Ministry for Primary Industries 
Standards 
Animal & Animal Products 
Animal Imports Team 
PO Box 2526, Wellington 6140 
animalimports@mpi.govt.nz  
 
Guidance Document  
 
COMEGIC.GEN Importing Commercial Po ultry Hatching Eggs & 
Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 
 
  
 
   
11 June 2012 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
Contents Page 
 
 
Guidance Document for Importing Commercial Poultry Hatching Eggs & Specific-
Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 1 
Foreword 1 
Summary Information on Approved Countries 1 
Documentation 1 
Approved Diagnostic Tests, Treatments and Vaccinations 2 
Post-arrival Laboratory Testing 3 
Model Veterinary Certificate 3 
Bilaterally agreed Veterinary Certificates 9 
Review and amendment 9 
  
Guidance Document for Importing Co mmercial Poultry Hatching Eggs & 
Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 
 
Foreword 
This guidance document has been issued to accompany the Import Health Standard for 
commercial poultry hatching eggs and specific-pathogen-free chicken eggs . This guidance 
document should be read in conjunction with that standard. This is to ensure that the 
requirements for meeting the standard are fully understood.  
Summary Information on Approved Countries 
The following countries are approved by MPI to import commercial hatching eggs from chickens (Gallus gallus ): 
 Australia, Canada, USA, United Kingdom 
 
The following countries are approved by MPI to import commercial hatching eggs from 
turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ): 
 United Kingdom, Australia, Canada 
 The followin
g countries are approved by MPI to import commercial hatching eggs from ducks 
(Anas platyrhynchos domesticus and Cairina moschata ): 
 
 Currently there are no countries appro ved for the importing duck hatching eggs. 
 
The following countries are approved to import specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken eggs: 
 Australia 
 
Documentation 
 Permit to import required  
Note: the permit application must be accompanied by a letter from the Authorised 
Supervisor of the post-arrival quarantine, stating that the facility meets the facility approval requirements of MPI Standard 154.02.05 Standard for Avian Transitional Facilities  and is able to accept the proposed number of hatching eggs to be imported 
on the proposed import date. 
 Pre-export isolation required (minimum 21 days) 
 Pre-export veterinary inspection within 21 days of egg collection (for commercial 
hatching eggs) 
 Veterinary Certificate inspection required 
 Post-arrival quarantine required ( with release on receipt of negative results for 
prescribed tests) 
 
 Guidance Document for Importing Commercial Poultry Hatching Eggs and Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 11 June 2012 
COMEGIC.GEN  
Approved Diagnostic Tests,  Treatments and Vaccinations 
 Surveillance and pre-export diagnostic te sts for risk organisms must be those 
prescribed or listed as an alternative test for international trade by the World 
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) or an alternative MPI-approved test. These diagnostic tests can be found by accessing the Terrestrial Animal Health Code
 
(Code ) and Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals  
(Manual ) online.  
 Laboratory testing must be conducted at a laboratory approved by the Competent 
Authority of the exporting country for pre-export testing of poultry to supply commercial poultry hatching eggs or SPF eggs to New Zealand 
 
