Guidance Document  
 
A guidance document issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Animal Products that have 
Undergone Third Country 
Processing  
THIRDCOP.GEN  
[Document Date]  
 Guidance Document : Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  
 Draft for Consultation  [Document Date]  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  1 of 10 
 
 
 Title 
Guidance Document : Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing . 
About this document  
This guidance document contains information about acceptable ways of ensuring compliance with the 
requirements in t he Import Health Standard ( IHS): Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country 
Processing . 
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 alternativ e 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 in the context of quoting or paraphrasing the requirements set out in the related IHS: Animal Products 
that have Undergone Third Country Processing . 
Related Requirements  
Import Health Standard: Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  
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: animal.imports@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 o r 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 for  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 used in any way which infringes any provision of the Fla gs, 
Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 or would inf ringe such provision if the relevant use occurred within New Zealand. 
Attribution to the Ministry for Primary Industries should be in written form and not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo  or Coat of 
Arms.  
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 Contents  Page 
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Definitions  3 
4 Guidance  3 
4.1 Application  3 
4.2 Equivalence  3 
4.3 Food Act 2014 and Animal Products Act 1999  4 
4.4 Harmonised system (HS) codes  4 
4.5 Exporting country systems and certification  4 
4.6 Official Biosecurity Programme  6 
5 Model export certificate  7 
Appendix 1 – Document History  10 
 
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 1 Purpose  
(1) This guidance  document has been issued to accompany the IHS: Animal Products that have 
Undergone Third Country Processing . This guidance document should be read in conjunction with that 
IHS.  
2 Background  
(1) The IHS: Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  which this guidance 
document accompanies, contains generic import requirements. These are the rules to manage the 
biosecurity risk of importing  third country processed animal products  from all countries that can meet 
the requirements of the IH S 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 the bilaterally -agreed export certification for trade in  third countr y processed animal products . 
Country -specific export certificate s represent  what will be certified prior to exporting consignments of  
third country processed animal products  from the country specified.  
(2) General information about importing animal produc ts can be found here:  
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/food/   
3 Definitions  
(1) Refer to Schedule 2 of the IHS: Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing . 
4 Guidance  
4.1 Application  
(1) If a specific IHS exists for an animal product, importers may choose to apply the specific IHS or the 
IHS: Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  to import that animal product into 
New Zealand.  
(2) Where there is no specific IHS for a  third country processed  animal product the IHS: Animal Products 
that have Undergone Third Country Processing  applies. For example, if an animal product originated 
from New Zealand or a country that could import the animal product under an existing IHS (an d the 
IHS does not contain requirements about third country processing of animal products), which  then 
undergoes third country processing in a country that does not have a relevant IHS  specific to the third 
country processed animal products . In this case t he IHS: Animal Products that have Undergone Third 
Country Processing  applies.  
4.2 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) An import  permit ma y be required where specific equivalence measures are approved by MPI. A n 
import permit serves as evidence of equivalence decisions and any equivalence measure will be 
recorded  in the special conditions section of the permit.  Guidance Document : Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  
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 4.3 Food Act 2014 and Animal Products Act 1999  
(1) Importers of food intended for sale for human consumption must be registered with MPI. These 
requirements are independent of the IHS requirements. Importers are advised to consult MPI’s 
website: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing . 
(2) Some high risk foods, known as Regulatory Interest Foods will require a food safety clearance on 
arrival. These foods include some meat, fish, seafood and cheese. A full list can be found in the 
Schedules to the Food Notice: Importing Food . A food safety clearance will include a documentation 
check and may include inspection, sampling and testing at the importers cost.   
(3) The importation of the following anima l material or product must comply with the requirements issued 
in Animal Products Notice: Inspection of imported and returned animal material and animal products 
intended for re -export  under the Animal Products Act 1999:  
a) Imported animal material or product , or product containing animal material or product, that is of 
New Zealand origin and has been returned to New Zealand for re -export where official assurance 
is required, and  
b) Imported animal material or product of foreign origin intended for export or fur ther processing for 
export where official assurance is required.  
(4) To arrange for inspection of any animal material or animal product, contact your primary verifier or 
local MPI Verification Services Office.  
(5) Animal products intended for human consumption con taining bovine meat require food clearance. To 
obtain food clearance, either email the completed Food Safety Clearance Application to 
imported.food@mpi.govt.nz , or complete a Trade Single Window lodgement.  
(6) Under the Food Act 2014, countries eligible to export bovine meat and meat products to New Zealand 
must have a pre -clearance agreement with New Zealand, stating that the food safety requirements in 
that Act can be met by the exporting country.  
4.4 Harmonised s ystem (HS) codes  
(1) The harmonised system is an international product numbering classification developed by the World 
Customs Organisation (WCO). The New Zealand harmonised system is found here: 
http://aria.stats.govt.nz/aria/#ClassificationView:uri=http://stats.govt.nz/cms/ClassificationVersion/ZSwZ
WIknoDQ22Owg  
(2) Animal products imported using the IHS will be using the code s in the harmonised system.  
4.5 Exporting  country systems and certification  
4.5.1 Approval for exporting systems  
(1) All animal products  that have undergone third country processing must be imported from countries 
where the Competent Authority has met the requirements of Part 1. 5 of the IHS to the satisfaction of 
an MPI Chief Technical Officer (CTO). This also applies to the country of ori gin of the animal product . 
(2) MPI recommends Competent Authorities that request the approval of their exporting systems refer to 
Section 3 of the Code  titled Quality of Veterinary S ervices  and the MPI document Recognition of 
Export Controls and Certification Systems for Animals and Animal Products , to prepare evidence for 
MPI to assess the  Veterinary Services of the exporting country  where third country processing occurs.  
(3) The table below lists those exporting  countries that meet the requirements set out in the IHS: Animal 
Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing . 
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 Exporting  countries 
with approved 
exporting syste ms Eligible  countries 1with 
approved exporting 
systems  Animal Product  
Australia  New Zealand  Chicken  meat  
Canada  New Zealand  Honey and other apiculture products intended for 
human consumption  
Philippines  Australia,  Canada, New 
Zealand,  Norway , USA  Salmon  products  
Thailand  Australia, Canada,  
Denmark, EU, New 
Zealand,  USA Salmon products  
New Zealand  Canned beef for human consumption  
(4) The table below lists those processing facilities in exporting  countries with approved Official Biosecurity  
Programmes , where applicable.  
 
Country  Animal Product  Processing facilities  with 
approved Official Assurance 
Programme  Date agreed  
Australia  New Zealand origin 
chicken  meat  Vesco Foods Ltd.  30 May 2017  
4.5.2 Agreed country -specific  and commodity -specific export certificate s 
(1) Requests from exporting  countries to negotiate export certificat es for the import of  third country 
processed animal products  into New Zealand will be prioritised according to MPI resources available at 
the time of application.  
(2) All country -specific  and commodity -specific export  certificates agreed between the Competent 
Authority of the exporting  country and MPI are included in the table below:  
 
Country  Link to certificate  S27 CTO direction # 
(if applicable)  Date applicable for 
use 
Australia  Poultry meat of New Zealand origin   30 May 2017  
Canada  New Zealand origin  honey and other 
apiculture products   24 November 2014  
Philippines  Approved source country salmonid 
products   4 November 2013  
Thailand  Fresh, chilled and frozen salmonid 
products   13 March 2013  
Canned New Zealand beef   1 June, 2014  
(3) Country -specific export  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.  
                                                             
 
1 Eligible countries with approved exporting systems are those countries that can directly export to New Zealand under 
an existing IHS.  Guidance Document : Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  
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 4.6 Official Biosecurity  Programme  
(1) An approved  Official Biosecurity Programme  gives MPI the assurance that  the sanitary status of the 
animal product is maintained from the eligible  country , through processing in  the exporting  country  
where third country processing occurs , to eventual  importation to New Zealand . 
(2) MPI will assess the Official Biosecurity Programme submitted by the exporting  country  where third 
country processing occurs . This assessment may be done in conjunction with the assessment of the 
exporting  country’s national ex port and certification systems.  
(3) The Competent Authority of the exporting country where third country processing occurs is responsible 
for approving and overseeing processing facilities under the Official Biosecurity Programme.  
(4) The Official Biosecurity Programme  should include  a detailed description of:  
a) The quality management systems  [e.g. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and  Hazard 
Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)]  of the processing facility  that ensure the animal 
products are  processed, packaged,  stored  and transported  in such a way that cross -
contamination is prevented . The qualit y management systems should : 
i) Identify a ll of the processing steps that the animal product undergoes in the exporting  
country , and t he potential pathways by which cross -contamination occurs  in the  processing 
facility ; 
ii) Identify t he critical control points for each identified pathway , and measures that  mitigate 
risk of cross -contamination  at each critical control point ( Note  processing facility  may use a 
HACCP approach to make these determinations);  
iii) Contain a  contingency plan in the event of a change in the level of cross -contamination 
(e.g. introduction of animal product s that are  not of an equivalent health status into the 
processing facility ). 
b) Integrity of product separation from  all other products not intended  for export to New Zealand  to 
prevent  cross -contamination betwe en the animal product intended to be exported to New 
Zealand and  other  animal  products  not intended to be exported to New Zealand ; 
c) Prevention of product substitution;  
d) Traceab ility of product from the eligible  country through all processing steps  in the exporting  
country  until exportation  of the third country processed animal product to New Zealand ; 
e) If applicable, further processing that is required to meet disease -specific requirements as 
specified in an existing IHS. Guidance information for further processing is as fol low: 
i) Certain animal product commodities are eligible for import into a transitional facility in New 
Zealand for further processing (e.g. cooking). The animal products  are eligible for 
biosecurity clearance only when they have undergone further processing at the transitional 
facility in New Zealand in accordance with the IHSs for those commodities.  
ii) When an exporting country further processes an animal product commodity to which an 
existing IHS has provisions for further processing, further processing complyi ng with the 
specified requirements of  that IHS may occur in the exporting  country . 
iii) Once such further processing has been agreed between the Competent Authority of the 
exporting  country and MPI, the processing requirements will be incorporated  into the 
Official Biosecurity Programme , and also the country -specific export  certificate issued by 
the exporting  country.  
f) The reporting procedures of the processing facility to the Competent Authority , or agency 
recognised by the Competent Authority ; 
g) The programme for  educating and training all persons involved in the operation of the  processing 
facility ; 
h) How processing facilities  are audited , inspected or supervised  by the Competent Authority , or 
agency recognised by the Competent Authority . 
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 5 Model export certificate  
(1) Below is a model certificate for trade in animal products that have undergone third country processing.  
(2) This model format is based on the Code chapter for model veterinary certificates for international trade 
in products of animal orig in. 
 
