit may be 
carried out at any time, including prior to the first shipment of the commodity.  Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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• See Guidance Document  for more information about exporting country systems and certification, 
and for a list of currently approved countries and country -specific veterinary cer tificates.  
1.6 Pre-export isolation  
(4) The animals destined for export must be held in pre -export isolation for a minimum period of 30 days 
before the date of shipment . 
(5) During pre -export isolation the animals must be isolated from other animals not of an equival ent health 
status.  
(6) Individual health records for the animals must be kept on the premises during the pre -export isolation 
period and must be available to the Official Veterinarian. Any health problems during the pre -export 
isolation period must be reported  to MPI.  
(7) The pre -export isolation premises must be approved and supervised by an Official Veterinarian and 
should be free of grass and other pasture.  
(8) Before the animals enter pre -export isolation , the premises must b e thoroughly cleaned and sprayed 
with an  acaricide , repeated as per the manufacturer’s instructions . 
(9) All bedding used in pre -export isolation must be clean and free from evidence of contamination with 
ticks and seeds.   
(10) Bedding must be removed and the premises cleaned every 10 days.  
(11) Feed used in pre -export isolation must be free from evidence of contamination with ticks and seeds.  
(12) The animals must be : 
a) Examined by an Official Veterinarian in the 72 hours before they leave the pre -export isolation 
premises for the port of export ; and  
b) Identified b y reading their microchips; and  
c) Fully weaned ; and  
d) Not in the last third term of pregnancy : and  
e) Free from clinical evidence of infectious disease and fit for travel.  
1.7 Diagnostic tests , vaccines and treatment  
(1) All pre -export and/or surveillance testing required by this IHS must be:  
a) Conducted by a laboratory approved by the Competent Authority of the exporting country; or  
b) Conducted by a laboratory approved by the Competent Authority of any other country approved  
under this IHS to export zoo equids  to New Zealand.  
(2) All laboratory samples requir ed by this IHS must be collected, processed, and stored in accordance 
with the recommendations in the World Organisation for Animal Health  (WOAH)  Terrestrial Animal 
Health Code  (the Code ) and/or the WOAH  Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vacc ines for Terrestrial 
Animals  (the Manual ), or as described in MPI-STD-TVTL . 
(3) All diagnostic test(s) and vaccines that are required to be used or undertaken by this IHS must be 
approved by MPI for that purpose and documented in MPI-STD-TVTL . 
(4) All products and vaccinations required by this IHS to be administered to meet the specific d isease 
requirements in Part 2: Specified requirements for identified risk organisms  must have been 
administered according to the manufacturer’s instruction in a country that a CTO has agreed meets the 
requirements of clause 1.5.  Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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(5) Where products required by this IHS have been administered, the product name, manufacturer, active 
ingredients (where applicable), and the dose and date of the treatment must be recorded on the 
veterinary certificate.  
 
Guidance  
• See Guidance Document  for more information about tests  and vaccination.  
1.8 Transport  
(1) In the case of transport by:  
a) Air: the transport facilities and arrangements must meet the relevant requirements in the 
International Air Transport Association: Live Animal Regulations . 
b) Sea: the transport facilities and arrangements must have been inspected and meet the 
requirements of the Australian Marine Orders Part 43, Issue 6  (which is equivalent to the New 
Zealand Marine Rules Part 24C ). 
(2) No animals other than those that meet the imp ort requirements for entry into New Zealand are 
permitted to be transported with the zoo equids  on the aircraft or ship.  
(3) Transhipment in any third country may not occur unless it is pre -approved by MPI and recorded on an 
import permit under section 24D.  In the case of transhipment through countries where there is a risk of 
insect borne pathogens, the air stalls must be covered by insect -proof netting and the cargo hold 
sprayed with an effective insecticide during transit. The netting must be disinfected a fter arrival in New 
Zealand.  
(4) The vehicles in which the zoo equids  will be transported to the port of departure must be cleaned and 
disinfected before loading.  
(5) The crates or pens used for transporting the zoo equids  to New Zealand must be new or if previously 
used must be cleaned and disin fected.  
(6) Feed and bedding in the crates or pens must be free of seeds and ticks.  
 
 
Guidance  
• Any containers found to be damaged on arrival will be made secure before the consignment is 
moved to the transitional or containment facility. Any material which has leaked from the 
container must be destroyed at the port of entry.  
 
 
 
1.9 Import permit  information  
(1) An import permit under section 24D of the Act  is required prior to the importation of consignments of 
zoo equids  from Australia, Canada, Europe , Japan, Singapore, South Africa, or USA. 
 
