Import Health Standard for Horses  
 
 
 
Import Health Standard 
for 
Horses 
 
Short Name: horaniic.gen 
 
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 
P.O Box 2526 
Wellington 6011 
New Zealand 
horaniic.gen 07 April 2011  Page 1 of 15  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
horaniic.gen 07 April 2011  Page 2 of 15 Issuing Authority 
 
This standard is issued under section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.   
 
 
 
Dated at Wellington this               day of                                           2011 
 
 
 
Director-General Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
(Issued under delegated authority)  
 
 
 
 
  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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8. Import Health Standard for Horses 
The information in this import health standard is in five parts: 
PART A. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................3  
PART B. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................4  
PART C. SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS FOR IDENTIFIED RISK ORGANISMS .........................................7  
PART D. EQUIVALENCE ............................................................................................................10  
PART E. APPENDICES ...............................................................................................................11  
APPENDIX 1: NEW ZEALAND MAF  STANDARD FOR THE PRE -EXPORT ISOLATION (PEI)  OF HORSES ............... 11  
APPENDIX  2: POST-ARRIVAL QUARANTINE OF HORSES ............................................................................ 14  
PART A. INTRODUCTION 
Background 
This document is the Import Health Standard for Horses  issued under section 22 of the 
Biosecurity Act.  
A guidance document will be issued by MAF to accompany this import health standard. 
The document will provide guidance information relevant to how requirements may be 
met.  
A biosecurity clearance, under section 26 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, may be issued 
when the horses meet all the requirem ents of this import health standard. 
Scope  
This standard specifies the requirements that must be met to import horses into New 
Zealand.  
For the purposes of this standard, ‘horses’  means any domesticated animal which is a 
member of the species Equus caballus (horses and ponies) or Equus asinus 
(donkeys), or any cross of thes e two species (mules and asses). 
The consignment must meet both the general requirements and documentation 
requirements contained in Part B of this standard and to the extent that Part C of this standard applies, the specific requirements contained in Part C of this standard.  
Outcome 
Imported horses must be subjected to risk management measures for specified risk 
organisms appropriate to the status of the risk organism, their likelihood of entry and/or establishment in New Zealand and consequent impacts. 
The risk organisms requiring s pecific risk management are:  
 African horse sickness  
 Anthrax 
 Borna disease  
 Contagious equine metritis   Dourine 
 Eastern and Western equine 
encephalomyelitis  
 Equine encephalosis   
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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11.  Equine herpesvirus type 1 
(Equine rhinopneumonitis) 
 Equine infectious anaemia 
 Equine influenza  
 Equine piroplasmosis 
 Equine salmonellosis 
(Salmonella abortus equi ) 
 Equine viral arteritis  
 Glanders 
 Hendra and Nipah viruses 
 Horse pox 
 Epizootic lymphangitis  Internal and external parasites 
(endoparasites and 
ectoparasites) 
 Japanese encephalitis  
 New World and Old World 
screwworm 
 Rabies 
 Surra 
 Venezuelan equine 
encephalomyelitis  
 Vesicular stomatitis  
 Warble fly 
 West Nile fever  
Definitions 
The definitions below relate to the requirements for importing horses: 
Premises 
Area surrounding and including the facility. 
Facility  
Stables and associated yard. 
Disinfectant  
A chemical with a virucidal and bactericidal nature that is approved for use by the 
Veterinary Authority in the country of export.  
Vector 
An insect or any living carrier that transports an infectious agent from an infected 
individual to a susceptible individual or its food or immediate surroundings. The organism may or may not pass through a development cycle within the vector. 
PART B. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 
Approved countries 
Horses may only be imported into New Zealand from countries approved by MAF.  A 
list of approved countries is included in the guidance document for this standard.  
Documentation  
The horses must be accompanied by the following documentation:  
a. Copy of the permit to import issued by MAF; and 
b. Veterinary certificate / Negotiated export certificate (this must include associated 
identification documents such as equine passports); and 
c. Laboratory reports (copies are acceptable when endorsed by the Official 
Veterinarian).  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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18. The documentation must: 
a. be original, unless otherwise stated; and 
b. accompany the consignment and must be pr ovided to the Official Veterinarian at 
the port of entry; and 
c. be in English or have an English translation that is clear and legible; and 
d. be endorsed by the Official Veterinarian with their original stamp, signature and 
date on every page (except the permit to import). 
e. be supplied to the New Zealand Official Veterinarian at the port of entry at least 
one working day before arrival, if requested by the Official Veterinarian. 
Laboratory 
Diagnostic test(s) must be those prescribed for international trade and meet the 
standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Health Code (OIE Code) and Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (Terrestrial  Manual). Any alternative test must be approved by MAF. 
Diagnostic testing must be conducted at a laboratory approved by the Veterinary 
Authority to conduct the required export testing.  
Laboratory samples must be collected, processed, and stored as recommended in the OIE Code and Terrestrial Manual.  
Inspection (on arrival) 
Any documentation accompanying the horses must be inspected by the Official Veterinarian on arrival.  The Official Veterinarian may also inspect the consignment, or 
a sample of the consignment.  
Horses from countries considered infe sted with screwworm fly must be thoroughly 
inspected by the Official Veterinarian for wounds and possible New World or Old World 
screwworm infestation at the port of first arrival. 
Pre-export isolation 
The horses, when pre-export isolation is required, must be held in a pre-export isolation 
(PEI) premises approved and supervised by the Veterinary Authority and compliant with the New Zealand 
MAF Standard for the approval of pre-export isolation premises 
for horses  in Appendix 1. 
Post-arrival quarantine  
19. 
20. The post-arrival quarantine (PAQ) premises and consignment must comply with post-
arrival quarantine requirements in Appendix 2. 
Treatment  
The treatment requirements of the consignment include: 
a. Vaccinations required for export must be administered not less than 35 days 
before export, except where Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) and African 
horse sickness (AHS) vaccines are required, they must be administered as described in the OIE Code. Vaccines for risk organisms met all other recommendations as described in the Terrestrial Manual.  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
horaniic.gen 07 April 2011  Page 6 of 15 21. b. All product(s) and vaccination(s) required for export must be administered 
according to the manufacturer’s instruction and the generic product name(s), 
active ingredient, dose rate and date of treatment must be recorded on the 
veterinary certificate. 
c. Equine Influenza (EI) vaccinations must contain equivalent strains of EI virus as 
recommended by the OIE expert surveillance panel for EI vaccinations. 
d. Vaccinations when administered must be either: 
i. The final dose of a primary course; or 
ii. The recommended booster to complement the primary course. 
Transport  
The transport requirements of the consignment include:  
a. Notification of the date, expected time of arrival and the flight number or ship’s 
name must be provided to the New Zealand Official Veterinarian at the port of 
entry at least 72 hours in advance of importation.  
b. The transport containers must meet the design and species specifications 
published in the IATA Live Animal Regulations, unless otherwise agreed by MAF. 
c. Containers made of timber must comply with the Import Health Standard for 
Importing Wood Packaging Material from All Countries . 
d. The vehicle in which the horses are transported to the port of departure must be 
cleaned, disinfected and treated with an effective residual insecticide. The date of 
treatment, the chemical(s) used, and the active ingredient(s) must be recorded on 
the veterinary certificate. 
e. The horses must be loaded into containers that are new or cleaned, disinfected 
and treated with an effective residual insecticide. The date of treatment, the chemical(s) used, and the active ingredient(s) must be recorded on the veterinary certificate. 
f. Only sterile peat, soft board, treated wood shavings, shredded paper or other inert 
approved products may be loaded for use as bedding during transportation. 
g. No other animals are to be transported on the aircraft or ship without prior 
approval from MAF. Approval must be noted on the permit to import. 
h. All horses transiting a third country mu st receive MAF approval prior to export. 
Approval must be noted on the permit to import. 
i. For horses being transported by air, the cargo space of the aircraft in which the 
horses are to be transported must be sprayed with an effective residual insecticidal spray. 
j. Horses transported by sea or air to New Zealand must be exported in compliance 
with the animal welfare specifications published in the IATA Live Animal 
Regulations including: 
i. No mare being more than 300 days pregnant. 
ii. No horse being less than 1 month of age.  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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28. Additional  
All equipment entering New Zealand with the horses must comply with the Import 
Health Standard for the Importation into New Zealand of equipment associated with 
animals or water. 
The horses must be inspected by the Offici al Veterinarian within 24 hours of export and 
certified free of clinical signs of any contagious or infectious diseases, including ectoparasites and fit to travel. 
All feed loaded for use during transport to the port of departure and during transit to New Zealand must be free from evidence of contamination with ticks and seeds. 
PART C. SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS FOR IDENTIFIED RISK ORGANISMS 
The Veterinary Authority of the exporting country is required to issue a signed, stamped and dated veterinary certificate declaring: 
For African horse sickness (AHS) the horses being exported are from: 
a. an AHS free country or MAF approved zone or MAF approved seasonally free 
zone and have met the recommendations as described in the OIE Code; OR 
b. an AHS infected country/zone, an at-risk country/zone, or have transited through 
an infected country/zone, and have met the recommendations as described in the OIE Code. 
For the following diseases: 
 Anthrax 
 Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE)  
 Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) 
 Equine piroplasmosis 
 Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) 
 Japanese encephalitis (JE) 
the horses have met the recommendations as described in the OIE Code; except that 
required vaccination was administered at least 35 days prior to export; and samples for 
testing must be collected within pre-export isolation or within 21 days of export if PEI is not required. 
For the following diseases : 
 Borna disease 
 Epizootic lymphangitis 
 Horse pox 
a. the horses were kept since birth or for at least the past 90 days in a free country; 
OR 
b. the horses were kept since birth or for at least the past 90 days on premises in 
which no case of has been reported during the past 12 months. 
For contagious equine metritis (CEM)  the stallions and mares (excluding geldings; 
and unweaned foals less than six months of  age if accompanied by documentation 
regarding equivalent CEM testing of their dam)  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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32. EITHER 
a. were from a CEM-free country, approved by MAF; OR 
b. were considered free from CEM; an official control programme for CEM is 
established in the country of export; and the horses have met the 
recommendations as described in the OIE Code and Terrestrial Manual; OR 
c. have been known to be infected with CEM and were subject to an effective 
method of treatment and testing approved by MAF. 
For the following diseases: 
 Dourine 
 Glanders 
 Rabies 
 Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) 
a. the horses were from a free country and have met the recommendations as 
described in the OIE Code for the importation of domestic equines ; OR  
b. the horses were from a country considered infected and have met the 
recommendations as described in the OIE Code for the importation of domestic 
equines . 
For ectoparasites the horses were treated twice: first within 48 hours prior to entering 
PEI; and second within 48 hours of export. The product(s) used were effective against 
flies, ticks, lice and mites and were applied as described in the manufacturer’s instructions; AND EITHER 
a. The horses were thoroughly examined within 24 hours of export by a registered 
veterinarian and there was no evidence of tick infection; OR 
b. The horses were thoroughly examined within 24 hours of export by a registered 
veterinarian and ticks were found. MAF was notified and the horses were treated, and then re-inspected, and ticks were not found. 
For endoparasites  the horses were treated twice: first within 48 hours prior to entering 
PEI; and second within 48 hours of export. The product used is an effective broad spectrum endoparaciticide and was applied as described in the manufacturer’s instructions. 
For equine encephalosis (EE) the horses were: 
a. kept since birth or for at least the past 40 days in a country where no case of EE 
has been reported in the past 12 months; OR 
b. kept since birth or for at least the past 40 days on premises where no case of EE 
has been reported during that time; AND 
i. were subjected to a MAF approved test(s) for EE within 40 days of export;  