Part 1: Details  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.  Country of destination :  
ISO Code*  
1.7.  Place of origin:  
Name:  
Address:  
1.8.  Place of shipment:  1.9.  Date of departure:  
1.10.  Means of transport:  
 
    Aeroplane           Ship  
 
Identification:  
 1.11.  Expected border post:  
1.12.  Description of commodity:  
 1.13.  Commodity Code (ISO Code*):  
1.14.  Total quantity : 
1.15.  Temperature of commodities for transport:  
Ambient  □     Chilled  □     Frozen   □ 1.16.  Total number of packages:  
1.17.  Identification of container/serial number:  
 1.18.  Type of packaging:  
1.19. Commodities intended for use as:  
Human consumption   □            Animal feed  □             Further processing  □       
Technical use  □                     Other □   
1.20. Identification of commodities:  
Species (Scientific name):         Nature of the commodity:         Treatment type:  
                    Approval number of processing facility : 
Number of packages:                 Net weight:             Lot ID/date code:  
* Optional      Guidance Document : Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  
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Part 2:  Health  Information  Country:  Certificate reference number:  
The undersigned Official or Official  Veterinarian certifies that [insert product description of the animal product  that has 
undergone third country processing ] described above satisfy(ies) the following requirements:  
Processing, packaging and storage requirements  
(1) To the best of my knowledge, the product for export  is: 
(a) Commercially prepared and packaged in sealed, leak -proof packaging .  
(b) Stored and subsequently transported in a hygienic manner and kept free of contaminants . 
(c) Clearly identified and the identifier is stated on the export certificate . 
(d) Packaged in packaging tha t is clean, secure, and free of any organic contaminants.  
(e) Sealed at the time of manufacture in tamper -proof packaging . 
Third country processing  
(2) The animal product is eligible for direct export  from [insert the eligible country  of origin ] to New Zealand under 
an existing New Zealand import health standard, or the animal product originates from  New Zealand .  
(3) Copy(ies) of the original health certificate(s) for the animal prod uct, which meet  all requirements of an existing 
New Zealand import health standard,  or copy(ies) of the original health certificate(s) issued by New Zealand if 
the animal product originates  from New Zealand, is/are attach ed to this certificate.  The copy(ies) has/have been  
endorsed “certified copy  of original” and signed by an O fficial  or Official Veterinarian  of [insert the Competent 
Authority of the exporting  country ]. Serial  numbers of the certificate (s) are:  [insert numbers]                                                                   
(4) An Official Biosecurity Programme has been agr eed between [Insert the Competent Authority of the exporting  
country] and MPI, and has been effectively implemented by [Insert the Competent Authority of the exporting  
country].  
(5) The animal product was processed at a  facility  approved and overseen by [inser t the Competent Authority of the 
exporting  country ], or [insert an agency recognised by the C ompetent Authority of the exporting country ] under 
the O fficial Biosecurity Programme. Verification process es are  in place to ensure approved processing facilities  
meet  the following:  
(a) Quality management systems are in place to ensure that the animal product is processed, packaged , 
stored and transported in such a way that prevents  cross -contamination . 
(b) Integrity of product separation from all other products not eligible for export to New Zealand is 
maintained . 
(c) Substitution of  product is prevented.  
(d) Traceability  of the product from the eligible country through all processing steps in [insert  exporting  
coun try] until exportation to New Zealand is maintained.  
(e) (delete as appropriate) The animal product  meets  disease -specific  further processing requirements as 
specified in [insert import health standard ]. The animal product  has been subjected to [i nsert the furt her 
processing  and its parameters]  in [insert exporting  country] . 
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  Official or Official Veterinarian  
Name:  
Address:  
Email:  
  
Signature:   
Date:  
 
  
Official or Official Veterinarian signature, 
Official stamp and date  Guidance Document : Animal Products that have Undergone Third Country Processing  
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 Appendix 1 – Document History  
 
Date First Issued  Title Shortcode  
27 September 2011  Guidance Document:  Animal Products that have 
Undergone Third Country Processing  ANIPROIC.ALL  
Date of Issued Amendments  Title Shortcode  
TBA Guidance Document:  Animal Products that have 
Undergone Third Country Processing  THIRDCOP.GEN