Import Health Standard for the Impo rtation into New Zealand of Specified Animal Products and Biologicals 
INEPROIC.ALL   30 May 2011 Page 1 of 6  IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD FOR THE 
IMPORTATION INTO NEW ZEALAND OF 
SPECIFIED ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND 
BIOLOGICALS 
Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 
Dated: 30 May 2011 
 
USER GUIDE 
The information in MAF animal product Import Health Standards is presented in numerically 
ordered sections with descriptive titles. Sections are grouped into one of four parts, designated alphabetically. 
Part A. GENERAL INFORMATION contains sec tions of general interest, including those 
relating to the legal basis for MAF Import Health Standards and the general responsibilities 
of every importer of animals and animal products. 
Part B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE contains s ections that outline the requirements to be 
met prior to and during importation. Whether a permit to import is required to be obtained 
prior to importation is noted, as are conditions of eligibility, transport and general conditions relating to documentation accompanying the consignment. 
Part C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE contains sections describing the requirements to be 
met at the New Zealand border and, if necessary, in a transitional facility in New Zealand prior to any consignment being given biosecurity clearance. 
Part D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION contai ns model health certification which must 
be completed by the appropriate personnel as indicated in the certification and accompany 
the consignment to New Zealand. When no health certification is required to accompany consignments Part D. will note “none required”.   
PART A. GENERAL INFORMATION 
1 IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD 
1.1 Pursuant to section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, this document is the Import Health Standard for the importation into New Zealand of specified animal products and biologicals. 
1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of specified animal products and biologicals imported into New Zealand is dependant upon the consignment meeting the requirements of this Import Health Standard. 
1.3 This Import Health Standard may be reviewed, amended or revoked if there are changes in New Zealand's import policy or the animal health status of the originating  
 
Import Health Standard for the Impo rtation into New Zealand of Specified Animal Products and Biologicals 
INEPROIC.ALL   30 May 2011 Page 2 of 6  country, or for any other lawful reason, at the discretion of the Biosecurity Standards 
Group Manager. 
 
 
2 IMPORTER'S RESPONSIBILITIES 
2.1 The costs to MAF in performing functions relating to the importation of specified 
animal products and biologicals shall be recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act. 
2.2 All costs involved with documentation, transport, storage and obtaining a biosecurity direction and/or biosecurity clearance shall be borne by the importer or agent. 
2.3 The product must be accompanied by a permit to export where required by the legislation of the country of origin and the convention relating to "Trading in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora".  The importer is advised to clarify the status of the species of origin of animal products in relation to international agreements on their trade, prior to export.  Material arriving in New Zealand without a permit to export may be subject to customs delays pending clearance from the New Zealand Department of Conservation. 
  
3 DEFINITION OF TERMS 
Biosecurity clearance 
A clearance under section 26 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 for the entry of goods into 
New Zealand.  
Commercially packaged 
A product that has been packed for retail sale and has a label attached that states the 
product name, ingredients, manufacturer’s name and address, and country of origin of the product. 
 
Concentrated ox gall/ox bile and derivatives 
Derivatives include mixed bile acids, cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, sodium 
deoxycholate, dehydrocholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, bile salts, special bile, bile powder, bile extract and natural taurine.  
 
Biosecurity Standards Group Manager 
The Biosecurity Standards Group Manager, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry of 
Agriculture and Forestry, or any person who for the tim
e being may lawfully exercise 
and perform the power and functions of the Biosecurity Standards Group Manager. 
 
Inspector 
A person appointed as an inspector under the Biosecurity Act 1993.  
MAF 
The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.  
 
Sealed Packaging  
 
Import Health Standard for the Impo rtation into New Zealand of Specified Animal Products and Biologicals 
INEPROIC.ALL   30 May 2011 Page 3 of 6  The packaging is impervious and sealed at the point of manufacture. The original 
packaging must be intact i.e. has not been opened. Examples are screw-top glass or plastic containers with tamper-proof seals or sealed metal drums. 
  
4 EQUIVALENCE 
4.1 It is expected that the animal product will meet the conditions of this Import Health 
Standard in every respect.  If the products do not comply with the requirements, an application for equivalence may be submitted to MAF for consideration.  Detailed information supporting the application for equivalence must be forwarded to MAF for a decision. 
  
PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE 
5 PERMIT TO IMPORT 
5.1 Importation of specified animal products and biologicals into New Zealand which 
meet the requirements of this Import Health Standard may, subject to sections 27 and 28 of the Biosecurity Act, be given biosecurity clearance and do not require a biosecurity direction to a transitional facility. As such, they do not require a permit to import. 
  
6 ELIGIBILITY 
6.1 Health supplements/Chinese and Oriental  medicines containing animal products  
from any country may be given clearance provided all the following requirements are 
met: 
i. The product shall be commercially manufactured and compounded into pills, tablets, capsules, liquids, syrups, oils or medicated plasters. 
ii. The product shall be shelf-stable (i.e. not require refrigeration) 
iii. The packaging or appearance of the packaging shall not indicate that the product is intended for animal use 
iv. If the product is a liquid, it shall be contained within sealed packaging. 
(NB: medicines containing bee products are not eligible for importation under 
clause 6.1.) 
6.2 Homeopathic medicines  containing animal products  from any country may be given 
clearance provided all the following requirements are met: 
i. The product shall be commercially packaged 
ii. The product shall be labelled as being a homeopathic medicine 
iii. The product packaging shall indicate that the medicine is intended for human use. 
(NB: medicines containing bee products are not eligible for importation under 
clause 6.2.)  
 
Import Health Standard for the Impo rtation into New Zealand of Specified Animal Products and Biologicals 
INEPROIC.ALL   30 May 2011 Page 4 of 6  6.3 Concentrated ox gall/ox bile and derivatives  from any country may be given 
clearance provided all the following requirements are met: 
i. The product shall be commercially packaged 
ii. The packaging shall be clean and free from visible signs of contamination 
iii. The product shall be shelf-stable (i.e. does not require refrigeration.). 
6.4 Commercially manufactured food cultures, enzymes or starters derived from or 
consisting of micro-organisms (e.g. yoghurt, cheese and sausage starters, enzymes or cultures)  from any country may be given clearance. 
6.5 Commercially manufactured rennet from Australia  may be given clearance. 
6.6 Commercially manufactured antibiotics, medicines and vaccines intended for human use from any country may be given clearance. 
6.7 Products composed only of human tissue from any country may be given clearance. 
6.8 Brewers yeast, bakers yeast or any other yeast products used in the food industry  
from any country may be given clearance. 
6.9 Chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate, glucosamine sulphate, heparin and heparanoid from any country may be given clearance provided the product is 
commercially packaged. 
6.10 Nisaplin manufactured by Danisco, Beaminister, United Kingdom  from any country 
may be given clearance. 
6.11 Fertosan Compost Starter from any country may be given clearance. 
6.12 Marazyme Rennet substitute (Mucor Mieher)  from the United States of America 
may be given clearance. 
6.13 The enzymes Papain (plant origin), Bromelain (plant origin) and Pectinase (fungal origin)  from any country may be given clearance. 
6.14 The enzymes Pancreatin (porcine origin) and Pepsin (porcine origin)  from 
Australia, Canada, and the United States of America  may be given clearance 
provided the product is commercially packaged. 
6.15 The following surgical implants may be given clearance: 
i. Lonescu Shirley low profile cardiac valve prostheses manufactured by American 
Edwards Labs, Santa Ana, California, United States of America 
ii. Mitroflow TM pericardial heart valves m
 anufactured by MNZ Ltd, Richmond, 
BC, Canada 
iii. Unilab Surgibone manufactured by Unilab Inc, Hillside, New Jersey, United States of America  
 
Import Health Standard for the Impo rtation into New Zealand of Specified Animal Products and Biologicals 
INEPROIC.ALL   30 May 2011 Page 5 of 6  iv. SJM Epic cardiac valve prostheses manufactured by St. Jude Medical Inc, United 
States of America 
v. Pericardial Tissue Bioprosthetic Devices (of bovine and porcine origin) of USA 
or Australian origin only, manufactured by Edwards Lifesciences AG, Switzerland 
vi. CYPHER Sirolimus-eluting stent from Australia supplied by Johnson and Johnson Medical 
vii. Mastergraft Matrix, manufactured by Inte gra Lifesciences Corporation (ILC), 
Plainsboro, New Jersey 
6.16 Isinglass air bladder of fish (clarifying agent for alcoholic beverages) from any 
country may be given clearance provided the product is commercially packaged. 
6.17 Lanolin and lanolin based products  from any country may be given clearance 
provided the products are commercially packaged. 
6.18 Animal bristles and hair  on commercially manufactured paint brushes, shaving 
brushes, hair brushes, musical instruments (eg bows, bow strips), etc. from any 
country may be given clearance. 
6.19 Silk top and other processed silk fibres (excluding cocoons ) from any country may 
be given clearance. 
6.20 Commercial consignments of dehaired or unwooled wet blue and wet white hides 
and skins  from any country may be given clearance provided the consignment is 
accompanied by a certificate issued by a government agency or the manufacturer 
confirming that the consignment has been pickled in a mineral acid (e.g. hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid). 
6.21 Commercially manufactured items (e.g. apparel, carpets, fabric, dyed and spun yarn) containing animal fibres such as wool, mohair, angora, cashmere, alpaca etc. from any 
country may be given clearance.  
Numdah rugs  must be inspected to ensure they are free of contaminants such as 
seeds. 
6.22 Private consignments (i.e. approximately 20 kg or less) of home-spun 
camelid/goat/sheep fibre (e.g. wool, mohair, cashmere, angora, alpaca etc.) which has been washed and spun into yarn , from any country may be given clearance 
provided it is free from any visible contamination. 
6.23 Inedible gelatine/gelatin products from any country may be given clearance provided 
the products are commercially packaged. 
6.24 Animal skin/hide glue or size  from any country may be given clearance provided the 
products are commercially packaged.  
 
Import Health Standard for the Impo rtation into New Zealand of Specified Animal Products and Biologicals 
INEPROIC.ALL   30 May 2011 Page 6 of 6  6.25 Highly processed inedible collagen/protein products  from any country may be given 
clearance provided the products are commercially  packaged.  Examples of such products 
are keratin setting retarder (product used fo r making plaster), hydrol ysed collagen, other 
products containing animal proteins for use in  the building trade (e.g. Durafoam protein). 
6.26 Commercially prepared vellum or parchment from any country may be given clearance 
provided the products are commercially prepared. 
6.27 Horse Tails (washed horse hair plaited onto webbing tape intended for cosmetic use in 
show horses)  from Australia may be given clear ance provided they are free from any 
visible contamination. 
6.28 Commercial consignments of animal bristles or hair from any country may be given 
clearance provided the consignment is accompanied by a certificate issued by a 
government agency or the manufacturer confirming that the consignment has been 
immersed in water, heated and maintained at a temperature of at least 95º C for a 
minimum of 25 minutes, or at a temperatur e of at least 100º C for a minimum of 15 
minutes. 
6.29 Bovine horn sheaths from Australia  may be given clearance provided the 
consignment is accompanied by a certificate issued by a government agency or the 
manufacturer confirming that the following requirements have been met:  
i. The product is free of all adherent tissue, 
ii. The product has been boiled for at least 15 minutes, 
iii. The product has been securely packaged after boiling.  
(NB: A separate Import Health Standard applies to the importation of leather goods - 
“Import Health Standard for Leather Goods from all countries”- and for emu oil from Australia – “Import Health Standard for the importation of Emu Oil into New Zealand from Australia”.) 
  
PART C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE 
7 BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE 
7.1 Upon arrival in New Zealand the Inspector at the port of arrival may inspect the consignment, or a sample of the consignment.  
7.2 In the case of animal products, if there is any visible contamination (blood, faeces, soil etc.) of packaging of the consignment th is shall be cleaned and disinfected prior 
to biosecurity clearance being given.  
7.3 Providing that the consignment meets the conditions of ELIGIBILITY, the consignment may, subject to sections 27 and 28 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, be given a biosecurity clearance pursuant to section 26 of the Biosecurity Act 1993. 
  
 
Import Health Standard for the Impo rtation into New Zealand of Specified Animal Products and Biologicals 
INEPROIC.ALL   30 May 2011 Page 7 of 6   
PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION 
None required. 
INEPROIC.ALL      Ref:  AI00-40I