Guidance Document  
 
 
Animal Fibre  
ANIFIBRE.ALL  
. 
 
 
 
A guidance document issued by  the Ministry for Primary Industries  Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  1 of 12 Title 
Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
About this document  
This guidance document contains information about acceptable ways of ensuring compliance with the 
requirements in the Import Health Standard (IHS):  Animal Fibre .  
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 Prim ary Industries (MPI) to avoid expending resources on the 
development of alternative approaches which 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 i n the context of quoting or paraphrasing the requirements set out in the related IHS: Animal Fibre.  
Related requirements  
Import Health Standard:  Animal Fibre  
Document  history  
Refer to Appendix 1.  
Contact details  
For further information and questions  about this gu idance 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 information 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 opinio n 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 :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  2 of 12 Contents   Page 
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Definitions  3 
4 Importer Responsibilities  3 
5 Guidance  3 
5.1 Equivalence  3 
5.2 Import permit  4 
5.3 Incorpor ation of material by reference  4 
5.4 Inspection and verification  4 
5.5 Samples of animal fibre for evaluation and testing  4 
5.6 Agre ed country specific veterinary certificates  5 
6 Specified Requirements for Risk Organisms  5 
7 Model Manufacturer’s Declaration  6 
8 Model Fibre Certifier’s Declaration  8 
9 Model Veterinary Certificate  9 
Appendix 1 – Document History  12 
 
 
 Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  3 of 12 1 Purpose  
(1) This guidance document has been issued to accompany the IHS: Animal Fibre . This guidance 
document should be read in conjunction with that IHS.  
(2) This document includes:  
a) A model manufacturer’s declaration.   
b) A mode l fibre certifier’s declaration.  
c) A model veterinary certificate . 
d) Links to c ountry -specific negotiated veterinary certificates.  
2 Background  
(1) The IHS: Animal Fibre  which this guidance d ocument accompanies contains import requirements. 
These are the rules to manage the biosecurity risk of importing animal fibre from all countries that can 
meet the requirements of the IHS and in doing so meet New Zealand’s appropriate level of protection. 
The IHS serves as the basis for country -to-country (bilateral ) negotiations. This guidance d ocument 
contains a model veterinary certific ate and the bilaterally -agreed veterinary c ertification for trade in 
animal fibre. Country -specific veterinary c ertifica tes represent  what will be certified prior to exporting 
consignments of animal fibre  from the country specified.  
3 Definitions  
(1) Refer to Schedule 1 of the IHS: Animal Fibre  for definitions . 
4 Importer Responsibilities  
(1) This guidance document is subject to review  and amendment at any time to ensure that it continues to 
meet its purpose. All stakeholders are responsible for ensuring that the most recent version of the 
guidance document, as available on the MPI website, is used.  
(2) The costs to MPI in performing functi ons relating to the importation of animal fibre  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. e quivalence).  
(2) MPI’s preference is that the exporting country ’s Competent Authority makes equivalence requests. 
Equivalence requests can be lodged with Animal Imports animalimports@mpi.govt.nz . 
(3) An import permit may be required where specific equivalence measures are a pproved by MPI in the 
IHS. An import permit serves as evidence of equivalence decisions which  will be written as specific 
notes in the special conditions section of the permit.  
(4) Import permit  application forms can be found on the MPI website at: 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/imports/animals/forms . Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  4 of 12 (5) Complete d applications are lodged with Animal I mports animalimports@mpi.govt .nz. 
5.2 Import permit  
(1) Where required under this IHS, an import permit must accompany the consignment of animal fibre.  
(2) Import permit  application forms can be found on the MPI website at: 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/imports/animals/forms . 
(3) The application form should specify a transitional facility where the animal fibre will be directed to for 
further processing. The transitional facility must be approved at the time of import to t he requirements 
of MPI General Transitional Facilities for Uncleared G oods  (MPI-STD-TFGEN ), Annex F: Animal 
Products  or any standard that replaces that standard . 
(4) Completed applications can be submitted to Animal Imports animalimports@mpi.govt.nz .   
5.3 Incorporation of material by reference  
(1) Incorporation by reference means that standards, guidelines or lists are incorporat ed 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 Inspection and verification  
(1) On arrival, all documentation 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) Products that do not meet the requirements of the standard will be authorised for treatment, 
reshipment or destruction. Importers are therefore advised to comply with the standard so as to avoid 
any delays or extra costs incurred as a result of non -compliance.  
(4) Where products imported under this standard are authorised for treatment, these consignm ents can be 
directed to an approved MPI treatment supplier and treated in accordance with the relevant measures 
specified in the IHS.     
5.5 Samples of animal fibre for evaluation and testing  
(1) It is recognised that there is a n eed for samples of animal fibre  to be imported from time to time. A s 
such, samples of animal fibre  for evaluation and testing purposes can be imported  with a permit  under 
either  this IHS or the MPI IHS: Biological Products (Including Samples) from All Countries .  
(2) Samples of animal fibre for evaluation and testing can be directed to either MPI General Transitional 
Facilities fo r Uncleared G oods  (MPI-STD-TFGEN ), Annex F: Animal Products  (or any standard that 
replaces that standard) , or Transitional Facilities for Biological P roducts  (154.02.17 ). 
(3) Animal fibre may be eligible for clearance after evaluation and testing if it has been treated in 
accordance with the relevant measures in the IHS (e.g. unprocessed wool can undergo gamma 
irradiation, fumigation with formalin or heat treatment).  Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  5 of 12 5.6 Agreed country specific veterinary certificates  
(1) All country -specific veterinary certificates agreed between an exporting country’s Competent Authority 
and MPI are included in the table below:  
 
