Import Health Standard 
for 
Zoo Rodents from Australia, the European 
Union, and the United States of America 
 
Short name: Zoorodic.spe 
 
 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 
P.O Box 2526 
Wellington 6011 
New Zealand 
Import Health Standard for Zoo Rodents from Australia , the European Union, and United States of America 
Zoorodic.spe 
Issued April 2012 Page 1 of 11   
Issuing Authority 
 
This standard is issued under section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act).   
 
  Dated at Wellington this               day of      April                                     2012 
   
Director-General Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
(Issued und
er delegated authority)  
 
 Version number 1  
 
Import Health Standard for Zoo Rodents from Australia , the European Union, and United States of America 
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PART A: INTRODUCTION 
 
Background 
 
1. This document, issued under section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, is the Import 
Health Standard for Zoo Rodents from Australia, the European Union and the United 
States of America. 
 
2. 
If this standard needs to be amended or revoked urgently, or the Director General or 
delegate considers that an amendment is minor, the amendment or revocation may 
be carried out without prior consultation. 
 
3. Where the requirements of this import health standard have been complied with, a 
Biosecurity authority/direction may be issued under section 25 of the Biosecurity Act. The Biosecurity Act can be accessed at http://www.legislation.govt.nz/
 
 
Scope 
 
4. 
This standard specifies the requirements that must be met to import, into New 
Zealand, zoo rodents from Australia, the European Union and the United States of America. 
 5. For the purposes of this standard, the rodents must come from premises that are 
under veterinary supervision, and must not have been caught in the wild. 
 
6. For the purposes of this standard, zoo rodents are restricted to the following species: 
African crested porcupine: Hystrix cristat, Hystrix africaeaustralis  
Brazilian agouti: Dasyprocta leporina, Dasyprocta aguti  
Capybara: Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris  (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris ) 
Patagonian mara: Dolichotis patagonum . 
 
Importer’s responsibilities 
  
7. It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure that they are compliant with the current 
relevant import health standard. Current versions of import health standards are 
available on the MAF New Zealand website: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ihs/search                        
A register of import health standards is also available for inspection at the office of the Director-General during normal business hours. 
 8. The costs of MAF in performing functions relating to the importation of rodents shall 
be recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act. All costs involved with documentation, transport, storage and obtaining a 
biosecurity authority shall be borne by the importer or agent. 
 
9. It is the responsibility of the importer to  ensure that the consignment is accompanied 
by a permit to export in accordance with the legislation of the country of origin and the 
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): 
http://www.cites.org
 The importer is advised to clarify the status of the species of 
animal in relation to international agreements on their trade prior to export. Material arriving in New Zealand without the correct CITES permit/s may be subject to seizure by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. [Note: Any requirement for the CITES or other conservation-related documentation must be met by the 
exporter/importer and is independent of this certification.] 
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10. The importer must obtain a permit to import prior to proceeding with importation. 
 
11. The importer must notify the date, expected time, port of arrival and the flight number 
or ship’s name to the New Zealand Official Veterinarian at the airport/port of entry at 
least 7 days in advance of importation. Email: liveanimalsector@maf.govt.nz  
 
Definitions 
 
Import Health 
Standard Term Definition 
Animal 
Imports Team 
Manager  The Animal Imports Team Manager, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 
Biosecurity New Zealand, or any person who for the time being may 
lawfully exercise and perform the delegated power and functions of the 
Animal Imports Team Manager. 
Approved 
country  Australia, the European Union and the United States of America.  
Biosecurity 
authority  Written authority from an inspector, given under Section 25 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, to move uncleared goods from a transitional facility or 
biosecurity control area to another transitional facility, containment facility 
or biosecurity control area, or to export those goods from New Zealand. 
Certifying official  A person authorised by the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country to sign international veterinary certificates. 
Chief 
Technical 
Officer A  person appointed a chief technical officer under section 101 of the 
Biosecurity Act.  
Competent 
Authority  The Veterinary Authority or other governmental authority of an OIE member having 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 OIE Code in the whole territory. 
Equivalence Acceptance by the Director-General of Agriculture and Forestry or person with delegated authority that the circumstances relating to the importation of a consignment are such that the health status of the consignment is equivalent to the health status of a consignment that complies with the 
requirements of the import health standard. 
IATA  The International Air Transport Association. 
Inspector  A person who is appointed an inspector under Section 103 of the 
Biosecurity Act 1993. (Explanatory note: An inspector is appointed to administer and enforce the provisions of the Biosecurity Act, and in respect 
of new organisms, the provisions of the Hazardous Substances and New 
Organisms Act 1996). 
MAF  The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. 
Official Veterinarian A veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Administration of the 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 Section 5.2 of the OIE 
Terrestrial Code pertaining to principles of certification. 
OIE World Organisation for Animal Health. 
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OIE Terrestrial 
Code The World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Any reference in this standard to the OIE Code is to the most current as found on the OIE website: http://www.oie.int/international-standard-
setting/terrestrial-code/access-online/  
Permit to import A permit issued by the Director General of MAF pursuant to section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 upon an importer’s demonstration that certain 
requirements of the import health standard have been met in advance of an 
importation being made, such that a transitional facility is available to accept the consignment/s and a method and route of transport from the port of arrival to the transitional facility has been approved. The procedure for application and the information required for a permit to import are 
detailed within the import health standard. 
 