Where there are no OIE prescribed diagnostic tests for a particular risk organism 
MPI will either recommend test(s) or a case may be made by the Competent Authority of the exporting country for an alternative. The test must be approved by MPI during the country approval/Veterinary Certificate negotiation. Approval of tests will require the Competent Authority of the exporting country to provide full 
details of the test to be used. This must include details such as sensitivity, 
specificity, validation for species and tissue/samples used. 
Recommended tests : 
Disease 
name  Test(s)  OIE Code Chapter reference(s)  OIE Terrestrial  Manual Reference 
Salmonella  Salmonella  culture (MPI 
recommended)  Biosecurity procedures in 
Poultry; and Prevention, detection and control of Salmonella  in poultry Fowl Typhoid and Pullorum Disease; and  Salmonellosis 
Notifiable avian influenza Virus isolation (OIE prescribed test for 
international trade): or  
ELISA , HI or AGID serology (OIE alternative tests for international trade); or 
RT-PCR (MPI Approved 
test)* Animal health surveillance; Avian Influenza; 
Biosecurity procedures in PoultryAvian Influenza 
APMV-1  Virus isolation (OIE 
prescribed test for 
international trade): or  ELISA or HI serology ; or 
RT-PCR (MPI approved 
test)* Animal health surveillance  Newcastle disease 
Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale ELISA Serology** Animal health surveillance 
 N/A 
Duck virus enteritis MPI approved RT-PCR or virus isolation  N/A 
Goose parvo virus and Muscovy duck parvo virus MPI approved RT-PCR, or ELISA   
Reovirus of Muscovy ducks Serum neutralisation, AGID, ELISA (must be MPI 
approved)   
Mycoplasma iowae 
 Culture   
 2 
Mycoplasma 
meleagridis Slide agglutination test   
* Post-arrival quarantine testing must be conducted on a suffici ent number of samples to give 99% confidence of detecting 
5% prevalence. This requires samples from 92 birds. For RT-PCR, up to 5 cloacal samples and 5 tracheal samples may be 
pooled, thus reducing the number of samples tested to 36. Se rological methods are not acceptable for testing duck flocks 
for ND. 
**A sufficient sample size is required to detect a sero-preval ence of at least 25% in a flo ck with 99% confidence. This 
would require samples from 16 birds.  
 
Post-arrival Laboratory Testing 
Diagnostic testing undertaken during post-arrival quarantine is conducted by MPI 
Investigation and Diagnostic Centre (IDC) laboratories. Approval of an alternative laboratory will require an application to MPI for approval with the following requirements being met: 
 MPI approval for each type of testing to be undertaken; 
 
Approval as a transitional facility under the appropriate MPI transitional facility 
standard with the appropriate physical containment approval for the samples held and testing carried out; 
 Current approval under the MPI Export Laboratory Assurance Programme (ELP) to 
conduct the required tests; (http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/exports/animals/oap/elp
 ) 
 
A conflict of interest declaration and management proposal relating to any conflicts of 
interest must be made and approved by the Manager, Animal Imports; 
 Approved laboratories and their approved tests will be listed within this guidance 
document. 
 
Currently approved laboratories for post-arrival laboratory testing: 
 
Laboratory 
Name Transitional Facility 
Approval Number Approved laboratory tests 
MPI IDC  All import testing 
Any suspension of approvals under the ELP will mean re vocation of approval for import laboratory testing . 
 
Model Veterinary Certificate 
An original Veterinary Certificate that conforms with the Code  Model International Veterinary 
Certificate must be issued for every consi gnment and accompany the consignment to New 
Zealand. 
 
The Veterinary Certificate for the hatching eggs or SPF eggs must provide the following: 
 Unique identification of the consignment 
 The description, species, and number of eggs 
 The name and address of the importer (consignee) and exporter (consignor) 
 The import permit number  
 A separate Veterinary Certificate should be supplied for each batch of eggs in the 
consignment 
 Be signed, dated and stamped on every page by the Official Veterinarian of the 
Competent Authority of the exporting country (this includes the Veterinary Certificates 
and all associated documents such as laboratory reports, or tabulated summary and 
 Guidance Document for Importing Commercial Poultry Hatching Eggs and Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 11 June 2012 
COMEGIC.GEN  
vaccination certificates) or MPI approved alternative security features offered by 
paper certificates. 
 The name, signature and contact details of the Official Veterinarian 
 All diagnostic test(s) used and date of sampling of the parent flock to meet the 
requirements of the import health standard. 
 All treatment(s) and vaccination(s) used including generic name, active ingredient, 
dose rate, and date of treatment. 
 Details of egg sanitiser used, including date of egg collection, date of sanitising, 
name, active ingredient and method of application of the sanitiser. 
 The unique seal number and date of sealing of the containers 
 
The following pages show the MPI model Veterinary Certificate for:  
Hatching eggs from commercial 
chickens ( Gallus gallus ), ducks, ( Anas platyrhynchos 
domesticus and Cairina moschata ) and turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ) and SPF chicken 
(Gallus gallus ) eggs. 
 
