. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/135
30 March 2001
(01-1608)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Deer/elk velvet  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent
relevant or practicable:  Sweden
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Import health standard for the
importation of deer/elk velvet into New Zealand from specified countries (dated
14 March 2001) (10 pages)
5. Description of content:  This import health standard permits the importation of deer/elk
velvet from specified countries recognised as fr ee from foot and mouth disease.  The standard
includes the following safeguards:
(a) Foot and mouth disease and rinderpest have not occurred in the country of origin
during the previous twelve months.
(b) the velvet must be derived from live animals or in the case of velvet derived from
slaughtered animals, the products were derived from animals that passed ante-
mortem and post-mortem inspection at the time of slaughter.
6. Objective and rationale:  [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  This import health standard has been amended to remove
Sweden from the country of origin clause  following information received by MAF
Biosecurity regarding the outbreak of foot and mouth disease on the European continent
linked to the movement of animals from the United Kingdom.  New Zealand is temporarily
suspending the import of live animals and an imal products from the European Union.  The
suspension will be continually reviewed as the foot and mouth status of EC member States
is clarified.G/SPS/N/NZL/135
Page 2
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Higher level of sanitary protection than would
be achieved by measures based on the OIE International Animal Health Code: Mammals,
Birds and Bees.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  None
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  14 March 2001
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[ X ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Mr Keawe Woodmore, Coordinator, New Zeal and SPS Notification Authority, PO Box 2526,
101-103 The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand.  Tel: +64 4 474 4226.  Fax: +64 4 470 2730.
E-mail: sps@maf.govt.nz
Comments: Barbara Christensen, National Ad viser, International Trade, Biosecurity
Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.
Tel:  +64 4 498 9807; Fax:  +64 4 474 4227;  E-mail: christensenb@maf.govt.nz