Guidance  
• Apply for the import permit at the following weblink under Zoo Animals: 
https://animalplantimportpermit.mpi.govt.nz/   
• Ensure you have a letter of approval from the MPI inspector confirming the transitional facility can 
accept the import.  Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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1.10 Documentation that must accompany goods  
(1) All documentation that is required by this clause                                  1.10 to accompany zoo equids  
must, unless otherwise stated:  
a) Be in English or have an English translation that is clear and  legible.  
b) Be original.  
(2) Documentation that is in a paper format must, unless otherwise stated, be endorsed on every page by 
the Official Veterinarian with their original stamp, signature and date or be endorsed in the space 
allocated and all pages have pape r based alternative security features.  
(3) Documentation that is in an electronic format must, unless otherwise stated, be transmitted directly 
from the Competent Authority of the exporting country to MPI, using an electronic system approved by 
MPI for that p urpose.  
 
Guidance  
• Copies of all documents that are required to accompany the goods should be submitted to the 
MPI inspector  at the airport/port of arrival a t least seven days before arrival to avoid delays  at the 
border.  
• Transport companies should also contact the MPI inspector within 24 hours of departure of the 
animals.  
• Please email the applicable arrival point:  
− Auckland:  liveanimalsauckland@mpi.govt.nz  
− Christchurch:  liveanimalschristchurch@mpi.govt.nz  
(4) The consignment must arrive in New Zealand with the documentation that is specified in clauses 
1.10.1 to 1.1 0.3 below.  
1.10.1  Import permit  
(1) An import permit (copy acceptable)  is for single consignments.  
1.10.2  Veterinary certificate  
(1) A veterinary certificate from the expo rting country’s Competent Authority  must include the following:  
a) A unique consignment identifier.  
b) The description , species, and microchip number . 
c) Name and address of the importer (consignee) and exporter (consignor).  
d) Name, signature and contact details of the Official Veterinarian.  
e) Certification and endorsement by the Official Veterinarian that the general requirements outlined 
in Part 1 : Requirements  of this IHS have been met.  
f) Certification and endorsement by the Official Veterinarian that the relevant  requirements outlined 
in Part 2: Specified requirements for identified risk organisms  of this IHS have been met  except 
for those requirements that a CTO has agreed during negotiation under clause 1.5 as not being 
required for a country -specific veterinary certificate . 
 
Guidance  
• If equivalent measures have been negotiated and agreed  to with MPI, and a CTO has, before 
import, issued a direction under section 27(1)(d) of the Act that is different from those in this 
standard in the form of a negotiat ed veterinary certificate, that veterinary certificate must 
accompany the consignment.  
• See Guidance Document  for m ore information about equivalence and country -specific veterinary 
certificates.  Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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1.10.3  Laboratory reports  
(1) Original laboratory reports , copies of lab oratory reports endorsed by the Official Veterinarian , or a 
tabulated summary of laboratory results endorsed by the Official Veterinarian  of all tests required by 
Part 2: Specified requirements for identified risk organisms  of this IHS  must include:   
a) Unique microchip number  identification for each animal, consistent with the veterinary certificate.  
b) Dates of sample collection.  
c) Test type.  
d) Test result.  
 
