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Imported food requirement: Raw milk cheeses
Recent Updates
Date |
Location |
Information |
1 July 2009 |
All |
Layout revised |
1.0 Scope
1.1 The purpose of this Imported Food Requirement is to provide administrative guidance to a Food Act Officer (FAO) as to the matters they may take into consideration when determining whether they have been satisfied by a person who imports food into New Zealand that the food complies in all respects with-
(a) All relevant provisions of the Food Act 1981; and
(b) All relevant provisions of any regulations made pursuant to the Food Act 1981; and
(c) All applicable food standards.
Nothing in this Imported Food Requirement limits the powers of a FAO appointed under the Food Act 1981.
1.2 Legislative requirement: Food (Prescribed Foods) Standard 2007
• Products covered under the scope of these requirements are Prescribed Foods for the purpose of import into New Zealand (Section 11P, Food Act 1981).
• No person may import these products into New Zealand unless that person has satisfied an officer that the food complies.
1.3 This Imported Food Requirement sets out clearance options and procedures for importers of prescribed foods that an importer may follow when aiming to satisfy a FAO that the food complies with the Food Act 1981.
1.4 These clearance options and procedures apply in addition to and after a prescribed food has gained clearance from MAF Biosecurity New Zealand. Importers should check those requirements at: MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.
1.5 Products include: Raw milk including:
• Roquefort and raw milk extra-hard hard grating cheeses
• Gruyere, Sbrinz and Emmental cheese manufactured from raw milk.
1.6 Products excluded: Pasteurised cheeses.
1.8 Food safety hazard: pathogenic bacteria.
1.9 Import permitted with conditions from: European Community.
1.10 All other countries are able to apply for a pre-clearance arrangement. Information on how a competent authority can apply is available online.
2.0 Importer Clearance Options
2.1 The clearance options and procedures in this Imported Food Requirement apply to raw milk cheese and are in addition to clearance requirements detailed in the Import Clearance Procedure.
2.2 Importers must also meet the requirements of the Food (Importer Listing) Standard 2008 and the Food (Importer General Requirements) Standard 2008. Importers should also read and understand the Food Importer Standards Guidance before sourcing products to import.
2.3 For raw milk cheese, importers have a responsibility under the Food (Importer General Requirements) Standard 2008 to ensure imports are of minimal risk for contamination by pathogens. Good manufacturing practices can greatly reduce the likelihood of the contamination by pathogens.
2.4 Consignments captured under these requirements may be cleared by pre-clearance arrangement ONLY. Such arrangements confirm that raw milk cheeses are produced under a programme that manages the hazards associated with raw milk cheeses and meets New Zealand’s requirements for raw milk cheeses. All conditions of the pre-clearance arrangement must be met before a product may be cleared for entry.
2.5 For the purposes of this document, origin includes where the raw milk and raw milk cheese was harvested/collected, processed, manufactured and exported from.
2.6 NZFSA has pre-clearance arrangements with the countries listed below, which permit import of raw milk cheeses into New Zealand and will satisfy a FAO that the food complies with the Food Act and can therefore be cleared:
European Community – Agreement covers Roquefort under this requirement originating and exported from the EC. Requirements to be met: Agreed certification issued by competent authorities of EC member states must accompany all imported consignments.
Switzerland – Arrangement covers Gruyere, Sbrinz and Emmental cheeses manufactured from raw milk and originating and exported from Switzerland. Requirements to be met: Agreed certification issued by the competent authorities of Switzerland must accompany all imported consignments.
3.0 Clearance Procedures
3.1 Documentation checks
All consignments accompanied by NZFSA recognised assurances / certification from the relevant competent authority are subject to 100% documentation checks unless otherwise stated in the arrangement with the exporting country. The certification will be specified under each pre-clearance arrangement.
3.2 Physical inspection
Certification may be verified by physical inspection of consignment. The rate applied is specific to each pre-clearance arrangement.
3.3 Management of non-compliant consignments
When clearance cannot be given because of non-compliance with import requirements, all determinations on disposition of non-complying consignments should be made in full consultation with NZFSA (or a representative nominated by NZFSA). This will facilitate appropriate corrective action and communication with relevant entities.
3.4 Contact details for border clearance agency
First stop for importers seeking more information.
Central Clearing House
NZFSA Verification Agency
Level 1, 96 New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland
PO Box 3540, Eden Terrace, Auckland
Email: imported.food@nzfsa.govt.nz
Fax: 09 909 6208
Phone: 09 909 6210 or 09 909 6211
To be notified of changes and updates to NZFSA’s website, including import requirements, go to the NZFSA website Notifications page.
