. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/NZL/402 
24 June 2008  
 (08-2995) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
  
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numb er(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  All tariff numbers in chapters 1-22 of the working tariff code 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  All 
countries/regions wishing to export food for human consumption to New Zealand 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Proposed new standards 
for food importers (available  in English, 22 pages) 
6. Description of content:  Consultation document outlining NZFSAs proposal to introduce 
food standards specifically for importers under th e Food Act 1981.  One standard will require 
importers of food for human consumption to be listed with NZFSA in order for an internal 
database to be developed.  The other proposed standard requires importers to ensure that the 
food they import is sourced from suppliers that have food safety systems in place, that food is 
kept safe through storage and transport activities and that importers hold or are able to obtain 
sufficient records to de monstrate the safety and suitability of the food.  
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [   ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection, [  
 ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests    
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    
9. Relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:   Not stated. 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  15 October 2008 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  15 October 2008 G/SPS/N/NZL/402 
Page 2  
 
  12. Final date for comments:  5 August 2008 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [   ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
Hilary Eade, Programme Mana ger (Technical Standards - Im ports) New Zealand Standards 
Group, New Zealand Food Safety  Authority, PO Box 2835, Wellington, New Zealand.  Tel:  
+(64 4) 894 2694;  Fax:  +(64 4) 894 264 3;  Email:  hilary.eade@nzfsa.govt.nz 
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notificati on authority, [   ] Na tional enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
Mrs Sally Jennings, Coordinator, SPS New Zealand, PO Box 2526,  Wellington, New 
Zealand.  Tel:  +(64 4) 894 0431;  Fax:  +(64 4) 8940731;  E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz 
Website:  http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/sps/tran sparency/notifi cations/index.htm