Country  Link to c ertificate  S27 CTO direction 
#  Date agreed  Date applicable 
for use  
European Union  Link to be added  CTO direction 2015 
042 [B]  NZ/EU 
Agreement  
(97/132/EC) as 
last amended   25 September 
2014  
Note: Th is 
certificate is for 
scoured -only wool  
from sheep, goats 
and camelids . All 
other commodities 
of animal fibre  
from the EU  
should use the 
model veterinary 
certificate.  
(2) 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.  
(3) 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 cert ificates for that country can no longer be used.  
6 Specified Requirements for Risk Organisms  
(1) The risk management requirements for identified risk organisms are outlined in Part 2 of the IHS: 
Animal Fibre.  
  Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  6 of 12 7 Model Manufacturer’s Declaration  
Company Letterhead  
1. Exporter name:  
Address : 
2. Country of destination: New Zealand  3. Country  of origin : 
 
4. Description of commodity:  
 
5. Invoice number:  6. Nature of packaging:  
7. Net weight in kilograms (kg):  8. Number of packages:  
9. Number of container(s) and container seal number(s):  
10. Species animal fibre derived from:  
I, _______________________________________________, the Quality manager (or equivalent) of the manufacturing premises 
declare that the fibre in this consignment has been treated in the following manner and subsequently h as been packaged in new, 
clean and secure packaging:  
(Please delete clauses not applicable to the product for export. ) 
For fibre from specified ruminants  
(1) Scoured fibre has been:  
(a) Commercially scoured (at 60 -70°C for at least three  minutes); and  
(b) After scouring fibre was:  
(i) Washed in water at 75°C for at least one minute; or  
(ii) Dried at 70°C for at least two minutes.  
(2) Scoured and carded fibre has been:  
(a) Commercially scoured (at 60 -70°C for at least three  minutes); and  
(b) After scouring fibre was:  
(i) Washed in water a t 75°C for at least one minute; or  
(ii) Dried at 70°C for at least two minutes; and  
(c) Processed to remove seeds/plant material by:  
(i) Carding and combing; or  
(ii) Carding using a high pressure crushing roller; or  
(iii) Acid carbonising.  
 Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  7 of 12 (3) *Scoured and dyed fibre has been:  
(a) Comme rcially scoured (at 60 -70°C for at least three  minutes); and  
(b) Hot water dyed (at 85 -100°C for at least one hour).  
For kangaroo, wallaby , possum or rabbit fibre  
(4) Fibre has been:  
(a) Immersed in hot water at 90°C for 45 minutes, 95°C for 25 minutes or 100°C for 1 5 minutes; or  
(b) Washed in water heated to a temperature of at least 75°C for at least five minutes, in the presence of a non -ionic 
detergent at a concentration of 1 g per litre; or  
(c) Commercially scoured (at 60 -70°C for at least 3 minutes) and then dried at 70°C for at least two minutes.  
*For mink fibre , bristles or hair 
(5) Fibre has been:  
(a) Immersed in hot water at 90°C for 45 minutes, 95°C for 25 minutes or 100°C for 15 minutes.  
For feath ers 
(6) Feathers have been:  
(a) Commercially washed.  
For bulk wool grease/lanolin  
(7) Wool grease has been:  
(a) Purified by acid treatment at a temperature of at least 95°C for at least six hours following scouring.  
 
