. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/140
4 April 2001
(01-1688)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
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).  Seed for sowing, Cannabis sativa  (low THC industrial hemp varieties only
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All
countries
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Generic import requirements
summary, commodity class: seeds (grain)/nut s, commodity sub-class: seed for sowing
Cannabis sativa  (low THC industrial hemp varieties only) from **country** (16 pages)
5. Description of content:  The generic import requirements summary (GIRS) stipulates the
requirements for the importation of Cannabis sativa  (low THC industrial hemp varieties
only) seeds for sowing into New Zealand.
This includes the pre-import requirements, phytosanitary certification requirements, transit
requirements, biosecurity and quarantine requirements, inspection and treatment
requirements and the actions undertaken on the interception or detection of regulated
organisms or contaminants.
6. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  None
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Proposed date of signing this generic import health standard
with approval is 5 June 2001.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Upon approval the GIRS enters into force.G/SPS/N/NZL/140
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  31 May 2001
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body: Director, Plants Biosecurity, MAF Biosecurity Authority,
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, P O Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand, Attention:
Dr Joan Breach, National Advisor Import Health Standards – Plants.  Fax:  +64 4 474 4257;
E-mail:  plantihs@maf.govt.nz
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Mr Keawe
Woodmore, Coordinator, New Zealand SPS Notification Authority, PO Box 2526, 101-103
The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand.  Tel:  +64 4 474 4226;  Fax:  +64 4 470 2730.
E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz