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EC/NZ SANITARY AGREEMENT
Imports of Animal and Animal Products from the European Community
August 2007
INTRODUCTION
New Zealand has a Sanitary Agreement with the European Community (EC) to facilitate trade of live animal and animal products. This means that New Zealand accepts EC sanitary measures (including food controls) as equivalent. Therefore a reduced level of frontier checks (physical and documentation) is required.
The following guidelines address the import requirements for animal and animal products of high or medium regulatory interest to NZFSA which fall under the Agreement.
Please note that other animal and animal products may be imported into New Zealand under the EC/NZ Agreement. These products have not been addressed in these guidelines as NZFSA does not require certification for products considered low regulatory interest. However, Biosecurity New Zealand may require documentation for import. For import of animal and animal products from EC not identified in these guidelines please contact Biosecurity New Zealand for more information: www.biosecurity.govt.nz
IMPORTED ANIMAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCT MONITORING
In accordance with the EC/NZ Sanitary Agreement, consignments1 of specific animal and animal products (listed below) manufactured2 and exported from the EC3 will be subject to a physical check4 at the rate of 2% and documentation check at the rate of 100%.
Specific Animal and Animal Products
• Soft cheeses, grated and powdered cheese (excluding raw milk cheese)
• Raw milk cheeses
• Ice-cream
• Crustacean – shrimps, prawns and their products
• Crustaceans - lobsters, crabs, bugs and their products
• Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish
• Fish – smoked (vacuum packed)
• Fish - manufactured fish products (surimi and marinara mix)
• Fish - histamine susceptible species
• Fish - susceptible to mercury and microbiological spoilage
• Meat Products
• Bovine meat or bovine derived ingredients
CLEARANCE PROCEDURE
Importer
Importers of specific animal and animal products (as listed above) manufactured and exported from the EC are eligible for a Multiple Release Permit (MRP). The MRP will contain specific conditions regarding the frequency of both physical and documentation checks. It is the responsibility of the importer to apply for and obtain a MRP.
MRP APPLICATION FORM
MRP Application Form (Part 1 and 2)
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
Physical Inspections
Up to 2% of consignments will be subject to a physical check. The MRP will provide guidance on meeting this criterion. It is the responsibility of the importer to arrange Health Protection Officers to physically check consignments (which may include sampling and testing) and bear the associated costs.
When sampling and testing is undertaken, requirements will follow the protocol set down in the ‘Imported Food Requirements’ or ‘Standard Management Rules’ (as applicable), which can be found at:
http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/imported-food/high-risk/index.htm
Note: The 2% physical check frequency supersedes the sampling frequency set down in the Standard Management Rules.
DOCUMENTATION CHECKS
Consignments will be subject to a 100% document check.
It is the responsibility of the importer to keep documentation records which will be checked as part of the audit process (see ‘Enforcement’ below).
ENFORCEMENT
MRP’s will be audited by Public Health Units on a 12 monthly basis.
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1 For the purposes of the EC/NZ Sanitary Agreement:
‘Consignment’ means a quantity of products of the same type, covered by the same documentation, conveyed by the same means of transport, consignee and originating from the same exporting country or part of such country.
E.g. A food type is more specific than a food product. Example: Food product = cheese, food type = soft cheese; food product = meat, food type = pate.
2 Refer to Documentation Requirements for information regarding animal product(s) imported into the European Community for re-export to New Zealand.
3 European Community (EC) countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom.
4 Physical check may include: sampling / testing, labelling checks, container seals and / or inventory checks.
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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