./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/NZL/9
22 May 2002
(02-2812)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   NEW ZEALAND
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   Dr. Gerard Clover,
MAF Biosecurity Authority, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.
Tel:  +64 4 470 2743.  Fax:  +64 4 474 4257.  E-mail:  cloverg@maf.govt.nz
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Zea mays  (sweet corn,
pop corn and maize) seeds for sowing.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Protocol for testing
imports of Zea mays  seed for sowing for the presence of genetically modified seeds
(5 pages, in English).
6. Description of content:   Proposed measures to prevent the unauthorised importation of
genetically modified Zea mays  (sweet corn, pop corn and maize) seed into New Zealand.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
The Biosecurity Act 1993 prohibits the importation of a new organism that has not been
approved under the Hazardous Substances a nd New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO).  To date,
genetically modified organisms, including Zea mays  seeds, have not been approved for
release into New Zealand.  The proposed measur es aim to ensure that genetically modified
Zea mays  seeds, that are not approved under the HSNO Act, are not released into
New Zealand’s environment through imports of conventional Zea mays  seed.
The proposed measure will replace that introduced on 1 August 2001 for sweet corn ( Zea
mays ) seeds for sowing (G/TBT/N /NZL/2 refers). Upon adoption, the proposed measure
will remain in force until such time as genetically modified Zea mays  seed is approved for
release under the HSNO Act.
8. Relevant documents:   Protocol for testing imports of Zea mays  seed for sowing for the
presence of genetically modified seeds. Border Control for Genetically Modified (GM)
Seeds MAF Discussion Paper No: 31.G/TBT/N/NZL/9
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }1 August 2002
10. Final date for comments:   15 July 2002
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [     ] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:  Both the
protocol and discussion paper are available from Dr. Gerard Clover, MAF Biosecurity
Authority, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.  Tel:  +64 4 470 2743.
Fax:  +64 4 474 4257.  E-mail:  cloverg@maf.govt.nz.  The discussion paper is also
available online at www.maf.govt.nz/gmseeds.