Zoo A containment facility approved under the Biosecurity Act to the 
containment standard where live zoo animals are kept for the purposes of 
public exhibition, conservation, research or education. Note: A zoo includes for example, a circus, butterfly house, aquarium or an oceanarium. A zoo may also hold indigenous animals that are not new organisms but these animals are not covered by this standard. 
Zoo animal  A new organism approved under the Hazardous Substances and New Organism Act 1996 (HSNO) to be held in a zoo. The organism is both a new organism under the HSNO Act and a restricted organism under the 
Biosecurity Act 1993. 
 
PART B. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 
 Eligibility 
 
12. The animals have been resident in one or more government registered, or licensed, 
zoos or wildlife parks in an approved country or countries in this import health 
standard since birth. 
 
13. The animals must not be in the last trimester of pregnancy on the date of export. 
 
14. The animals must be of an accepted post-wean age for the species at departure and 
weaned, healthy and fit to travel. 
 
15. The animals and the premises in which the animals reside must have been free of 
quarantine restrictions for at least 90 days prior to the date of export. 
 
Permit to import 
 
16. A permit to import is required for the importation of all rodents into New Zealand. 
 
An application form for a permit to import can be obtained from the MAF website: 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/forms/imports-live-animals-into-trans-facility  or by 
contacting: Animal Imports  Import Export Directorate, Standards  
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
PO Box 2526 Wellington New Zealand Email: animalimports@maf.govt.nz
  
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17. The importer must supply the following information: 
 name and address of exporter; 
 number, sex, age, species and microchip transponder identification of the 
animal;  
 date of the proposed importation;  
 name and address of the transitional/containment facility in New Zealand to 
which the consignment is to proceed following importation;  
 a letter from the New Zealand Official Veterinarian supervising the transitional 
facility indicating that the facility is available for this consignment; 
 port of arrival, and route and means of transport to the transitional facility.  
 
 
18. The permit to import will be issued for a single consignment. 
  
 
Documentation accompanying the consignment 
 
19. Documentation presented in accordance with the requirements of this import health 
standard must be original (unless otherwise specified), in English, and clearly legible. 
Inadequate documentation may result in delays in obtaining biosecurity authority or rejection of the consignment. 
 20. The consignment must be accompanied by: 
 a signed copy of the permit to import; AND  
 health certification that meets the requirements of PART C. ZOOSANITARY 
CERTIFICATION.  
 
 21. The Official Veterinarian of the exporting country must sign, date and stamp each 
page of the veterinary certificate and any documents that form part of the extended 
certificate. 
 
22. A copy of all documentation must be sent to the New Zealand Official Veterinarian at 
the airport/port of entry at least 72 hours in advance of importation. Email: 
liveanimalsector@maf.govt.nz
 
 
Transport 
 
23. In the case of transport by: 
 Air: the transport facilities and arrangements must meet the requirements 
published in the IATA Live Animal Regulations. 
 Sea: the transport facilities and arrangements must have been inspected and 
meet the requirements of the Australian Marine Orders Part 43, Issue 2 (which 
is equivalent to the New Zealand Marine Rules Part 24C). 
 24. No animals, other than those qualified for entry into New Zealand (and with 
permission from MAF), are permitted to be transported with the rodents on the aircraft 
or ship. 
 
25. The use of straw or hay as bedding is not permitted. Only sterilised peat, soft board 
or other inert approved product may be used. 
 
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26. The door of the transport container must be sealed with a seal approved by the 
government of the country of origin before the container is loaded in the country of 
origin. The number or mark on the seal must be recorded in the zoosanitary 
certificate by the Official Veterinarian. The construction of the container and the 
placement of the seal must be such that the container cannot be readily opened without breaking the seal. If the container is opened during shipment it must be re sealed and a certificate detailing the circumstances provided by an Official Veterinarian, Port Authority, or captain of the aircraft. Instructions to this effect must be attached to the outside of the transport container. 
 
27. Trans-shipment in any third country may only occur if pre-approved by MAF. 
 
28. 
Containers made of timber must meet the requirements of the wood packaging import 
health standard. Refer to: 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/forests/standards/non-viable-forest-
produce/wood-packaging-ihs.htm  
  
Biosecurity authority 
 
29. On the rodents’ arrival in New Zealand, an Official Veterinarian may give a biosecurity 
authorisation under section 25 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 for the animals to move to 
the transitional facility named in the permit to import. 
 30. Any unused feed, bedding and faecal material not in the crate must be destroyed by a 
MAF-approved method. 
 
Transitional facility 
 
31. Following biosecurity authorisation being given, the animals must proceed directly to 
the transitional facility. 
 
32. The animals shall remain in the transitional facility for no less than 10 days, or for a 
longer period as specified in the biosecurity authorisation under section 27 of the 
Biosecurity Act. 
 
33. As soon as practical after arrival in the transitional facility, the animals must be 
subject to such testing, treatments or procedures as is required to diagnose a 
disease, ascertain the presence or absence of any pest or unwanted organism or 
make an assessment of measures taken to eradicate any pest or unwanted 
organism, including: 
 verification of the microchip identification of the animals; AND 
 inspection under the supervision of the supervising Official Veterinarian for 
ticks. If ticks are found, the animals must be retreated and reexamined until the animals are found to be free from evidence of ectoparasites.  
 
34. If any animal fails a test or shows signs of disease, the Animal Imports Team 
Manager or delegate may give reasonable directions to (a) treat the animal or (b) destroy the animal (without recompense). In  exercising these powers, the Animal 
Imports Team Manager will primarily take into account the need to effectively manage biosecurity risks arising from the import ed animal. The Animal Imports Team Manager 
may offer the importer the option of re-exporting the animals to the country of origin (at the importer's expense) if this is consistent with the primary objective stated above. The Animal Imports Team Manager can also authorise the animal to be held 
as long as necessary for the importer to obtain a biosecurity authorisation to 
containment. 
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35. On satisfactory completion of the post arrival quarantine period, and providing that 
the documentation meets all require ments noted under PART C ZOOSANITARY 
CERTIFICATION and the consignment meets the conditions of ELIGIBILITY, the supervising Official Veterinarian will authorise the animals be moved from the transitional facility to a containment facility, approved to MAF Standard 154.03.04 Containment Facilities for Zoo Animals: 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/border/transitional-facilities/animals/154-03-04.htm
 
 
36.  All costs of testing, treatment, transport, quarantine servicing and veterinary 
supervision must be borne by the importer. 
 
37. 
The crates must be cleaned and disinfected and stored until the end of quarantine. 
After completion of quarantine all feed, bedding material and faeces from the 
transitional facility and crate must be destroyed by a MAF-approved method. 
 
38. The animals and their offspring must remain permanently in a containment facility and 
may only be transferred to another containment facility with the prior permission of 
the Animal Imports Team Manager or delegate. 
 
Equivalence 
 
39. The import health standard has been agreed as suitable for trade between New 
Zealand and Australia, the European Union and USA. It is expected that the 
consignment will meet the conditions in every respect. 
 40. Occasionally it may be found that, due to circumstances beyond the control of the 
importer or exporter, a consignment does not comply with the requirements in this import health standard. In such cases, a permit to import application may be made, equivalence granted and import permit issued at the discretion of MAF. The following information must be forwarded by the certifying government's Competent Authority for an equivalence to be considered: 
 which clause/s of the zoosanitary certificate cannot be met and how this has 
occurred;  
 the reason the consignment is considered to be of an ‘equivalent health’ 
status;  
 the reasons why the Competent Authority of the country of origin believes this 
proposal should be acceptable to MAF and their recommendation for its 
acceptance.  
 
   
 
PART C: ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATE 
The following Model Zoosanitary Certificate is approved to accompany imports of rodents 
into New Zealand from Australia, the European Union and USA.  
1. Species of rodent: 
To: NEW ZEALAND 
Permit to import number: 
Exporting Country: Competent Authority: 
 
Import Health Standard for Zoo Rodents from Australia , the European Union, and United States of America 
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OF ANIMALS 
Microchip number: 
  
Site of microchip: 
Other identification (eg ARKS number): Sex: 
Date of birth: 
Total number of animals: 
 
3. ORIGIN OF THE ANIMAL 
Name and address of exporter: Place of origin of animal: 
Port of embarkation: 
 
SANITARY INFORMATION 
I,……………………………………….…….., an Official Veterinarian authorised by the 
Competent Authority of the country of origin of the rodents, certify after due enquiry that the rodents described above satisfy the following requirements: 
 
4. The animals have been resident in one or more government registered, or licensed, 
zoos or wildlife parks in the approved country or countries in this import health 
standard since birth. 
 