 
 4 
 
1.1.   Consignor (Exporter): 
Name: 1.2.  Certificate reference number: 
 
Address: 1.3.  Competent Authority: 
 
1.4.  Consignee (Importer): Name: 
 
Address:  
1.5. Country of origin                                              ISO 
Code * 
  1.6.   Zone or compartment of origin**:  
1.7. Country of destination:                                     ISO 
Code *  1.8.   Zone or compartment of destination**:                 Part 1: Details of dispatched consignment 1.9.  Place of origin: 
Name:                                                      
 
 Address: 
 1.10.  Place of shipment: 1.11.  Date of departure: 
1.13.  Expected border post: 1.12.  Means of transport:  
             Aeroplane    
        Ship             
 
         
Identification: 1.14. CITES permit No(s)**:   
1.16. Commodity Code  (ISO Code ) : 1.15. Description of commodity: 
 1.17. Total number of eggs: 
1.18.  Temperature of commodities for transport 1.19.  Total number of packages: 
1.20.  Identification of container/serial number: 1.21. Type of packaging: 
1.22.  
 
 
1.23 
                            
1.24.  Identification of commodities: 
 
 
Species (Scientific name) 
Domestic Chicken (Gallus gallus )  
Domestic Turkey ( Meleagris 
gallopavo)  
Domestic Duck ( Anaplatyrhynchos 
domesticus )  
Muscovy duck or hybrid ( Cairina 
moschata )   
 
Identification number/details 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
Breed*/Category* 
 
Age* 
 
Quantity  
 
 
Identification system  
  
* Optional ** If referenced in Part 2  
 
  
 
 
 Guidance Document for Importing Commercial Poultry Hatching Eggs and Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 11 June 2012 
COMEGIC.GEN  
 
  
Country:  X 
 2.a.  Certificate reference number: 
         Part II.  Zoosanitary Information The Competent Authority of the exporting country is required to issue a signed, stamped and dated Veterinary Certificate attest ing 
the following: 
 
2.  The undersigned Official Veterinarian certifies that t he hatching eggs described above satisfy the following requirements: 
Commodity Eligibility 
1. The hatching eggs for export to New Zealand were derived from parent flocks keep in accordance with the Code  Chapter 
on Biosecurity Procedures in Poultry Production.  
       OR 
2. The specific pathogen free eggs for export to New Zealand were  derived from chickens in  a specific pathogen free (SPF) 
flock which meets the minimum requirements for Chicken flocks free from specified pathogens for the production and 
quality control of vaccines of the European Pharmacopoeia. 
Inspection (commercial hatching eggs) 
3. The consignment was inspected by an officer approved by the Competent Authority within 48 hours pre-shipment for 
compliance verification.  
4. The parent flock was inspected by an Official Veterinarian within 21 days of egg collection and found to be free of clinical  
evidence of disease. 
Inspection (specific pathogen free eggs) 
5. The flock of origin was held under supervision of an Official Veterinarian, for at least 30 days immediately prior to the 
scheduled date of export in isolation facilities approved by the exporting countries Competent Authority. Any deaths or 
illnesses have been investigated by the Offi cial Veterinarian or by a registered veterinarian under the supervision of the 
Official Veterinarian. 
Treatment 
6. The eggs were clean when collected, unwashed and have intact  (uncracked) shells. They were collected separately from 
dirty and broken or cracked eggs. Hatching eggs were cleaned and sanitised as soon as  possible after collection using an 
approved sanitising agent, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and the Code  Chapter on Biosecurity 
Procedures in Poultry Production Laborator y or equivalent. (Details to be appended to the Veterinary Certificate). 
Testing 
7. Diagnostic testing was conducted at a laboratory approved by  the Competent Authority  to conduct the required export 
testing.  
8. Laboratory or other diagnostic tests used on birds were those prescribed for that disease in the Manual  for use during 
international trade, and/or those approved by MPI. 
9. Laboratory samples were collected, processed, and stored as recommended in the Code and/or Manual, and/or as 
specified  by MPI; 
10. Sampling of birds for diagnostic testing was randomised, and representative of the flock from which the eggs were 
collected.  
Transport 
11. The vehicle in which the eggs were transported to the port of departure was cleaned, disinfected and treated with an 
effective sanitiser before loading. (Details of tr eatment to appended to the Veterinary Certificate) 
12. During transport to the port of departure the eggs were kept isolated from poultry not of equal tested health status. The 
route of transport to the port of departure does not pass through any notifiable avian disease areas. 
13. Eggs were loaded into spill proof containers and into crat es that are new or cleaned and disinfected with an effective 
sanitiser before loading; (details to be appended to the certificate). 
14. Commercial poultry hatching eggs were sealed under Offi cial Veterinarian supervision,  and the unique seal number and 
date of sealing is recorded on the Veterinary Certificate, or in  the case of SPF eggs, the official veterinarian confirmed afte r 
due enquiry that the eggs were placed into spill proof contai ners and sealed into clean and di sinfected crates inside the 
facilities before dispatch. 
Approval of Specific Disease Free Compartments  
 6 
15. Where eggs are derived from flocks in  specific disease free compartments fo r risk organisms, the compartment has been 
approved by the exporting country’s Competent Authority and a Biosecurity plan for the compartment has been approved 
by MPI. 
For avian influenza  
16. The eggs were derived from parent birds that were resident  for at least the 21 days before, and during, egg collection in a  
country/zone/compartment that was free from highly pathogenic notifiable avian influenza (HPNAI), with current Code  
surveillance requirements being met for avian influenza. Test methods were in accordance with the Manual  or equivalent. 
             AND 
17. The eggs for export were derived from parent birds with a vaccination status of: 
a. Not Vaccinated for Avian influenza;  
        Or 
b. Vaccinated for avian influenza in acco rdance with the provisions of the Code and Manual and the nature of the 
vaccine used and the date of vaccination have been attached to the certificate. 
For avian paramyxovirus-1 (A PMV-1), Newcast le disease (ND) 
18. The eggs were derived from parent birds that were resident  for at least the 21 days before, and during, egg collection in a  
country, zone or compartment that was free from APMV-1, with current OIE Code  surveillance requirements being met for 
APMV-1. Test methods must be in accordance with the Manual  or equivalent.  
             AND 
19. The eggs for export were derived from parent birds with a vaccination status of; 
a. Not vaccinated for APMV-1;  
         OR 
b. Vaccinated with a live lentogenic vaccine strain wher e sequence analysis of the FO gene has demonstrated no 
more than two basic amino acids between residues 113 and 116 and no phenylalanine at residue 117, in 
accordance with the Manual , and the nature of the vaccine used and the date of vaccination have been 
attached to the certificate. 
For salmonella 
20. The eggs for export were derived from;  
a. poultry in a country/zone/compartment free from Salmonella Gallinarum-Pullorum   as demonstrated by 
surveillance, conducted in accordance with the Code requirements for Salmonella, and approved by MPI: 
        OR b. The eggs for export were derived from parent flocks certified as free from S. Gallinarum-Pullorum . Flock 
