. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/153
10 August 2001
(01-3971)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Pig meat products.  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent
relevant or practicable:  Canada, Denmark, Mexico (sta te of Sonora), United States
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  "Information note for WTO
Members - importation of pig meat products from Canada, Denmark, Mexico and the
United States" (63 pages) (available in English)
5. Description of content:  An information note for WTO Members with copies of the affected
import health standards attached.  The note outlin es in more detail New Zealand's provisional
measures for the importation of pig meat due to the risk of introducing porcine reproductive
and respiratory syndrome.  New Zealand intends to revise the existing import health standardsfor uncooked pig meat and reissue amended standards on 1 September 2001.  The amended
standards will provide for the cooking of importe d uncooked pig meat in transitional facilities.
6. Objective and rationale:  [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,
[    ] protect territory from other damage from pests           
7.Nature of the urgent problem(s):  A number of countries including Canada, Denmark,
Mexico (state of Sonora) and the United States of America, for which current import health
standards exist, have a disease called porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
(PRRS).  This disease is not present in New Zealand, Australia or Sweden. Provisionalmeasures have been taken following  the consideration of new research data from the
Netherlands (commissioned by Australia) which indicates that the virus can be spread to
healthy animals if they eat sufficient quantities of the uncooked meat.  Following receipt of
this research data, MAF Biosecurity began a reassessment of the risks of introducing PRRS
into New Zealand in imported pig meat.
In accordance with the international (OIE) guidelines for risk analysis ( International Animal
Health Code,  Chapter 1.3.2) the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has
completed the release assessment (refer Article 1.3.2.4) as part of its draft risk analysis.
This release assessment concludes that there is a risk of introducing the PRRS virus in
uncooked pig meat from countries where the disease is endemic.
The new import conditions introduce cooking as a risk-mitigating measure.  Cooking may
take place either:  (a) pre-border i.e. in the exporting country;  or (b) in a transitional facilityin New Zealand.  The new measures will apply to imports of uncooked pig meat productsG/SPS/N/NZL/153
Page 2
(such as fresh, chilled or frozen pig meat , and frozen pig byproducts) from Canada,
Denmark, Mexico and/or the USA.
Products already en route to New Zealand will be permitted entry provided they arrive on or
before 31 August 2001.  It is proposed that from 1 September all pig meat products from
countries affected by PRRS must be cooked before they can be given biosecurity clearance(i.e. before the products can be marketed in New Zealand).
New Zealand is working to complete its draft risk analysis.  Further import health standards
that facilitate trade and manage the risk to New Zealand from PRRS will be developed as
required and New Zealand's provisional measures may change as a result.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations: There is no international standard, guideline or
recommendation for PRRS.  The release assessment has been conducted in accordance with
the international (OIE) guidelines for risk analysis ( International Animal Health Code ,
Chapter 1.3.2.)
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Draft risk analysis
for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in chilled and frozen pig meat
(2001) (available in English)
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  Proposed 1 September
2001
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[ X ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Comments:  Dr. Barbara Christensen
National Advisor, International Trade, MAF Biosecurity Authority
PO Box 2526
101-103 The Terrace
Wellington
New Zealand
Tel:  +64 4 498 9807
Fax  +64 4 474 427
Email:  sps@maf.govt.nz