5. 
The animals and the premises in which the animals reside have been free of 
quarantine restrictions for the 90 days prior to the scheduled date of export. 
 
6. The premises in the country of origin in which the animals for export have been 
resident are under permanent veterinary supervision, and a health monitoring programme is followed including necropsies, and microbiological and parasitological 
testing. 
 
 
Pre-export isolation 
 
7. The animals were held in pre-export isolation (PEI): 
 for a minimum period of 30 days prior to export; AND 
 in premises that were approved and supervised by an Official Veterinarian; 
AND 
 isolated from other animals not of equivalent health status; AND 
 the animals and all in-contact animals were free from clinical signs of 
infectious disease. 
 8. The quarantine premises had an impervious washable floor and walls. Prior to 
housing the animals, the premises were thoroughly cleaned and spraying with an acaricide. Prior to entering PEI, the animals were carefully examined and groomed so as to be free from all contaminating plant material. Bedding and feed used was clean and free of evidence of contamination with ticks and weeds/weed seeds. Straw, grass and hay were not used. Bedding was removed every 10 days and the premises 
thoroughly cleaned and sprayed with acaricide. 
 
Tests and treatments 
 
9. Babesia  species 
a. The rodents originate from premises wher e babesiosis caused by species exotic to 
New Zealand has not been confirmed by laboratory testing in any resident species in 
the previous 3 years OR 
b. During PEI the rodents were tested by serology by a MAF-approved method, with negative results. Test type ……………………………………………………………………………………… 
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Test result…………………………………………………………………………………….. 
Date of test: …………………………………………………………………………………… (strike out option not used) 
 
10. Leptospira species 
During PEI the rodents 
were treated with an antibiotic effective in clearing leptospires:  
.................................................................................................................. 
Active ingredient(s):  ..................................................................................................................  
Dose rate:  
.................................................................................................................. Dates of treatment:  ..................................................................................................................  
 
11. Ticks 
The zoo rod
ents were treated with an acaracide 7 to 10 days prior to entering PEI 
and during the 48 hours prior to entering PEI, and thoroughly examined for 
ectoparasites at least 10 days after entering PEI. If ectoparasites were found, the rodents were re-treated and re-examined every 10 days post treatment until clear of 
ectoparasites on examination. 
Treatment 1:…………………………………………………………………………………… Product used: ……………………………… …………………………………………………. 
Active ingredient and concentration: ……………………………………………….……… Date:……………………………………………………………………………………………  
Treatment 2:…………………………………………………: ……………………………….. 
Product used:…………………………………………………………………………..……… Active ingredients and concentration:……………………………………………….……… Date;………………………………………………………………………………………….…  
 
Details of any further treatments (if required):…………………………………….............. …………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Date animals examined and found to be free of ectoparasites:………..………………… ………………………………………………………………………………….………………. 
 
Inspection and transport  
12. The animals were examined by an Official Veterinarian in the 72 hours prior to export, 
and were free from clinical evidence of infectious or contagious disease, external 
parasites, plant and seed contamination, and were healthy and fit to travel. 
 
13. The containers used for transporting the animals were new or were cleaned and 
disinfected prior to loading. Any ventilation openings were covered in insect-proof mesh. Containers constructed of timber met the requirements of the wood packaging import health standard. ( http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ imports/forests/standards/non-
viable-forest-produce/wood-packaging-ihs.htm ) and against insect infestation or 
fumigated prior to loading as required by MAF. 
 
14. Only sterilised peat, soft board or other inert approved product was provided for 
bedding during transport. 
 
15. During transport to the port of departure and during transit to New Zealand the 
animals were not transported with animals that are not eligible for export to New Zealand. 
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16. All food loaded for use during transport to the port of departure and during transit to 
New Zealand was free from evidence of contamination with ticks and weeds/weed 
seeds. 
 
17. In the case of transport by: 
 Air: the transport facilities and arrangements meet the requirements published 
in the IATA Live Animal Regulations; 
 Sea: the transport facilities and arrangements have been inspected and meet 
the requirements of the Australian Marine Orders Part 43, Issue 2 (which is 
equivalent to the New Zealand Marine Rules Part 24C). 
 
 
18. The container was fastened with an official seal bearing the number or mark: 
……………………………………………………………………………………… Note: Official stamp, signature and date must be applied to all pages and any documents that form part of the extended certificate