WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/77/Add.1
19 July 2001
(01-3580)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
Addendum
The following communication, dated 11 July 2001, has been received from New Zealand.
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Permanent amendment to the New Zealand (Mandatory) Food Standard 1997 to protect public health
from the risks of developing vCJD from consuming bovine products.
This addendum is to notify WTO Members that the New Zealand (Emergency) Food Standard
2001 has expired and as of 5 July 2001, Amendment 1 to the New Zealand (Mandatory) Food
Standard 1997 will come into force.  At this stage there is no change to the restrictions on the entry of
European and Oman beef and beef products.  But we are currently developing certification
requirements for a permanent measure which we hope to finalise in the near future.
On 5 January 2001, the Ministry of Health issued the New Zealand (Emergency) Food
Standard 2001. The emergency food standard was issued following increased surveillance and testing
in Europe that demonstrated the extent BSE may have spread. The standard was notified to WTO
members as a provisional measure on 12 January 2001 in G/SPS/N/NZL/77.
The emergency food standard required that beef and beef products imported from 30, largely
European countries have restricted entry into New Zealand to protect public health while we develop
a permanent measure, including certification requirements, based on science and international
standards. The BSE emergency food standard and our notification to WTO members stated that theprovisional measure would remain in force for a period of up to six months from 5 January 2001.
New Zealand has now amended the New Zealand (Mandatory) Food Standard 1997 (with
effect from 5 July) to include bovine products.  The certification requirements which will give
meaning to this standard (and provides the inform ation on how the standard for bovine products shall
be implemented) have taken longer than we would have hoped to develop. In the meantime thepermanent amendment to the New Zealand (Mandatory) Food Standard 1997 will operate with the
same import requirements outlined for the provisional measure notified by New Zealand on
12 January 2001.
We anticipate notifying to WTO members very soon New Zealand’s proposed permanent
measure (including the certification requirements which will give effect to the measure) Members willbe provided with an adequate consultation period to comment.
The notified document can be obtained from the Ministry of Health website
(www.moh.govt.nz) or Mr Keawe Woodmore, Coordinator, New Zealand SPS Notification Authority,
PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.  Tel:  +64 4 474 4226;  Fax:  +64 4 470 2730;  E-mail:
sps@maf.govt.nz.
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