Guidance Document  
 
 
 
Natural Sausage Casings  
MEACASIC.ALL  
. 
 
 
 
A guidance document issued by  the Ministry for Primary Industries  Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  1 of 10 Title 
Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
About this document  
This guidance document contains information about acceptable ways of ensuring compliance with the 
requirements in the Import Health Standard (IHS): Natural Sausage Casings .  
Any guidance on how to comply with the applicable requirements may not be the only  way to achieve 
compliance. Stakeholders are encouraged to discuss departures from the approaches outlined in this 
guidance document with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to avoid expending resources on the 
development of alternative approaches wh ich may later be considered unsuitable.  
The term “must” is not typically used in guidance. In this particular document if the term “must” is used, it is 
used in the context of quoting or paraphrasing the requirements set out in the related IHS: Natural Sau sage 
Casings . 
Related requirements  
Import Health Standard : Natural Sausage Casings . 
Document  history  
Refer to Appendix 1.  
Contact details  
For further information and questions about this guidance document, please contact:  
 
Ministry for Primary Industries  
Regulation & Assurance  
Animal Imports  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
Email: animalimports@mpi.govt.nz  
Disclaimer  
This guidance does not constitute, and should not be regarded as, legal advice . While every effort has been 
made to ensure the informa tion in this guidance 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.  
Copyright  
Crown copyright ©. This copyright work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand 
licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to the Ministry f or Primary 
Industries and  abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/nz/ . 
Please note that no governmental emblem, logo or Coat of Arms may be use d in any way which infringes any provision of the Flags, 
Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 or would infringe such provision if the relevant use occurred within New Zealand. 
Attribution to the Ministry for Primary Industries should be in written form a nd not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo or Coat of 
Arms.  
 
Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  2 of 10 Contents   Page 
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Definitions  3 
4 Importer Responsibilities  3 
5 Guidance  3 
5.1 Equivalence  3 
5.2 Food Act 1981 and Animal Products Act 1999  4 
5.3 Incorporation of material by reference  4 
5.4 Exporting country systems and certification  4 
5.5 Retorted product  5 
5.6 Inspection and verification  6 
6 Veterinary Certificates  7 
6.1 Model veterinary certificate  7 
6.2 Model Manufacturer’s Declaration  9 
Appendix 1 – Document History  10 
 
 
 Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  3 of 10 1 Purpose  
(1) This guidance document has been issued to accompany the IHS: Natural Sausage Casings . This 
guidance document should be read in conjunction with that IHS.  
(2) This document includes:  
a) Countries with MPI -approved exporting systems to import natural sausage casings  into New 
Zealand.  
b) Model veterinary certificate.  
c) Negotiated country specific  veterinary certificates  for limited species .  
2 Background  
(1) The IHS: Natural Sausage Casings , which this guidance document accompanies , contains generic 
import requirements. These are the rules to manage the biosecurity risk of importing sausage casings 
from all c ountries that can meet the requirements of the IHS and in doing so meet New Zealand’s 
appropriate level of protection. The generic IHS serves as the basis for country -to-country (bilateral) 
negotiations. This guidance document contains a model veterinary c ertificate and bilaterally -agreed 
veterinary certificat es for trade in natural sausage casings . These country -specific veterinary 
certificate s represent what will be certified prior to exporting consignments of natural sausage casings 
from the country spec ified.  
(2) General information about importing animal products can be found here:  
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/general -animal -bio-products.htm  
3 Definitions  
(1) Refer to Schedule 2  of the IHS: Natural Sausage Casings . 
4 Importer Responsibilities  
(1) The costs to MPI in performing functions relating to the importation of natural sausage casings will be 
recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and any regulations made under that 
Act. All costs involved with documentation, transport, storage and obtaining a biosecurity clearance 
must be covered by the importer or agent.  
5 Guidance  
5.1 Equivalence  
(1) MPI may accept an alternative method, system or process that can be shown to achieve the 
biosecurity requirements of the IHS (i.e. equivalence).  
(2) MPI’s preference is that the exporting country’s Competent Authority ma kes equivalence requests. 
Equivalence requests can be lodged with animalimports@mpi.govt.nz  
(3) Note that a permit to import is not required to import natural sausage casings into New Zealand  
provided the requir ements of the IHS are met . 
(4) A permit may be required where specific equivalence measures are approved by MPI  other than by a 
negotiated veterinary certificate  as specified in the IHS.  Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  4 of 10 (5) Permit to import application forms can be found on the MPI website at:  
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/document -vault/3124  
(6) Completed applications are lodged with animalimports@mpi.govt.nz . 
5.2 Food Act 1981 and Animal Products Act 1999  
(1) Commercial consignments of products imported into New Zealand for human consumption must 
comply with relevant requirements of the  Food Act 1981, the Food Act  2014  as it comes into force, and 
the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code . Importers of food intended for sale for human 
consumption must be listed with MPI. These requirements are independent of the IHS requirements. 
Importers are advised to consult MPI’s Food Safety website: 
http://www.foodsafety.govt.nz/industry/importing/ . 
(2) The importation of the following animal material or product must comply with the inspection 
requirements issued in Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMAR) 01/172 under the Animal 
Products Act 1999:  
a) Impo rted animal material or product, or product containing animal material or product, that is of 
New Zealand origin and have been returned to New Zealand for domestic sale or use, or for re -
export, and  
b) Imported animal material or product of foreign origin in tended for export or further processing for 
export.  
(3) A prerequisite requirement of this OMAR is Biosecurity clearance. The inspection requirements can be 
found at: http://foodsafety.govt.nz/industry/general/animal -products/omars/01 -172.htm  or obtained from 
your local Verification Services office http://www.foodsafety.govt.nz/about/veri fication -
agency/contact.htm . 
5.3 Incorporation of material by reference  
(1) Incorporation by reference means that standards, guidelines or lists are incorporated into the IHS and 
they form part of the requirements. This is done because technical documents are too large or 
impractical to include in the IHS.  
(2) Where the IHS states that section 142O(1) of the Act does not apply, this means that importers need to 
refer to the most recent version of any standards, guidelines or lists that are incorporated by reference 
in the IHS.  
5.4 Exporting country systems and certification  
5.4.1 Approval for exporting systems  
(1) MPI recommends Competent Authorities that request the approval of their exporting systems refer to 
Section 3 of the Code  titled Quality of Veterinary Services , to prepare evidence for MPI regarding 
capabilities and preferences of the exporting country’s Competent Authority.  
(2) The table below lists those exporting countries that meet the requirements set out in the IHS: Natural 
Sausage Casings.  
 
