Official Assurances Programme

9 Transfer Documentation – Animal Fibre

9.1 Application
9.2 Commercial documents
9.3 Additional attestations
9.4 Eligibility documents
9.5 Eligibility for an official assurance

Version 6

June 2006

9.1 Application

In addition to the requirements contained in Part 4 of this Programme, this Part sets out an alternative to the eligibility document requirements in Part 5 of this Programme for the transfer documentation requirements that must be met to receive an official assurance for animal fibre.

9.2 Commercial documents

9.2.1 A commercial document, or an eligibility document raised in E-cert, must accompany all transfers of animal fibre between export approved premises.

9.2.2 The commercial document must include:

a. Consignor (export approved premises name and identifier)

b. Consignee (export approved premises name and identifier)

c. Description of goods

d. Number and kind of packages

e. Net weight.

9.2.3 Where a transfer of animal fibre between export approved premises:

a. contains animal fibre that has been imported into New Zealand

b. requires eligibility for a market subject to a requirement, as notified by way of OMAR, that can not be verified at the export approved premises to which it is being sent

c. contains animal fibre that has been processed, and the processing parameters to which the animal fibre has been subjected may be attested to on an accompanying export certificate,

then the commercial document must additionally include:

a. Declarations required to support the issuing of the required official assurance

b. Signature of operator

c. Date of Signature

d. Name of signatory in capital letters.

Any form of documentation, such as trucking dockets, can be used to meet the “commercial document” requirements of this Programme. Those operators requiring some assistance may elect to use the commercial document template provided by the NZFSA.

9.3 Additional attestations

9.3.1 The operator of each export approved premises must ensure that where any additional attestations are required:

a. to support the issue of an official assurance for a market and/or

b. by OMAR for a market

for which a consignment of animal fibre is intended to be eligible, such attestations are to be added to the commercial declaration.

9.3.2 Where additional attestations are added, they must be supported by operator procedures and supplier records, where appropriate.

Where the final destination of the animal fibre product is unknown, the operator’s procedures and records should consider all likely destinations to ensure that eligibility to the widest range of potential markets is maintained.

The interpretation of “the animal fibre was derived from animal resident in New Zealand, or animals domiciled in New Zealand” is that the animal fibre is derived from animals living in New Zealand at the time of harvest. In the case of animal fibre harvested from hides, pelts or skins; that the hide, pelt or skin from which the animal fibre was sourced was removed from an animal that died or was slaughtered in New Zealand.

Each operator must be able to demonstrate, through their operator records (including, where required, transfer documents) that no contributing animal fibre has been declared as imported. The chain of operator records will provide a traceback to the farm of origin.

The interpretation of “the animal fibre was legally imported from [country]” means the animal fibre has been imported either as animal fibre or as animal fibre on a pelt, hide or skin. Legally imported animal fibre must have both Biosecurity New Zealand clearance and New Zealand Customs clearance.

Additionally to be eligible for re-export, the animal fibre (and where applicable the hides, pelts and skins from which the animal fibre was harvested) must have been subjected to an inspection by an Animal Product Officer in accordance with OMAR 01/172 “Import of Foreign Animal Material and Animal Products and Return to New Zealand of New Zealand Animal Material and Animal Products for Domestic Use or Export.”

9.4 Eligibility documents

9.4.1 Where it is intended that animal fibre be exported with an official assurance, an eligibility document raised on E-cert must accompany the transfer of animal fibre from the final export approved premises to the exporter. The eligibility document must be raised prior to the animal fibre product departing the export approved premises.

Where the establishments preparing consignments for final export do not have the capability to raise eligibility documents, the operator of that establishment should engage an agent to raise eligibility documents on their behalf. The exporter could act as the agent. The eligibility document would be raised by the agent using the identifier of the establishments preparing consignments for final export. The agent is required to be specifically authorised by the operator to use their identifier and the operator is legally responsible for the eligibility documents raised by the agent.

9.4.2 The eligibility documents are completed once either:

a. an official assurances verifier with current first hand knowledge of the operation has issued the eligibility document or

b. an official assurance verifier has checked the eligibility document against the compliance database (checks must include confirming product eligibility and relevant country listings of source premises), and has issued the eligibility document.

9.5 Eligibility for an official assurance

9.5.1 Unless exempt from the requirement to be an export approved premises, animal fibre received from a premises that is not an export approved premises is ineligible for export with an official assurance.

9.5.2 Animal fibre received by an export approved premises that is not accompanied by transfer documentation in accordance with this Programme, is ineligible for export with an official assurance.

Refer to clause 3.1 for requirements of identification and separation of animal fibre that must be in place to prevent animal fibre from potentially being exported to markets for which it may be ineligible.

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Contact for enquiries

New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501

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