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BSE Country Categorisation Process

Review of NZ’s BSE Country Categorisation Measure

Updated 18 February 2008

In March 2006 NZFSA released a discussion paper, Proposal to Amend the BSE Measures Applying to Imported Foods for Human Consumption, for consultation. Submissions on the proposal closed on 19 May 2006.

The discussion document is NZFSA’s proposed response to the Officials’ Review of New Zealand’s current BSE Country Categorisation Measure. The review team, consisting of experts from the biosecurity, public health and public policy fields, was asked to review New Zealand’s current controls around importing beef products that could contain the BSE agent. The review was in response to:

• experience gained since the height of the BSE epidemic in cattle

• advances in the scientific understanding of BSE and the associated risk of vCJD from BSE in food

• changes to the international standard (the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code) on which the current BSE Measure is based.

In addition to the stakeholder submissions, an opinion on the proposed Measure and the evidence on which it was based was sought from the BSE Expert Science Panel. The Panel had not met for some time and it was necessary to delay the finalisation of the Measure to allow the Panel time to provide a considered opinion on the proposed Measure.

Consultation on the proposed Measure attracted eleven submissions, with most being largely supportive of the proposed Measure. The BSE Expert Science Panel supported the recommendations to amend the Measure with some minor word changes. It recommended that the draft Measure be adopted with those changes.

NZFSA analysed the comments and concerns raised by submitters. A summary of submissions can be downloaded below.

NZSFA revised the BSE Measure to reflect the minor wording changes recommended by the BSE Panel. The Measure reflects changes made to the OIE Code with some key differences that anticipate regulations expected to be put in place internationally over the next two or three years. A summary of these differences can be downloaded below.

Government approved the revised BSE Measure at the beginning of March 2007. NZFSA adopted and implemented the new Measure by February 2008. An implementation timetable is available on-line by clicking here Implementation Plan for New Imported Food Requirements.

You can download the media release, the discussion document, Officials’ Review report, summary of submissions, summary of the differences between the current OIE code and New Zealand BSE Measure, and the new BSE Measure here.

Consultation document

Officials’ Review of New Zealand’s BSE Country-Categorisation Measure

Media Release: NZFSA reconsiders beef imports in light of growing body of knowledge about BSE

Summary of Submissions on proposed BSE Measure

Differences Between Current OIE Code and New Zealand BSE Measure

Amendments to the BSE Measures Applying to  Imported Food for Human Consumption