 
 
 
 Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  5 of 10 Countries with approved 
exporting systems  Species  Date agreed  
Australia  All sausage casings  Ongoing trade  
EU Member Countries  Porcine/ovine/caprine sausage 
casings  Ongoing trade  
Canada and the United States  Porcine sausage casings  Ongoing trade  
 
5.4.2 Agreed county specific veterinary certificates  
(1) Requests from exporting countries to negotiate veterinary certification for the import of natural sausage 
casings into New Zealand will be prioritised according to MPI resources available at the time of 
application.  
(2) A model  veterina ry certificate is provided in this guidance document and can be used by the 
Competent Authority as a reference for country -specific veterinary certificate negotiation.  
(3) All country -specific veterinary certificates agreed between an exporting country’s Compe tent Authority 
and MPI are included in the table below:  
(4)  
Country  Link to certificate  S27 CTO 
direction #  Date agreed  Date applicable 
for use  
Australia*  Need to add link  N/A N/A N/A 
EU*  Need to add link  N/A N/A N/A 
Canada and 
the US*  Need to add link  N/A N/A N/A 
*New veterinary certificate has not been negotiated as of June 2015  
(5) Country -specific veterinary certificates with equivalent measures will be recorded with a number 
relevant to a Chief Technical Officer (CTO) direction under section 27(1)d(iii ) of the Act, to enable 
border staff to clear the goods and record the number in the MPI database.  
(6) When a newly negotiated country -specific veterinary certificate replaces one which is currently in use, 
the application of new import conditions will apply according to the dates listed in the table. At that time 
previous veterinary certificates for that country can no longer be used.  
(7) After issue of the IHS, the measures may be used by countries which already have an agreed 
veterinary certificate. Using the m easures before a new country -specific veterinary certificate is agreed 
can create challenges at the time of biosecurity clearance. MPI should be notified prior to their use in 
order to provide clarification to border staff.  
(8) When a country -specific veterina ry certificate is agreed, there will be a four -month transition period to 
allow donors to be prepared in accordance with the new conditions. During transition, both the old and 
the new import conditions are acceptable. After transition, the previous veteri nary certificate for that 
country can no longer be used.  
(9) Currently there are three country -specific veterinary certificates for natural sausage casings imports 
into New Zealand , as indicated above . 
5.5 Retorted product  
(1) The requirements for retorted product are stated in the MPI IHS: Importing Specified Foods for Human 
Consumption Containing Animal Products.  Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  6 of 10 5.6 Inspection and verification  
(1) On arrival, all documentatio n accompanying the consignment will be verified by an inspector. The 
inspector may also inspect the consignment, or a sample of the consignment on arrival.  
(2) Inspectors are able to inspect and verify due to their authorised powers under the Act.  
(3) These requir ements are independent of the IHS requirements.  
  Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  7 of 10 6 Certificate s for Natural Sausage Casings  
6.1 Model veterinary certificate  
(1) Below is a model veterinary certificate for trade in natural sausage casings.  This model meets the 
requirements of the IHS .  
(2) This model veterinary certificate format is based on the Code Chapter 5.10.4 for model veterinary 
certificates for international trade in  Animal Products . 
 Part 1: Det ails of dispatched consignment  1.1.   Consignor (Exporter):  
Name:  
 
Address:  
 1.2.  Certificate reference number:  
 
1.3.  Competent Authority:  
 
1.4.  Consignee (Importer):  
Name:  
 
Address:  
 
 
1.5. Country of origin                                              ISO Code * 
  1.6.   Zone or compartment of origin**:  
 
1.7. Country of destination:                                     ISO Code *  1.8.   Zone or compartment of destination**:   
1.9.  Manufacturing premise : 
Name:  
 
Address:  
 1.10.  P ort of export : 1.11.  Date of departure:  
1.12.  Means of transport:  
 
   Aeroplane            Ship            
  
 
Identification:  
 1.13.  Expected border post:  
 
 
  
1.15. Description of commodity:  
  1.16. Commodity Code  (HS Code ): 
1.17. Total quantity : 
1.18.  Total number of packages:  
1.20.  Identification of container/serial number:  1.21. Type of packaging:  
Species (Scientific Name)  Lot ID/date 
code:  Nature of commodity  Treatment type Establishment approval 
number  Net weight  
      
      
      1.23.  Identification of commodity  
* Optional.   ** If referenced in Part 2.  Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  8 of 10         Part 2:  Veterinary  Information  Country:   Certificate reference number:  
 
The undersigned Official Veterinarian certifies that the product(s) of animal origin described above satisfy(ies) the 
following  requirements:  
 
 
Commodity eligibility  
(1) Every animal from which the casings are produced has passed ante -mortem and post -mortem inspection in 
slaughter and processing plants which operate GMP and HACCP programme s to the satisfaction of the Competent 
Authori ty. 
(2) After removal of gut contents, cleaning and scraping, the casings have been stored at room temperature in either 
dry salt or saturated brine for a minimum of 30 days.  
(3) The casings are sound and fit for human consumption.  
 
Commodity description  
(4) The sausage casings included in this consignment include ( delete those not applicable ): 
(a) Natural sausage casings derived from porcine animals (pigs), comprised of the submucosal tissue layer of 
the intestine;  
(b) Natural sausage casings derived from bovine animals (cattle), comprised of all major intestinal tissue layers, 
with the exception of the ileum. After processing, only a small amount of mucosa and lymphoid tissue 
remain;  
(c) Natural sausage casings derived from caprine animals (goats) or ovine animals (sheep), c omprised of the 
submucosal tissue layer of the small intestine . 
 
Specified requiremen ts for identified risk organism  
 
(5) Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) , porcine casings only  (delete claus e if not applicable)  
(a) The casings were derived from animals continuou sly resident in countr ies, zone s or compartment s 
recognised to be free from CSFV for the 12 months prior to slaughter as determined by the conditions listed 
in Article 15.2.3 of the OIE Code ; or 
(b) The casings were  salted for at least 30 days with supplemented dry salt or saturated brine (Aw<0.80) 
containing 86.5% NaCl, 10.7% Na 2HPO 4 and 2.8% Na 3PO 4 (weight/weight/weight) and kept at a temperature 
of greater than 20°C during this entire period . 
 
 Official Veterinarian  
Name:  
Address:  
Email:  
  
Signature:   
Date:  
  Official Veterinarian signature, 
Official stamp and date  Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  9 of 10 6.2 Model manufacturer’s declaration  
Company Letterhead  
1. Importer name:  
Address : 
 
 
2. Manufacturer name:  
Address:  
3. Country of destination: New Zealand  4. Country  of origin : 
 
5. Description of commodity:  
 
6. Invoice number:  7. Nature of packaging:  
8. Net weight in kilograms (kgs):  9. Number of packages:  
10. Number of container(s) and container seal number(s):  
I, _______________________________________________ the Quality manager (or equivalent) of the manufacturing premises 
declare that the casings in this consignment ha ve been packaged in new, clean and secure packaging and:  
 
(1) Our production facilities operate under GMP or HACCP programmes to the satisfaction of the Competent Authority in 
__________________________ ________________.  
(2) After removing gut contents, cleaning and scraping, the casings were stored at room temperature in either dry salt or 
saturated brin e for a minimum of 30 days.  
 
NOTE: This declaration must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate stating that the official veterinarian has no reason t o doubt 
the veracity of this declaration. It must also be able to be clearly linked to the veterinarian certificate.  
Name:  
 
Signature:                                                                                           Date:  
 
 
 
 
 Guidance Document :  Natural Sausage Casings  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  10 of 10 Appendix  1 – Document History  
 
Date First Issued  Title Shortcode  
 Natural Sausage Casing s MEA CASIC.ALL  
Date of Issued A mendments  Title Shortcode