*Note: The manufacturer’s declaration, where required i n the import health standard, must be endorsed by the Competent Authority 
of the country of origin. Third country processed fibre must be endorsed by the Competent  Authority in the country of processing.  
 
Name:  
 
Signature:                                                                                           Date:  
 
 
  Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  8 of 12 8 Model Fibre Certifier’s Declaration  
Company Letterhead  
1. Exporter name:  
Address : 
 
 
2. Country of destination: New Zealand  3. Country  of origin : 
 
4. Description of commodity:  
 
5. Invoice number:  6. Nature of packaging:  
7. Net weight in kilograms (kg):  8. Number of packages:  
9. Number of container(s) and container seal number(s):  
10. Species animal fibre derived from:  
I, _______________________________________________, being a person with a minimum of one year’s processing experience 
in the wool industry and with an ability to recognise scoured fibre and scoured and carded fibre, certify with respect to the  animal 
fibre identified in the veterinary certificate that:  
(1) I have further examined a representative sample from each bale of the consignment and certify that the fi bre has been scoured 
or scoured and carded. ( Please delete scoured or scoured/carded not applicable to  the product for export. ) 
(2) The fibre in this consignment has been packaged in new, clean and secure packaging.  
 
 
Note : This declaration must be accompanied by a veterinar y certificate stating that the Official V eterinarian has no reason to doubt 
the veracity of this declaration. It must also be able to be cl early linked to the veterinary  certificate.  
Name:  
 
Signature:                                                                                           Date:  
 
 
  Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  9 of 12 9 Model Veterinary Certificate  
(1) Veterinary certificates should be produced in accordance with the guidelines and overarching 
principles of the Code (Chapter 5). Exporting competent authorities must ensure that each certificate 
contains adequate information to link it to the consignment being  imported.  
 
Country:  
Certificate reference number:  Competent authority:  Part 1: Details of dispatched 
consignment  1. Importer name:  
Address : 
 
 2. Exporter name:  
Address:  
3. Country of destination: New Zealand  4. Country  of origin : 
 
5. Place of shipment:  
 6. Place of origin:  
Name:  
Address:   7. Date of departure:  
8. Description of commodity:  
9. Net weight in kilograms (kgs):  10. Number of packages:  
11. Nature of packaging:  
 12. Nature of goods : 
13. Name and official approval number(s) of 
establishment(s):  
 14. Number of the container(s) and container seal 
number(s):  
 
15. Commodities intended for use:  16. Production date(s):  
17. Species product derived from:  
 18. Product derived from animals born and reared: [list applicable countries/member states]  
 
Continued over page .  Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  10 of 12  
Veterinary attestations:  
 Certificate reference number:  
I, the undersigned Official Veterinarian, after due examination, have no reason to doubt the veracity of the attached manufac turer’s 
declaration or fibre certifier’s declaration (if presented) and further certify that the f ibre in this consignment:  
 
