Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE 2008 Page 1 of 9  IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD FOR SALMONIDS 
FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FROM SPECIFIED 
COUNTRIES 
 
Issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 
Dated:          2008  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 sections 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 sections 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 contains model health certification which must be completed by the appropriate personnel as indicated in the certification and accompany the consignment to New Zealand.   
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 salmonids for human consumption from specified countries. 
 1.2    Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of salmonids for human 
consumption imported into New Zealand from specified countries is dependent 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  
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE 2008 Page 2 of 9  in New Zealand's import policy or the animal health status of the originating country, or 
for any other lawful reason, at the discretion of the Import Standards Manager . 
  
2     IMPORTER'S RESPONSIBILITIES 
 
2.1    The costs to MAF in performing functions relating to the importation of salmonids for 
human consumption shall be recovered in accordance with the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act. 
 2.2    All costs involved with importation such as documentation, transport, storage and 
obtaining a biosecurity direction and/or biosecurity clearance shall be borne by the importer or agent. 
 2.3    Commercial consignments of products imported into New Zealand for human 
consumption in New Zealand must comply with the Food Act 1981.  These requirements are independent of the import health standard requirements and are managed by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA).  Importers are advised to contact the NZFSA or consult the NZFSA website at www.nzfsa.govt.nz/imported-food/index.htm
 
 2.4    Please note that the Customs Import Prohibition (Trout) Order 2000, administered by 
the New Zealand Customs Service, prohibits the importation of trout and trout products in quantities exceeding 10 kilograms, or in quantities of less than 10 kilograms if the goods are intended for sale except with the consent of, and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Minister of Conservation. Any consignment may be subject to inspection by an authorised person under the Customs and Excise Act 1996. More information on the Customs Import Prohibition (Trout) Order is available online at; http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers/Prohibited+Imports/default.htm
 
 2.5  It is the importer or agent’s responsibility to ensure that they are compliant with the 
current version of the relevant import health standard at the time of importation into New Zealand. Current versions of import health standards are available online at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/commercial-imports/import-health-standards/search
 
  
3      DEFINITION OF TERMS 
 Animal Products  
Non-viable products derived from animals  
 
Biosecurity clearance 
A clearance under section 26 of the Biosecurity Act (1993) for the entry of goods into New 
Zealand (Explanatory Note: Goods given a Biosecurity Clearance by an Inspector are released to the importer without restriction).   
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE 2008 Page 3 of 9  Biosecurity direction 
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 re-export those goods from New Zealand.  
Competent Authority 
The Veterinary Services or other Authority of a Member Country, having the responsibility 
and competence for ensuring or supervising the implementation of the animal health measures or other standards in the Terrestrial Code. 
 
Commercially prepared and packaged 
A product that has been manufactured in a commercial manner by a commercial enterprise and 
is subsequently packaged in tamper proof packaging  
Headed, gilled and gutted 
Means removal of all tissues comprising the head, the gills and the internal organs. 
 
Inspector BA 
Means a person who is appointed an inspector under section 103 of the Biosecurity Act 
(1993). (Explanatory Note: An Inspector is appointed to undertake administering and enforcing the provisions of the Biosecurity Act and controls imposed under HSNO).   
 
MAFBNZ 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand. 
 
Non-viable 
Not capable of living or developing independently. 
 
Official veterinarian 
A veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Administration of the country to perform animal 
health and/or public health inspections of commodities and, when appropriate, perform certification in conformity with the provisions of the chapter of the Terrestrial  Code  pertaining to 
principles of certification.  
 
Permit to import  
A written order issued by the Director-General of MAF authorising the importation of risk 
goods to a specified facility. 
 
Private Consignment 
A consignment imported as personal property and not intended for resale. Maximum size of a 
private consignment will be specified in the individual standards.  
 
  
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE June 2007 Page 4 of 9  Salmonids 
For the purposes of this import health standard, salmonids means fish in the genera 
Oncorhynchus, Salmo  and Salvelinus. 
 
Terrestrial Code 
The World Organisation for Animal Health  Terrestrial Animal Health Code. 
 
Transitional facility BA 
Means (a) any place approved as a transitional fac ility in accordance with section 39 of the 
Biosecurity Act (1993) for the purpose of inspection, testing, storage, treatment, holding or destruction of uncleared goods; or (b) a part of a port declared to be a transitional facility in accordance with section 39 of the Biosecurity Act (1993). 
 
