Risk Management Proposal  
Animal Fibre 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 2012 This page is intentionally blank 
 
 
 
 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
Pastoral House 
25 The Terrace 
PO Box 2526 
Wellington 6011 
New Zealand 
 
Tel: 64 4 894 0100 
Fax: 64 4 894 0731 
 
Import and Export Standards 
 
 
 
  
Risk Management Proposal: Animal Fibre 
07 March 2012    
  
Contents 
Purpose 3
Background 3
Objective 3
Commodity scope 4
Biological risks associated with animal fibres 4
Potential biological risks 5
Propo
sed risk management measures 6
 
 
     
                           
 
Risk Management Proposal: Animal Fibre 
07 March 2012   Page 2 of 13   
  
Purpose  
1. This document summarises the biosecurity risks associated with the 
importation of animal fibres from all countries and seeks stakeholder feedback 
on the recommended measures proposed in the import health standard (IHS) 
for animal fibres. 
 
Background 
2. This IHS has been developed under Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act (1993). 
IHSs specify the risk management measures that must be applied to risk goods to ensure that biosecurity risk organisms are not associated with those risk goods.   
 
3. In July of 2011 MAF began work on a review and amalgamation of the current 
animal fibre IHSs. The review forms part of MAF’s annual work programme to deliver consolidated and more outcome focused IHSs.  
 
4. 
There are 16 import health standards that currently apply to imported animal 
fibres and associated packaging. These standards have been written for a multitude of commodities, species, and countries. These standards are 
presented at the end of this document in Appendix 1.   
 
5. The risk management measures in the 16 IHSs are based on four Import Risk 
Analyses (IRAs). These IRAs examined the biological risks associated with 
specific animal fibres, and in some cases specific countries, and proposed risk 
management measures to manage the biological risks.  
 
6. A new generic IRA has not been developed as part of this review so the new 
IHS is based on the previous IRAs described in this document. A comparison 
of risks and risk management measures fr om the various IRAs and IHSs was 
conducted to identify areas of alignment.  
  
7. With the new IHS, a guidance document will be issued by MAF. This 
document will provide information regar ding transitional facilities and approved 
treatments. A model Veterinary Certificate is also located in the guidance document and any bilaterally-agreed Veterinary Certificates for trade in animal 
fibre will be added as they become available.  
 
Objective 
8. The objective of this risk management proposal is to propose measures to 
manage all biological risks associated with the import of animal fibre consistent 
with New Zealand’s domestic legislation and international obligations.  
 
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Commodity scope 
 
9. For the purposes of this standard animal fibres are defined as the natural 
external fibrous appendages that form part of the integument of an animal. 
They can be derived from ruminants (e.g. sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, and 
yaks), swine, poultry, and fur–bearing mammals (e.g. rabbits, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, minks). 
 
10. 
Animal fibres can be processed (e.g. scoured, dyed yarn) or unprocessed (e.g. 
greasy wool) and are mostly imported for spinning, dyeing into yarn, and/or manufacture. Examples of animal fibres are; wool, hair, cashmere, angora, mohair, fur, bristles, and feathers.  
 
Exclusions 
11. 
This standard excludes hides and skins with fibre attached and game trophies. 
These commodities are covered by the IHSs for hides and skins from all 
countries  and ornamental animal products from all countries . This standard 
also excludes deer/elk velvet as the end use of this commodity is generally for 
human consumption. 
 
12. Commercially manufactured item s containing animal fibres have been 
excluded from the standard and detailed in the guidance document associated 
with this standard. This is because they have been processed such that they no longer comprise a risk good (e.g. apparel, carpets, fabric, silk)   
 
Biological risks associat ed with animal fibres 
 
13. The biological risks associated with the importation of animal fibres have been 
examined in four MAF IRAs:  
o Unprocessed fibre of sheep and goats  - issued November 1998 
o Possum fibre from Australia - issued May 1999 
o Macropod fibre and skins from Australia - issued December 1998 
o Weed species by live animals and unprocessed fibre of sheep and 
goats  – issued  May 1999 
 
14. The IRA for hides and skins from specified animals published in April 2008  
examined the biological risks posed by hides and skins (with fibre attached) of 
farmed production animals (e.g. ruminants, horses, pigs, lamoids, and ratites). 
This IRA was considered in addition to the four IRAs identified above. These IRAs are available on MAF’s website 
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/imports/ihs/risk
 
 
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Potential biological risks 
  
15. The potential biological risks associated with imported fibres for which risk 
mitigation measures should be applied are detailed in Table 1. This table also 
includes the susceptible species for each risk.  
 
Table 1: Potential biological risks by species  
Biological risk  Specified 
ruminants Equine Swine Avian  Rabbit, 
Possum, 
Kangaroo 
Anthrax ( Bacillus anthracis )      
Q-fever ( Coxiella burnetii )      
Foot and mouth disease       
Enterobacteriaceae (e.g. 
exotic Salmonella spp)      
Ectoparasites (hitch hikers)      
Brucellosis (exotic Brucella  
spp.)      
Pox viruses (Lumpy skin disease, sheep/goat pox)      
Enzootic abortion of ewes (Chlamydophila abortus)       
Swine vesicular disease      
Classical swine fever      
Porcine enteroviruses      
Bovine viral diarrhoea (type 
2)      
Highly pathogenic avian 
influenza      
Newcastle disease      
Infectious bursal disease      
Glanders ( Burkholderia 
mallei)       
Melioidosis ( Burkholderia 
pseudomallei)       
Plant material and weed seeds      
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Proposed risk management measures  
16. The risk management measures that MAF requires are detailed in the 
standard and associated guidance document. The measures have been 
transcribed from the IHSs listed in Table 1. 
 
17. The risk management options proposed and discussed in this document are 
restricted to changes to existing import requirements only. These are 
presented as proposed changes with associated rationale.  
 
Proposed change – lump
y skin disease (LSD), sheep and goat pox measures 
18. The certification requirements for unscoured fibre have been updated to align 
with the OIE Code country freedom criteria.  
 
Rationale  
19. 
The current certification for unscoured fibre requires no cases of lumpy skin 
disease and sheep and goat pox to have occurred in the country of origin 
during the previous 12 months. There are however no criteria for how this is to be verified and the timeframe is a lower appropriate level of protection than that specified by the OIE Code.  
 
20. Given the high impact pox viruses would have in New Zealand the proposed 
certification change is that unscoured fibre must originate from a country free 
from lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox in accordance with the OIE 
Code . By including the OIE Code exporting countries can now base their 
certification on the criteria specified in the Code which state: 
 
o  For a country to be considered free from lumpy skin disease the OIE 
Code requires that three criteria be met.  
i. LSD is notifiable in the country; and 
ii. no case of LSD has been confirmed for at least the previous 3 
years; and 
iii. no vaccination against LSD has been performed for at least 3 
years. 
 
o For a country to be considered free from sheep and goat pox the OIE 
Code requires that sheep and goat pox has not been present for at least the past 3 years.   
 
 Proposed change - anthrax risk management measures 
21. The risk management options for anthrax have been aligned using the options 
from all existing standards and MAF proposes a further heat treatment option 
of 90°C for 45 minutes to give the standard more flexibility for end users.  
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Rationale  
22. The measures for anthrax vary cons iderably between the existing IHSs. They 
list the following measures for anthrax (short codes of each IHS given): 
a. animal fibre is derived from live healthy animals resident in the country of 
origin (fibunpic.all, fibsucic.all, fibscoic.all); 
b. animal fibre is derived from animals that have been slaughtered to 
produce meat for human consumption (fibunpic.all, fibsucic.all, 
fibscoic.all);  
c. 
animal fibre is derived from an anthrax - free area (fibrabic.all);  
d. animal fibre is derived from an area/s where no cases of anthrax have 
occurred in the 6 months prior to the date of the shipment (fibsraic.all);  
e. animal fibre is derived from animals processed under the Australian 
Standard for the Hygienic Production of Game Meat for Human 
Consumption (fibsraic.all, hidmacic.aus);  
f. 
animal fibre is derived from animals in an anthrax - free state of Australia 
where there are procedures that ensure the detection of outbreaks, 
effective quarantining of premises, and destruction of all parts of animals with anthrax (hidmacic.aus);  
g. animal fibre is immersed in water at 95°C for 25 minutes, or 100°C for 15 
minutes (fibwpkic.all, hidmacic.aus, fibminic.uk).  
 
23. To avoid duplication, options 24e, 24d, and 24f have been removed as they 
are covered less prescriptively by options 24b and 24c. The defining requirements of an anthrax free area (24d and 24f) have been incorporated 
into the standard as a definition. The new optional measure in the standard is 
that fibre must originate  from animals resident in an anthrax free area/s. The 
veterinary certificate in the guidance document provides some criteria for how to meet this measure. 
 
24. The immersion in hot water measure (option 19g) is derived from Chapter 
8.1.10 of the OIE Code
. This chapter provides moist time/temperature 
recommendations for the inactivation of anthrax spores in meat and bone meal. MAF considers these thermal parameters would be adequate for animal fibres. This chapter outlines a further temperature/time combination of 90°C for 45mins which has been added as a risk management measure for anthrax.  
 