4.0 Information for Exporting Countries
Raw milk cheeses are a permitted import into New Zealand ONLY where the product originates from countries where NZFSA has negotiated a pre-clearance arrangement with the country’s competent authority.
4.1 Review of import standard and requirements for raw milk cheese
NZFSA has carried out risk assessments on a small number of raw milk cheeses.
Background information is available:
The countries listed below have a pre clearance arrangement with NZFSA which recognises the consumer safeguards provided to manage the human health risks of raw milk cheese as complying with or equivalent to New Zealand’s requirements.
European Community / European Union
(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)
Council Decision 97/132/EC of 17 December 1996 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products, specifically in accordance with Council Directive 64/432/EEC, Council Directive 2002/99/EC, Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, (EC) No 853/2004, (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 2073/2005.
Roquefort cheese must be produced in compliance with European Commission (EC) Directive 2073/2005.
Switzerland
Emmental, Gruyere and Sbrinz cheeses manufactured from raw milk and processed according to the method set out in the Ordinance on Quality Assurance in the Dairy Industry of the Swiss Federal Council of 18 October 1995 have been recognised as equivalent to New Zealand standards and requirements.
4.2 Process to apply for pre-clearance
Pre-clearance arrangements confirm that raw milk cheeses are derived from a regulated environment in the exporting country which manages hazards and meets New Zealand’s requirements. Arrangements with exporting countries may vary according to the scope of the application and are specific to the recognised programme in operation in the exporting country.
The competent authority of an exporting country can apply to NZFSA for determination of a pre-clearance arrangement or for an equivalency assessment and determination of pre-clearance arrangement. Equivalency arrangements may or may not consider the country’s import control system.
The application should be sent to:
Director Standards
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
PO Box 2835
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Attention: Programme Manager (Import Systems)
Email: import.systems@nzfsa.govt.nz
Applications should be made in English in order to facilitate prompt assessment. Submissions in other languages can be accepted, however, delays in assessment may be experienced with third party translation services.
The application must be submitted as one of the three types of arrangement considered by NZFSA:
1. Overseas country / commercial entity applies measures equivalent to New Zealand Standards.
2. Overseas country / commercial entity comply with a food control system that NZFSA has determined as equivalent to New Zealand Standards.
3. Overseas country / commercial entity meets New Zealand Standards.
NZFSA will require that the competent authority of the exporting country provides assurances, through certification, as to the compliance or equivalence with New Zealand food safety requirements. NZFSA may undertake audits to review the arrangements. However, confidence could also be based on assessment of these systems by other competent authorities.
Note: Importers are encouraged to request their supplier to contact the competent authority in the exporting country to apply to NZFSA for assessment for a pre-clearance arrangement.
4.3 Contact point for SPS
One of the principal innovations of the World Trade Organisation Sanitary and Phytosanitary (WTO SPS) agreement (the agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures) is a requirement for prior notification of SPS measures. Each WTO member is required to designate a single central government authority as responsible for implementing, on a national level, the notification requirements of the SPS agreement. In addition, each Member is required to establish an Enquiry Point, which is responsible for the provision of answers to all reasonable questions as well as the provision of relevant documents.
The Contact Point for New Zealand can be contacted at:
5.0 Tariff Codes Targeted
Prescribed foods are targeted at the border using the New Zealand Customs tariff code system.
A tariff code is a number used for Customs purposes to classify goods. An import agent or customs broker may be able to assist with interpretation of the tariff code.
Importers who are importing raw milk cheeses under tariff codes not listed below should notify NZFSA Central Clearing House. CCH will notify NZFSA of the need to review the tariff codes targeted.
Inadvertent captures
As the tariff classification system is not designed specifically around the imported food regime, some food products may be inadvertently captured by the targeted tariff codes listed. If this is the case, products will not be subject to the sampling and testing protocol outlined in these requirements. Importers may apply to NZFSA for a multiple release permit (MRP) to facilitate clearance.
Products classified with the following tariff codes are captured under this requirement:
Tariff codes targeted for permitted raw milk cheeses | |
0406 Cheese and curd | |
0406.20.00.01A |
Cheddar Cheese Grated Etc |
0406.20.00.09G |
Colby Cheese Grated Etc |
0406.20.00.11J |
Cheshire Cheese Grated Etc |
0406.20.00.19D |
Egmont Cheese Grated Etc |
0406.20.00.21F |
Gouda Cheese Grated Etc |
0406.20.00.29A |
Other Cheese Grated Etc |
0406.90.00.01G |
Other Cheese In Tins |
0406.90.00.39D |
Other Cheese Other |
0406.40.00.00L |
Blue-veined cheese and other cheese containing veins produced by Penicillium roqueforti |
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
Contact
NZFSA about this page