. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/155
28 September 2001
(01-4665)
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:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
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).  Herbs, spices, herbal infusions and teas  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:  Application A413 – Final
Assessment  Report for Irradiation of Herbs, Spices, Herbal Infusions and Teas (112 pages)
5. Description of content:  Currently the irradiation of food for human consumption is not
permitted in Australia or New Zealand.  ANZFA has received an application to permit the
sale of food products that have been irradiated for human consumption in New Zealand
including; herbs, spices, herbal infusions, and teas by amending Standards A17 and 1.5.3 –
Irradiation of Foods in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code .  The objective of
the application is to provide additional or alternative technologies to reduce pathogenic
microbial contamination, control of quarantine pests, control of weed seeds and inhibit
sprouting in certain food products.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] 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 [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods –
1983, Codex Standard on the Labelling of Pre packaged Foods.  Not a general approval for all
foods only those specified.  Pre market approval would be re quired for other foods on a case
by case basis.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  New Zealand Food
Regulations 1984;  Australian Food Standards Code  (Available both in English).
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Recommendation to Government anticipated late 2001;
adoption to follow,  pending Government approval.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not known, date of entry subject to Government
approval (see item 9 above).G/SPS/N/NZL/155
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  20 November 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:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority, PO Box 7186, Canberra
Mail Centre ACT 2610, Australia;  Fax:  +61 2 6271 2278;  E-mail:  info@anzfa.gov.au
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, SPS New Zealand, PO Box 2526, 101-103 The Terrace, Wellington,
New Zealand.  Tel: +64 4 474 4226.  Fax: +64 4 470 2730.  Email: sps@maf.govt.nz
Website at:  http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/sps/transparency/notifications/index.htm
This document has also been notified under the TBT agreement.
This document has also been notified by Australia.