Proposed change - hot water dyeing  
25. It is proposed that where imported fibre has been hot water dyed at an 
approved transitional facility it can receive biosecurity clearance at this point.  
 
Rationale 
26. Weed species were considered in the MAF  IRA: Importation of weed species 
by live animals and unprocessed fibre of sheep and goats . The IRA 
recommended that plant and seed material removed from fibre during carding, 
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scouring, or testing should be collected and either incinerated or deep buried. 
This IRA did not look at the effect of hot water dyeing on either the survival of seeds, or the transmission of diseases on seeds and plant material.  
 
27. The unprocessed fibre standard (fibunpic.all) requires processing to remove 
seeds and plant material at a transitional facility after the fibre has been dyed. MAF has approved some hot water dyeing systems that facilities operate as 
being equivalent to the requirement of processing to remove seeds and plant material. 
 
28. 
Loose stock dyeing is the predominant method for colouring fibres in New 
Zealand facilities before the carding, gilling and combing processes.  Some wool in New Zealand is still dyed as yarn but most is stock dyed. The dyeing process is achieved by boiling the fibre with the dye pigments for at least one 
hour.  Different facilities in New Zealand have indicated the temperatures are 
normally around 85°C -100°C. The wool is held at these temperatures for a set hold time (varies depending on colour) which can be up to 2 hours.   
 
29. 
It is proposed that where imported fibres have been hot water dyed before 
carding that biosecurity clearance can be given to the fibres at that stage. MAF considers it highly unlikely that any seeds, plant chaff, or any associated plant diseases being vectored would be viable after such processing.  
 
Proposed change - hot water treatments on arrival 
30. It is proposed that imported fibre can be hot water treated; using the anthrax 
inactivation time temperatures at an approved transitional facility and receive 
biosecurity clearance.  
 
Rationale 
31. This measure is an offshore certification option for animal fibres under the IHS 
for specified animal products and biologicals (ineproic.all). This proposal adds some flexibility to the standard but does not alter New Zealand’s level of protection.  
 
32. The risk posed by plant material would be managed by the time/temperatures 
consistent with the hot water dyeing proposal above.   
 
Proposed change – feathers commercially manufactured into articles 
33. Feathers that have been commercially manufactured into articles that require 
no further processing and are ready for sale to the public must be free of 
visible contamination (e.g. blood, skin, manure, soil, plant material, and pest 
infestation). If contaminated the feathers must be treated as per the MAF 
Approved Biosecurity Treatments Standard . 
 
 
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Rationale 
34. The existing import health standard for feathers for commercial, fly-tying and 
ornamental purposes ( feacfoic.all ) is confusing and has led to goods being 
inconsistently authorised at the border. 
 
35. Only goods containing visible feathers can be inspected and some items such 
as shuttle cocks, dyed feathers, fishing flies, quilts and duvets may be 
assumed to meet the requirement without the need for inspection. This is detailed in the guidance document accompanying the standard.   
 
36. 
The risks of commercially manufactured articles (pillows, sleeping bags etc) 
are considered negligible due to the unlikely exposure pathway to susceptible avian species. The transmission of diseas es on feathers (HPAI, IBD) is mostly 
via the faecal-oral route so provided the feathers have been adequately 
washed (which one can assume is the case otherwise undesirable odours 
would be present) then it is unlikely that any diseases would be present in the feathers.  
 
37. 
Feathers on handicrafts and artifacts (dream catchers, mats) are mostly 
imported by individuals returning from overseas holidays. Currently, unless originating from certain Pacific Islands, all feathers on handicrafts must be fumigated with formalin. No specific requirements are given for feathers on artifacts.  
 
38. MAF considers the exposure risk from handicrafts and artifacts is the same as 
from commercially manufactured items. These items would be highly unlikely to come into contact with susceptible avian species.  There is the possibility that the feathers may not have been adequately washed so MAF proposes they be visually inspected for any signs of contamination (e.g. blood, skin, manure, soil, plant material, and pest infestation). If contamination is present 
the items must be fumigated with formalin.  
 
Proposed change - manufacturer’s declaration for loose feathers 
39. Manufacturer’s declaration requirement added for loose feathers that have 
been commercially washed.  
 
Rationale 
40. Loose feathers can currently be imported provided they have been 
commercially washed under the IHS for feathers (feacfoic.all). The inclusion of 
this clause enables inspectors to request documentation for verification.  
 
Proposed change 
- post entry requirements  
41. Post entry requirements for animal fibres have been amended to provide more 
options for imported packaging and effluent generated during processing.  
 
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Rationale  
42. The post entry requirements for hides and skins were amended in 2010 to 
manage risk organisms in the disposal of any wastes generated during 
processing. The risks posed by animal fibres are similar to hides and skins so 
the requirements have been amended accordingly.  
 
Proposed change  - transhipment requirements 
43. It is proposed that a veterinary certificate and a permit to import must now 
accompany transhipped consignments. 
 
Rationale  
44. 
Transhipment is movement of product from the country of origin to the country 
of final destination via an intermediate country where the container enclosing 
the product has been customs cleared, opened, the contents removed, and (a portion of) the original product is then shipped from the intermediate country’s 
warehouse to the final destination in the importing country.   
 
45. 
Historically, some transhipments of animal fibres have arrived in New Zealand 
without any official assurances in regards to our import requirements. The 
existing standards do not have any requirements for transshipped 
consignments so this amendment is proposed to address any risk resulting 
from adulteration, substitution, or contamination.  
  
46. Transshipped consignments must now have a veterinary certificate issued by 
the country of origin meeting New Zealand’s import requirements and a veterinary certificate issued by the intermediate country certifying that the 
animal fibre has not been further processed, commingled, or cross-
contaminated while in the transhipping country. 
 
 
Proposed change – New Zealand/Australian origin scoured wool processed 
offshore 
47. It is proposed that country limitations for processing New Zealand and 
Australian scoured wool offshore be removed.   
 
Rationale 
48. There are currently two IHSs that allow for New Zealand and Australian wool 
to be processed offshore (fibtopic.ger and fibwooic.prc). These IHSs allow for 
scoured wool to go to China and Germany for further processing.  
 
49. The measures for trade are identical to the measures for scoured and carded 
wool from all countries
 except for two attestations. The first is that there is no 
requirement for disease attestations (freedom from anthrax, FMD, Pox 
viruses). This is managed instead by an attestation for country of origin (is of New Zealand/Australian origin).   
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50. The second is an additional attestation for handling requirements which states 
the fibre has not been in contact with unprocessed wool in the facility offshore. 
The handling requirement attestation and country of origin attestation 
manages the risk of contamination and substitution irrespective of country of processing.  
 
51. 
There should be no further processing requirements for NZ origin wool, 
however Australian origin wool must still meet the additional processing 
requirements.   
 
 
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Risk Management Proposal: Animal Fibre 
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 Appendix One: Current IHSs for animal fibres  
 
Full Title Short code Species covered 
Scoured cashmere/mohair/wool from the People's Republic 
of China  - issued 14 January 1998  fibcmwic.prc Goat/sheep 
Private consignments of animal fibre from all countries  - 
issued 11 November 2002  fibfleic.all Goat/sheep/camelid 
Scoured, uncarded specified ani mal fibre from all countries  - 
issued 02 September 2004  fibsucic.all Goat/sheep/camelid/yak 
New Zealand/Australian origin wool tops from Germany  - 
issued 15 May 2001  fibtopic.ger Sheep 
Unprocessed specified animal fibre from all countries  - 
issued 02 September 2004 fibunpic.all Goat/sheep/camelid/yak 
Scoured New Zealand/Australian origin animal fibre from 
People's Republic of China  - issued 15 May 2001 fibwooic.prc Goat/sheep/camelid 
New Zealand origin animal fibre (returned) from all countries  
- issued 28 November 2000  fibnzoic.all All 
Scoured and carded specified animal fibre from all countries  
- issued 02 September 2004  fibscoic.all Goat/sheep/camelid/yak 
Mink fibre from United Kingdom  - issued 15 May 2001  fibminic.uk Mink 
Possum fibre from Australia  - issued 15 May 2001  fibposic.aus Possum 
Unprocessed rabbit fibre from all countries  - issued 26 June 
2001  fibrabic.all Rabbit 
Scoured rabbit fibre from all countries  - issued 26 June 2001 fibsraic.all Rabbit 
Macropod hides and fibre from Australia  - issued 15 May 
2001  hidmacic.aus Kangaroo/wallaby/wallaroo
Goat/sheep/camelid/yak 
Horse Specified animal products and biologicals  - issued 08 June 
2011* ineproic.all 
 
All 
Feathers for commercial, fly- tying, and ornamental purposes 
from all countries  - issued 07 October 2004 feacfoic.all Avian  
Wool packs (used) from all countries  - issued 28 November 
2000 fibwpic.all Sheep  
*The standard for specified animal products and biol ogicals (ineproic.all) contains clauses for the 
following animal fibre commodities:  
o private consignments of goat/camelid/sheep/yak fibres  
o hair and bristles from all species/countries 
o horse tails from Australia 
o commercially manufactured products 
o silk tops and other processed silk fibres