ii. were kept for a minimum 40 days prior to export in a vector protected PEI 
premises and were protected from insect vector attack at all times prior to 
departure. 
  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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39. For equine influenza (EI) the horses were: 
a. from an EI free country, have met the recommendations as described in the OIE 
Code standard, and EI vaccination is not practised in the exporting country; OR  
b. from a country considered infected with EI have met the recommendations as 
described in the OIE Code (including additional security recommendations), 
except nasal swab PCR testing in PEI was carried out no less than 5 days after entry into PEI and was repeated not more that 5 days later. 
For equine Salmonellosis  (Salmonella abortus equi ) the horses being exported were 
kept since birth or for at least the pas t 90 days on premises where no case of equine 
salmonellosis has been reported during that time. 
For equine viral arteritis (EVA) : 
a. The stallions being exported have met the recommendations as described in the 
OIE Code for the importation of uncastrated male horses;  
b. The colts, fillies and mares being exported have met the recommendations as 
described in the OIE Code for the importation of equines other than uncastrated males. 
For Hendra and  Nipah viruses  the horses were:  
a. kept since birth or for at least the past 90 days in a country approved by MAF as 
free of Hendra and Nipah; OR 
b. kept since birth or for at least the past 90 days in premises where no case of 
infection in animals or humans has been reported during that time and Hendra and Nipah are notifiable in the country of export; and the horses were showing no clinical signs of infection with Hendra and Nipah virus on the day of export. 
For New World and Old World screwworm  the horses were: 
a. from a country approved by MAF as free of screwworm fly; OR  
b. from a country considered infested with screwworm fly and have met the 
recommendations as described in the OIE Code for importation, quarantine and transportation of horses for New World and Old World screwworm. 
For surra  the horses were: 
a. kept since birth or for at least the past 60 days in a country where no case of 
surra has been reported during the past 2 years; OR 
b. kept since birth or for at least the past 60 days on premises where no case of 
surra has been reported during that time; AND 
i. Were kept for a minimum 30 days prior to export in a vector protected PEI 
premises and were protected from insect vector attack at all times prior to departure; AND 
ii. Were subjected to diagnostic test(s) as recommended by the OIE Code for 
surra, with negative results, samples were collected within 10 days after entry into PEI. 
For vesicular stomatitis  (VS) the horses were: 
a. resident for at least the past 21 days, in a country or zone that is free of VS and 
met the recommendations as described in the OIE Code; OR  
Import Health Standard for Horses b. from a country considered infected with VS or a VS-free country that shares a 
border with a country considered infected, and have met the recommendations as 
described in the OIE Code, except the results of testing indicate the horses have 
negative, stable or declining titres. 
horaniic.gen 07 April 2011  Page 10 of 15 40. 
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42. For warble fly the horses were: 
a. kept since birth or for at least the past 90 days in a country/zone where no case of 
warble fly has been reported during the past 12 months; OR 
b. showing no clinical sign of warble fly disease on the day of export and were 
treated with an ectoparasiticide approved by the Veterinary Authority as capable of killing warble fly larvae, applied as described in the manufacturer’s instructions 
during the 48 hours prior to export. 
For West Nile Fever (WNF)  the horses were:  
a. kept for at least the past 30 days in a country free of WNF as described in the OIE 
Code where no case of WNF has been reported during the past 2 years and the 
horses showed no clinical sign of WNF on the day of export; OR  
b. kept in a country considered infected with WNF, showed no clinical sign of WNF 
on the day of export, and were kept for at least the past 30 days on premises 
where WNF has not been reported during that time; AND  
i. were vaccinated against WNF with a MAF approved inactivated vaccine 
as described in the manufacturer’s instructions not less than 35 days prior to export and not more than 6 months prior to export. 
PART D. EQUIVALENCE 
The requirements for importation of horses are met if, in the opinion of the Director General, the measures taken for managing the risks associated with the importation of those consignments are equally effective at  managing those risks as the requirements 
specified in (1) to (41) above.  If an equivalence measure(s) is approved, MAF will issue a permit to import (under section 22 of the Biosecurity Act).  
 
