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Food Focus August 2007

Rules tightened around shellfish imports

Changes to the Prescribed Food Standard and import requirements for bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) will come into effect in late August. This is the first time the mollusc import requirements have been reviewed since they became a prescribed food in 1996.

Imports of BMS products are now required to comply with or be equivalent to the New Zealand BMS standard. Consignments of BMS arriving in New Zealand will only be cleared if the exporting country has a recognised BMS programme that manages hazards in a way that meets New Zealand’s requirements.

Countries that have been exporting BMS to New Zealand and do not have a recognised programme will have 12 months to apply to meet the new import requirements once introduced. More details will be available on NZFSA’s website www.nzfsa.govt.nz.