Guidance on microchips  
• If the microchip does not meet International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications 
11784 or Annex A of ISO Standard 11785 specifications, it is the importer’s responsibility to ensure 
that the microchip can be read upon entry to New Zealand. This may mean that the importer will need 
to provide a microchip reader (at the importer’s expense) for the chip to be read. Microchip numbers 
must be unique. Microchip numbers starting with 999 are not unique.  
 Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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Part 2:  Specified requirements for identified risk organisms  
(1) Zoo equids  must comply with the  following measures for identified risk organisms , if applicable : 
2.1 African horse sickness virus  
(1) Each animal must : 
a) Be resid ent since birth or for at least the 40 days prior to shipment in a country officially  free from 
African horse sickness virus in accorda nce with the Code ; and 
b) Not be vaccinated against African horse sickness ; and  
c) Show no clinical sign of African horse sickness on the day of shipment; or  
(2) Each animal  must : 
a) Show no clinical si gns of African horse sickness on the day of shipment; and  
b) Not be  vaccinated against African horse sickness in the 40 days  prior to shipment ; and  
c) Be held in insect proofed pre -export isolation premises and during this time:  
i) A serological test to detect antibodies against African horse sickness virus must be  carried 
out with negative results on a blood sample collected not less than 28 days after entry into 
pre- export isolation; or  
ii) An agent identification test must be  carried  out with a negative result on a blood sample 
collected not less than 14 days after entry  into pre -export isolation.  
2.2 Trypanosoma evansi  (Surra)  
(1) Each animal must  originate from  a country or zoo recognised by MPI as free from surra.  
2.3 Equine infectious anaemia  (equine infectious anaemia virus ) 
(1) Each animal must be resident since birth or for at least the 90 days prior to shipment in an equine 
infectious anaemia -free country as agreed by MPI; or  
(2) Each animal must : 
a) Show no clinical sign s of equine infectious anaemia on the day of shipment ; and 
b) Be resident since birth or for at least the 90 days prior to shipment on zoo premises where no 
official case of equine infectious anaemia  has been  reported during that period; and 
c) Be held in insect proo fed pre -export isolation premises and during this time:  
i) Be subjected to a diagnostic test for equine infectious anaemia  as described in the 
document MPI-STD-TVTL  with negative results.  
2.4 Equine influenza (equine influenza virus)  
(1) Each animal must be  resident  since birth or for at least the 30 days prior to shipment in an equine 
influenza virus -free country as agreed by MPI and show no clinical signs of equine influenza on the 
day of shipment; or  
(2) Each animal  must : 
a) Be resident for at least the 30 days prior to shipment at zoo premises where no clinical, 
epidemiological or other evidence of equine influenza virus has occurred in any animal species 
during the previous 2 years; and  
b) Show no clinical signs of equine influenza on the day of shipment.  Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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2.5 Equine viral arteritis (equine arteritis virus)  
(1) Each animal must be  isolated  in pre-export  isolation  for the 30 days prior to shipment and show no 
clinicals signs of equine viral arteritis during  this time .  
2.6 Rabies (rabies virus)  
(1) Each animal must be resident since birth or for at least the six months prior to shipment in a rabies free 
country as agreed by MPI and show no clinical signs of rabies on the day of shipment; or  
(2) Each animal must:  
a) Be kept for the six months prior to shipme nt in zoo premises where there has been no case of 
rabies for at least 12 months; and  
b) Show no clinical signs of rabies on the day of shipment.  
2.7 Equine rhinopneumonitis (equine herpesvirus 1  exotic strains ) 
(1) Each animal must be resident for at least the 30  days prior to shipment at zoo premises where no 
clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of equine herpesvirus 1  has occurred during that period and 
show no clinical signs of equine herpesvirus  on the day of shipment.  
2.8 External parasites  (ticks ) 
(1) Within the 30 days prior to shipment , each animal must  be treated twice, at least 14 days apart, with an 
external parasiticide effective against ticks; and  
(2) Each animal must be inspected and found to be free of external parasites before shipment.  
2.9 Seeds  
(1) Feed and bedding material in pre -export isolation must be free from evidence of seeds. Before 
departure to New Zealand, each animal must be certified as being free from visible contamination with 
seeds.  
(2) On arrival in New Zealand, the animals must be held in a trans itional facility for one week, during which 
time all dung must be collected and destroyed.  Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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Schedule  1 – Document history  
Date First Issued  Title Shortcode  
8 March 2024  
Internal Consultation  Import Health Standard: Zoo Equids  IHS ZOOEQUID.SPE  
Date of Amendments  Title Shortcode  
   
 Import Health Standard :  Zoo Equids   
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Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  15 of 15 
Schedule 2 – Definitions  
Compartment  
An animal subpopulation contained in one or more establishments under a common biosecurity management 
system with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease or specific diseases for which required 
surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade.  
Competent Authority  
The Veterinary or other Governmental Authority of the World Organisation o f Animal Health  Member, that has 
the responsibility and competence for ensuring or supervising the implementation of animal health and welfare 
measures, international veterinary certification and other standards and recommendations in the Code  in the 
whole  territory.  
External parasite  
Organisms which live on the surface of the host, including mites, lice, ticks, fleas, and flesh -eating larvae.  
 
Internal parasite  
 
Organisms which live inside the host, including roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and flukes.  
MPI 
Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand.  
Official Veterinarian  
A veterinarian authorised by the Competent Authority of a 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 World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestr ial Animal Code  
Chapter for certification procedures.  
Surveillance  
The systematic ongoing collection, collation, and analysis of information related to animal health and the 
timely dissemination of information to those who need to know so that action can b e taken.  
Transhipment  
Transshipment means the unloading of animals from one plane  and their loading into another to complete a 
journey to a further destination, even when the animals  may have to remain ashore some time before their 
onward journey.  This is compared to transit where the animals remain on the same plane.  
Vector  
An insect or any living carrier that transports an infectious agent from an infected individual to a susceptible 
individual or its food or immediate surroundings. The organism may or ma y not pass through a development 
cycle within the vector.  
Veterinary Certificate  
A certificate, issued in conformity with the provisions of the World Organisation for Animal Health  Code  
Chapter for certification procedures, describing the animal health and /or public health requirements which are 
fulfilled by the exported commodities.  
WOAH  
The World Organisation for Animal Health.