 
NOTE: The accompanying guidance document  provides explanatory 
information to assist importers in meeting the requirements of this import health standard.   
  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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14. PART E. APPENDICES 
APPENDIX 1: NEW ZEALAND MAF STANDARD FOR THE PRE-EXPORT ISOLATION 
(PEI) OF HORSES  
Approval and audit 
The premises and facility must be approved by an Official Veterinarian of the 
Veterinary Authority of the exporting country as meeting the requirements of this Standard. 
The premises and facility must be audit ed annually by an Official Veterinarian and 
records of inspections and management must be retained for audit purposes for at 
least 2 years. 
MAF reserves the right to audit facilities, in countries approved to export horses to New 
Zealand, and standard operating procedures from such facilities. 
Location 
The premises must be within 240 km of the port of embarkation and must be 
conveniently located for supervision by an Official Veterinarian. 
Premises 
The premises must be surrounded by two stock-proof perimeter fences at least 2 
metres apart, except where the wall of a building forms part of the perimeter.  
The premises must be lockable to ensure that there is no contact with other livestock 
and no entry of unauthorised personnel.  
The premises must have: 
a. An area for the cleaning and disinfection of vehicles separated from the stables, 
holding pens and the loading area.  
b. An area for the safe unloading and loading of horses. 
Facility 
The facility must be located at least 100 metres from other horses that are not in the 
same consignment being quarantined for export to New Zealand.  
The facility must be located at least 100 metres from any domestic animal, including 
measures to prevent access to the facility by wild animals. 
Stables must be constructed so that they can be effectively cleaned and disinfected. 
Stables, yards, fences, feeding and watering arrangements must be constructed so 
that the horses are protected from injury and other welfare needs are met. 
The facility must have an adequate drainage system and ensure hygienic management 
of waste. 
The stable must have facilities for veterinary examination and collection of samples. 
Adequate showering facilities must be present e.g. piped hot water, change area, 
lockers/hangers.  
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26. 
27. External yards or paddocks within the facility may be used for exercise. The perimeter 
must be stock-proof. 
Management 
The operator of the premises must have no financial interest in the horses undergoing 
isolation. 
The veterinary clinician employed by the premises must have no financial interest in 
the horses undergoing isolation. 
During PEI the horses must remain isolated from all other livestock not of an equivalent 
isolation and tested health status; and whilst in isolation must be free from clinical signs 
of infectious or contagious disease. 
The PEI premises must have a designated manager who takes responsibility for the 
day to day running of the premises, and who must report any problems promptly to the 
Official Veterinarian of the Veterinary Authority. 
Access to the PEI premises should be limited to staff essential to the running of the 
quarantine premises and animal health.  Other personnel (for example farriers) may be granted access provided approval is given by the Official Veterinarian.  The necessity 
for access must be justified as required for the health and welfare of the horse. A register of visitors must be maintained.   
All staff working at the premises, or necessary visitors, must shower in and have a 
thorough knowledge of the isolation requirements and the sanitation procedures. 
(It is assumed that any persons, grooms or vets travelling with the horses to the port of export will have assisted in the truck loadi ng process at the facility and therefore have 
showered-in before contact with the consignment). 
During PEI, transportation, and before departure at the port of export the horses must 
be protected from insect vectors, where required by Part C of the MAF Import Health Standard for Horses and must not be naturally or artificially inseminated.  
Supervision 
The Official Veterinarian must ensure that the horses for export have met the relevant 
requirements of the MAF Import Health Standard for Horses  before the horses enter 
PEI.  
The Official Veterinarian must visit the premises at least weekly during the isolation period to ensure that the requirements of this standard and the MAF Import Health 
Standard for Horses  are being met. During the visit, the veterinarian must inspect the 
horses, observe the operation, review the records and record the visit and activities undertaken.  
The veterinary clinician employed by the premises must record in a register all visits 
and activities undertaken while on the PEI premises and amend the health records of 
any horse treated during PEI.  
If any horse in the consignment tests positiv e to any pre-export test, is removed from 
the consignment for any reason, or isolation has been breached, MAF must be notified 
and give clearance for the importation to proceed. 
The Official Veterinarian must examine the animals within 24 hours of export. The 
horses must be found to be free of evidence of infectious or contagious disease, 
ectoparasites and seeds, and be certified fit to travel.  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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37. Operation 
The premises must be emptied and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the 
commencement of each PEI.  
The PEI period will start when the last horse has joined the consignment in the 
premises. 
During the PEI, the premises must be occupied only by horses of the same export 
consignment.  
All equipment used in the feeding, handling and treatment of the horses in PEI must be 
new or cleaned and disinfected before the commencement of the PEI.   
All equipment used for horses in the consignment must be specific to one horse or 
treated with an effective virucidal disinfectant before use on another horse in the 
consignment.  
Personnel attending the horses must wear outer clothing and footwear used exclusively 