monitoring was in accordance with the Code  requirements for monitoring poultry establishments for 
Salmonella.   
21. Turkey hatching eggs for export were derived from: 
a. poultry in a country/zone/compartment free from S. arizonae  as demonstrated by surveillance, conducted in 
accordance with the Code  requirements for monitoring poultry br eeding flocks for Salmonella, and approved 
by MPI; OR 
b. derived from a parent flock certified free from S. arizonae . Flock monitoring must have been carried out in 
accordance with the Code  requirements for monitoring poultr y breeding flocks for Salmonella.  
OR 
c. derived from flocks demonstrated to be free of S. arizonae by testing at least 60 birds within the 7 day period 
before collection of the hatching eggs commenced with either; Salmonella culture on samples of pooled faeces 
or intestinal content; or an MPI approved diagnostic test. 
For Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale  
22. The eggs were derived from parent flocks in a country where Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale  has not been recognised; 
OR 
23. The eggs were derived from parent flocks shown to be free of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale  by serological testing. A 
sufficient sample of the parent flock was tested to show a sero -prevalence of 25% in a flock with 99% confidence within 21 
days of commencement of collection of eggs for export. 
For mycoplasma (turkeys only) 
24. 100% of birds in the supply flocks have been subjected with ne gative results in each case to the slide agglutination test o r 
 Guidance Document for Importing Commercial Poultry Hatching Eggs and Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 11 June 2012 
COMEGIC.GEN  
the haemagglutination test for Mycoplasma meleagridis .  
25. 10% of the birds in the supply flock have been subjected with  negative results in each case to cloacal swab culture for 
Mycoplasma iowae .  
(In the case of birds with tests results that were positive or inconclusive, a further sample was taken and retested by ELISA b y a 
laboratory approved by the Competent Authority of the exporting country. Any birds positive to this test was subject to post 
mortem and bacteriological examination and showed no evidence of Mycoplasma infection,) 
For duck virus enteritis (DVE)(ducks only) 
26. The eggs for export were derived from a parent flock not vaccinated for DVE. 
             AND EITHER 
27. The duck hatching eggs were derived from a parent flock in a country where DVE is not recognised.  
             OR 
28. The eggs were derived from parent flocks shown to be free of DVE by an approved MPI test within 21 days of 
commencement of collection of eggs for export. 
             OR 29. The parent flock could not be deemed free of DVE. Post -arrival quarantine is required (as per Part E, appendix 2). 
For Goose parvovirus and Muscovy duck Parvovirus (ducks only) 
30. The duck hatching eggs are from breeds other than Muscovy duck (Cairina moshata ) and their hybrids.  
             OR 
31. The Muscovy duck hatching eggs (or hybrid Muscovy duck hat ching eggs) were derived from a parent flock in a country, 
where goose parvovirus and Muscovy duck parvovirus is not recognised.  
            OR 32. The country of origin of the Muscovy duck hatching eggs (or hybrid Muscovy duck hatching eggs) cannot be deemed free 
of Muscovy duck parvovirus and/or goose parvovirus and the eggs  will require post-arrival quarantine (as per Part E,  
appendix 2). 
For reovirus of Muscovy Ducks (DRV) (ducks only) 
33. The duck hatching eggs are from breeds other than Muscovy duck (Cairina moshata ) and their hybrids.  
OR 34. The Muscovy duck hatching eggs (or hybrid Muscovy duck hat ching eggs) were derived from a parent flock in a country 
where reovirus of Muscovy ducks is not recognised. 
             OR 35. The country of origin of the Muscovy duck hatching eggs (or hybrid Muscovy duck hatching eggs) cannot be deemed free 
of reovirus of Muscovy ducks and the eggs will require post-arrival quarantine (as per Part E, appendix 2). 
For avian chlamydiosis (ducks only) 
36. The duck hatching eggs were derived from parent flocks in a country where Chlamydia psittaci (serovar C and E)  in ducks 
is not recognised. 
             OR 37. Eggs were derived from parent flocks where ongo ing surveillance has demonstrated flock freedom from C. psittaci (serovar 
C and E). 
38. The parent flock cannot be deemed free of C. psittaci (serovar C and E). Post-arrival quarantine testing is required (as per 
Part E, appendix 2).  
 
 
 8 
 Guidance Document for Importing Commercial Poultry Hatching Eggs and Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicken Eggs 11 June 2012 
COMEGIC.GEN   
 
Official Veterinarian:  Name and address (in capital letters):                                    Official  Veterinarian:  Date:                                                                                        Signature:  Stamp:                                                                                     Contact details: 
 
Bilaterally agreed Veterinary Certificates 
This section contains the veterinary health certification agreed between the Competent 
Authority of New Zealand and specific overseas countries. The certificates must be completed by the appropriate personnel as indicated in the certification and accompany the consignment to New Zealand. 
 
The agreed country specific Veterinary Certificates will be added as they become available.   
Review and amendment 
This guidance document is subject to ongoing review and amendment.  All stakeholders are 
responsible for ensuring that the most recent version of the guidance document, as available 
on the MPI website is used.