(Please delete clauses not applicable to the product for export. ) 
(1) For u nprocessed ruminant fibre  
a) Anthrax:  
i) Fibre originates from live animals that, at the time of shearing, were part of a flock that was not subject to movement 
restrictions for the control of anthrax in accordance with the Code ; or  
ii) Fibre is derived from animals that have been slaughtered to pro duce meat for human consumption and come from 
establishments that are not under movement restrictions for the control of anthrax and where no case of anthrax has 
occurred during the 20 days prior to shipment; or  
iii) Fibre is derived from an anthrax -free area;  or 
iv) Fibre has been treated by immersion in hot water at 90˚C for 45 minutes, 95˚C for 25 minutes or 100˚C for 15 
minutes; or  
v) Fibre has been gamma irradiated at a dose of 25 kGy in accordance with the Code ; or 
vi) Fibre has been treated with a five-step washin g process in accordance with the Code.  
b) Foot and mouth disease:  
i) Fibre originates from a country or zone that is officially free from FMD in accordance with the Code  and as referenced 
in the MPI List of FMD -Free Countries and Zones ; or  
ii) Fibre  originates from  animals resident in a zone in which no case of FMD has occurred within a 10km radius within 
the last 30 days and from holdings that have been FMD free for the previous three months; and  
1) Will be at least four weeks in transit to New Zealand or has been sto red for at least four weeks; or  
iii) Fibre has been fumigated with formalin (37% formaldehyde) in a sealed chamber for at least 24 hours in accordance 
with the Code . 
c) Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and sheep and goat pox virus:  
i) No cases of LSD (for cattle and water bu ffaloes only) and sheep and goat pox virus (for sheep and goats only) have 
occurred in the country  or zone  in which the fibre is derived for at least the past three years in accordance with the 
Code .  
(2) For scoured -only, scoured and carded, or third country processed ruminant fibre  
a) Anthrax:  
i) Fibre originates from live animals that, at the time of shearing, were part of a flock that was not subject to movement 
restrictions for the control of anthrax in accordance with the Code ; or  
ii) Fibre is derived from animals that have been slaughtered to produce meat for human consumption and come from 
establishments that are not under movement restrictions for the control of anthrax and where no case of anthrax has 
occurred during the 20 days pri or to shipment; or  
iii) Fibre is derived from an anthrax -free area; or  
iv) Fibre has been treated by immersion in hot water at 90˚C for 45 minutes, 95˚C for 25 minutes or 100˚C for 15 
minutes; or  
v) Fibre has been gamma irradiated at a dose of 25 kGy in accordance w ith the Code ; or 
vi) Fibre has been treated with a five -step washing process in accordance with the Code.  
(3) For kangaroo, wallaby or possum fibre   
a) Anthrax:  
i) Fibre is derived from animals that have been slaughtered to produce meat for human consumption and come fr om 
establishments that are not under movement restrictions for the control of anthrax and where no case of anthrax has 
occurred during the 20 days prior to shipment; or  
ii) Fibre is derived from an anthrax -free area; or  
iii) Fibre is treated by immersion in hot wa ter at 90˚C for 45 minutes, 95˚C for 25 minutes or 100˚C for 15 minutes.  
b) If the fibre was not immer sed in hot water as per subclause 3 a(iii), then the fibre has been processed in the following 
manner:  
i) Washed in water heated to a temperature of at least 75˚C for at least five minutes, in the presence of a non -ionic 
detergent at a concentration of at least 1g per litre; or  
ii) Commercially scoured (at 60 -70°C for at least three  minutes) and then dried at a t emperature of 70˚C for at least two 
minutes.  
 Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  11 of 12 (4) For rabbit fibre  
a) Anthrax:  
i) Pulled, plucked, brushed or shaved fibre originates from live and healthy animals; or  
ii) Fibre is derived from animals that have been slaughtered to produce meat for human consumption and come from 
establishments that are not under movement restrictions for the control of anthrax and where no case of anthrax has 
occurred during the 20 days pri or to shipment; or  
iii) Fibre is derived from an anthrax -free area; or  
iv) Fibre is treated by immersion in hot water at 90˚C for 45 minutes, 95˚C for 25 minutes or 100˚C for 15 minutes.  
b) If the fibre was not immersed in hot water as per subclause 4a(iv), then the fibre has been processed in the following 
manner:  
i) Washed in water heated to a temperature of at least 75˚C for at least five minutes, in the presence of a non -ionic 
detergent at a concentration of at least 1g per litre; or  
ii) Commercially scoured (at 60 -70°C for at least three  minutes) and then dried at a temperature of 70˚C for at least two 
minutes.  
(5) For mink fibre , bristles or  hair 
a) Fibre has been immersed in hot water at 90˚C for 45 minutes, 95˚C for 25 minutes or 100˚C for 15 minutes.  
 
Official Veterinari an: 
Name:  
Address:  
 
 
  
Official position:  
Signature:  
Date:  
 
   Official 
stamp  Guidance Document :  Animal Fibre  
 Draft for Consultation  . 
Ministry for Primary Industries     Page  12 of 12 Appendix 1 – Document History  
 
Date First Issued  Title Shortcode  
25 September 2014  Animal Fibre  ANIFIBRE. ALL 
Date of Issued A mendments  Title Shortcode  
TBA Animal Fibre  ANIFIBRE.ALL