Veterinary Authority 
Means the governmental Veterinary Service that has authority for implementing, supervising 
and auditing the animal health measures and international veterinary certification processes recommended by the Terrestrial Code. 
 
Zoosanitary certificate 
A certificate issued by the exporting country in accordance with the OIE. 
  
4     EQUIVALENCE 
The import health standard has been agreed as being suitable for trade between the exporting and 
the importing countries. It is expected that the salmonid products will meet the conditions in every respect. 
Occasionally it is found that, due to circumstances beyond the control of the importer or exporter, 
a consignment does not comply completely with this import health standard.  In such cases, an application for equivalence may be considered, equivalence granted and a permit to import  issued at the discretion of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, but only if the following information is forwarded by the certifying government's veterinary authority: 
 which clause/s of the import health standard cannot be met and how this has occurred; 
 the reason the consignment is considered to be of an "equivalent health" status and/or what 
proposal is made to return the consignment to an equivalent health status as set out in this standard; and 
 the reasons why the veterinary authority of the country of origin believe this proposal must 
be acceptable to the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and their recommendation for its acceptance. 
  
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE June 2007 Page 5 of 9  PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE 
 5     PERMIT TO IMPORT  
5.1 A permit to import is required for product which is intended to be further processed 
and/or packaged in New Zealand prior to retail sale or use in the institutional trade e.g. containers of more than one fish.  
5.2    An application for a permit to import must be made prior to the proposed date of 
importation in writing to the Animal Imports Team, Border Standards Directorate, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand. 
Email: animalimports@maf.govt.nz 
or fax: +64 4 894 0662 
 5.3 The permit to import will be issued for a single consignment.   
5.4 A permit to import is not required for private consignments (product that is no more 
than 10kg net weight of fish, and commercially prepared and packaged for direct retail sale) and commercial consignments (product that is commercially prepared and packaged for direct retail sale). 
  
6     ELIGIBILITY 
 
6.1    This import health standard allows the importation of headed, gutted and gilled 
salmonids from the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo  and Salvelinus  for human 
consumption from Canada, Chile, Norway and the United States of America. Please also refer to clause 2.4 of this import health standard.  
 
6.2 Private consignments of salmonids for human consumption  originating from 
Canada, Chile, Norway and the  United States of America  may be eligible for 
importation provided all the following requirements are met: 
 
i. The country of origin is identifiable from the packaging; 
 
ii. The product is in its original packaging on arrival; 
 
iii. The product must comprise of headed, gilled and gutted fish commercially 
prepared and packaged for direct retail sale;  
iv. The total weight of the consignment is 10 kilograms or less.  
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE June 2007 Page 6 of 9   
6.3 Commercial consignments of salmonids for human consumption  originating from 
Canada, Chile, Norway and th e United States of America  may be eligible for 
importation provided all the following requirements are met: 
 
i. The country of origin is identifiable from the packaging; 
 
ii. The product is in its original packaging on arrival; 
 
iii. The consignment must be accompanied by export certification meeting the 
requirements of Part D, Zoosanitary Certification;  
iv. The product must comprise of headed, gilled and gutted fish commercially 
prepared and   EITHER  a) packaged for direct retail sale; 
 
OR b) be accompanied by a permit to import requiring the products to be 
further processed at a transitional facility. 
  
7     DOCUMENTATION ACCO MPANYING THE CONSIGNMENT 
 
7.1    For private consignments, no accompanying documentation is required. 
 7.2 For commercial consignments, the consignment must be accompanied by appropriately 
completed health certification which meets the requirements of Part D, Zoosanitary Certification. 
 7.3    Documentation shall be in English but may be bilingual (language of exporting 
country/English). 
 7.4    It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure that any documentation presented in 
accordance with the requirements of this import health standard is original (unless otherwise specified) and clearly legible. Failure to do so may result in rejection of consignments or delays in obtaining biosecurity clearance and/or direction.   
   
PART C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE 
 8    BIOSECURITY DIRECTION  
8.1  Upon arrival in New Zealand the documentation accompanying the consignment must be 
inspected by an Inspector at the port of arrival. The Inspector may also inspect the consignment, or a sample of the consignment.  
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE June 2007 Page 7 of 9   
8.2   For consignments that require further processing only, a biosecurity direction may be 
given by an Inspector under section 25 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 authorising the consignment to move to the transitional facility named in the permit to import, providing that the documentation meets all requirements noted under Section 6, Eligibility. 
  
9    TRANSITIONAL FACILITY 
 
9.1    Consignments that require further processing must undergo such processing at the 
transitional facility named on the permit to import that is registered to the MAF 
Standard 154.02.16 Transitional Facilities for Processing Imported Salmonids  
(http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/border/transitional-fac ilities/animals/ 154-02-16.htm
) 
 9.2    While in the transitional facility the following conditions must apply: 
 
(i)  the product is processed and/or packaged to render the product 
commercially packaged for direct retail sale;  
(ii)  any solid and liquid wastes produced during processing and/or packaging are 
managed according to a MAF approved waste management plan. 
 
 10    BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE  
10.1  Upon arrival in New Zealand the documentation accompanying the consignment must be 
inspected by an Inspector at the port of arrival (no accompanying documentation is required for private consignments as in 7.1 above). The Inspector may also inspect the consignment, or a sample of the consignment. 
 10.2 Providing that the consignment meets the conditions of Section 6, Eligibility and (for 
products that require further processing Section 9, Transitional Facility), 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. 
 
 PART D. ZOOSANIT ARY CERTIFICATION 
 11    NEGOTIATED EX PORT CERTIFICATION 
 
The following model Zoosanitary Certificate contains the information required by MAF 
Biosecurity New Zealand to accompany commercial consignments of salmonids for human consumption to New Zealand from Canada, Chile, Norway and the United States of America.  
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE June 2007 Page 8 of 9  12    MODEL ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION 
 
Commodity:    SALMONIDS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION 
 Scientific name:   Import Permit Number (if required):  Exporting Country:    Competent Authority:   
I.  ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCT 
 
(i) Name and address of aquaculture establishment: ........................................................... 
 .............................................................................................................................. ....... 
  (ii) Name and address of processor: ...................................................................................  .............................................................................................................................. .......  
 (iii) Processing premises registration number: ..................................................................... 
     
II. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 
 
(i) The product contained in this consignment is:  
 
EITHER:   commercially prepared and packaged for direct retail sale, 
 
OR:    in bulk form. 
  
 (Delete one of the above) 
 
(ii) Amount (in kilograms) of product: ...............................................................................   
III. DESTINATION OF FISH 
 
(i) Name and address of New Zealand importer:  ............................................................... 
 .............................................................................................................................. .......  
 (ii) Name and address of MAF approved transitional facility registered under MAF 
Standard 154.02.16 Transitional Facilities for Processing Imported Salmonids (for 
product that requires furt her processing): .....................................................................  
 .............................................................................................................................. .......   
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE June 2007 Page 9 of 9  IV. ZOOSANITARY INFORMATION 
 
I, ...........................................................  bein g a certifying official of.………………… 
(exporting country), certify after due enquiry, with respect to the product identified in this Zoosanitary Certificate that:  1     The product is derived from fish within the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo  and 
Salvelinus. 
 2. The product is derived from fish that were harvested from a population;  
EITHER 
  
2.1 for which a documented health surveillance programme covering (at 
least) Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) exists that is administered by the Competent Authority; 
OR 
 
2.2 Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral 
haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) are diseases that must be notified to the Competent Authority. 
 
  (Delete either 2.1 or 2.2 as appropriate)  
   
3     The product is derived from fish that were not slaughtered as an official disease control 
measure due to an outbreak of disease. 
 
4     The product is derived from fish that were processed in a premise supervised by the 
Competent Authority responsible for food safety standards: 
 
(i) headed, gilled and gutted; 
 
(ii)  individually inspected and graded, ensuring the product for export is free from 
visible lesions associated with infectious disease and fit for human consumption; and  
(iii)  found to be sexually immature, or sexually maturing but not sexually mature. 
 
Official stamp 
 
 
............................................................................................................................... ................. 
Name and signature of Official Veterinarian     Date  
  
Import Health Standard for Salmonids for Human Consumption from Specified Countries  
FISSALIC.SPE June 2007 Page 10 of 9  Name and address of office:  
This certificate must be completed no more than three (3) days prior to shipment