in the premises.  
A detailed health record, including twice daily temperature check, must be kept for 
each horse on the premises during the PEI period and it must be available to the supervising Official Veterinarian. Any temperature elevation during PEI must be reported to MAF. 
Bedding used must be visually clean and free of evidence of contamination with ticks 
and seeds e.g. sterilised peat, soft board, shredded paper or other inert material. Straw 
and hay must not be used.  
Duration 
When horses are to be imported into New Zealand from countries where the diseases 
listed below are considered present and pre-export isolation is the agreed risk 
mitigation measure in the approved veterinary certificate, the duration and type of PEI is stated in brackets: 
a. Equine influenza (minimum 21 day PEI)  
b. Vesicular stomatitis (minimum 30 day PEI protected from insect vectors) 
c. Equine encephalosis (minimum 40 day PEI protected from insect vectors) 
d. Surra (minimum 21 day PEI protected from insect vectors) 
e. Japanese encephalitis (minimum 21 day PEI protected from insect vectors) 
f. VEE, EEE and WEE (minimum 21 day PEI protected from insect vectors) 
g. African Horse Sickness (minimum 40 day PEI at a MAF approved and audited 
vector-proof premises) 
h. Cattle tick infected country/zone (minimum 3 day PEI) 
Transport 
Vehicles for transport of horses from the premises to the port of embarkation must be cleaned and disinfected to the satisfaction of the Official Veterinarian before loading.  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
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40. Vector protection and vector-proof facilities 
Where vector protection or vector-proofing in PEI is a requirement of the IHS, MAF 
must evaluate the exporting country’s standards, and an official MAF audit of the PEI 
facility and premises may be required at the exporting country’s expense. Repeat 
audits at a negotiated time-frame may also be required. MAF may conduct an 
evaluation of veterinary services when addi ng countries to the approved country list, 
particularly for countries with which there is no existing trade.  
APPENDIX 2: POST-ARRIVAL QUARANTINE OF HORSES 
The PAQ premises must be currently approved by MAF and under the supervision of 
an Authorised Supervisor. 
The PAQ premises must meet the standards contained in the MAF Transitional Facility 
Standard 154.02.13 Standard for Low Security Farm Animal Transitional Facilities .  
41. 
42. 
43. 
44. 
45. 
46. Written approval/advice from the Authorised Supervisor must be provided with the 
permit to import application. 
Inspection and treatment  
PAQ stay, testing, treatment(s) and procedure(s) must be undertaken as required by 
MAF. 
Within 24 hours of arrival into New Zealand, those horses directed to PAQ must 
receive: 
a. A thorough inspection by the attending veterinarian and the horses were confirmed 
visibly free of any external parasites and free of any contagious or infectious 
disease. 
b. A single treatment for ectoparasites with product(s), having efficacy against flies, 
ticks, lice and mites, applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 
c. A single treatment for endoparasites with an efficacious broad spectrum product(s), 
applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 
Temperature readings must be taken from all horses in the PAQ premises twice daily and records must be available for inspection.  
Any horse which shows a significant rise in temperature during PAQ shall be subjected 
to such tests and treatments as determined by the attending veterinarian.  
a. The attending veterinarian must record differential diagnosis and inform the 
Authorised Supervisor within 24 hours of commencement of treatment and testing.  
b. Further investigation, testing, treatment and/or an extension of the consignment 
isolation period may be required as determined in consultation with the Authorised 
Supervisor, MAF and the attending veterinarian if atypical clinical signs present or non-responsive cases. 
Post-arrival quarantine duration 
When horses are to be imported into New Zealand from countries where the diseases 
listed below are considered present the duration and type of PAQ is stated in brackets:  
Import Health Standard for Horses 
horaniic.gen 07 April 2011  Page 15 of 15 47. a. Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) if considered by MAF as highly prevalent in the 
country of export (minimum 7 day PAQ) 
b. Equine Influenza (minimum 14 day PAQ) 
c. Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (minimum 7 day PAQ) 
d. Surra (minimum 30 day PAQ protected from insect vectors) 
Diagnostic tests required  
Horses imported from countries where equine influenza is considered present must be 
subject to an agent identification test ( with negative results ) on nasopharyngeal swabs 
collected at least 5 days after entering PAQ. 
48. Horses imported from countries where equine infectious anaemia is considered by 
MAF as highly prevalent must be subject to an OIE prescribed test for international 
trade ( with negative results ) during PAQ. 
49. Horses imported from countries where Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) is 
considered present must be subject to virus isolation ( with negative results)  on blood 
samples collected from any horse showing a significant rise in temperature during 
PAQ. 
Contagious equine metritis  quarantine requirement 
50. 
51. Following 14 days standard PAQ, pregnant mares that have not had cervical and 
endometrial swabs taken for contagious equine metritis (CEM) before mating in the 
exporting country will be directed to a CEM transitional facility until cervical and endometrial swabs can be taken post-birth.  
The CEM transitional facility must be approved and supervised by an Official 
Veterinarian as compliant with the MAF Transitional Facility Standard 154.02.19 for 
CEM Testing of Mares . Written approval/advice from the Authorised Supervisor must 
be provided to MAF with the permit to import application. 
52. Any mare that tests positive to CEM  in quarantine in New Zealand may be granted 
clearance subject to an effective method of treatment and testing approved by MAF, or 
the mare and any foal born to her may be required to be re-shipped or destroyed.