G/SPS/N/NZL/525  
 
9 October 2015  
(15-5291)  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; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Food imported for sale in New Zealand as per the 
attached list of tariff numbers 
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: Importing Food - Food Notice  Language(s): English   
Number of pages: 15 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/NZL/15_4010_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The Food Act 2014 provides that importers of food must be 
registered and requires that the manner of registration be specified by notice, the 
proposed notice will do this. 
Regulations to be made under the Food Act w ill set out two categories of imported food 
that may require written clearance for entry into New Zealand. These being: 
a) High Regulatory Interest Food , imported food that presents an increased risk to 
human health based on the foods inherent nature and hazards associated with it, the nature of its processing or handling, or the nature of the food safety controls in the 
country of origin; 
b) Increased Regulatory Interest Food, imported food for which there is some 
uncertainty or concern about the risk to the safety and suitability of the food. 
The proposed notice sets out which foods are considered High Regulatory Interest and 
Increased Regulatory Interest. For each food the requirements and mechanisms for 
clearance are also set out. 
Regulations to be made under the Food Act will also set out a requirement that when 
imported food is required to be tested for clearance the testing must be completed by an 
approved laboratory. The Act requires labo ratories to be approved by notice. The 
proposed notice therefore approves laboratories for testing of imported food. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/NZL/525 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text)  
 CAC/GL 26-1997  Guidelines for the Design, Operation, Assessment and 
Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems 
 CAC/GL 20-1995 Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification 
 CAC/GL 47-2003  Guidelines for Food Import Control Systems 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] 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:  
Food Act 2014 
Proposals for regulations under the Food Act 2014 MPI Public Discussion Paper 
No: 2015/01 (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2016 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : No later than 1 February 2016 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2016 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 8 December 2015 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] 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 
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [ ] 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  
Website: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/sp s/transparency/notifications/index.htm