. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/248
11 July 2003
(03-3793)
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 should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Bovine semen from Canada.
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
Canada
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Import health standard in
English for the importation of bovine semen into New Zealand from Canada – 13 pages.
6. Description of content:  This import health standard allows for the importation of bovine
semen into New Zealand from Canada.  It incl udes the following safeguards against diseases
of concern:
• Animals must spend 100 days in a bluetongue free zone before the semen is collected to
be exported  to New Zealand.
• Testing for Q fever is now required 'after' collection of semen to ensure that animals
did not become infected during the time of semen collection.
• Testing for BVD is required since Canada has BVDV type 2, which is not present in
New Zealand.
• Testing for IBR is required as the abortifacient form of IBRV occurs in Canada and not
in New Zealand.
7. 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
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ X ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [   ] None
If an international standard, guidelin e or recommendation exists, give the
appropriate reference and briefly identify deviations:
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  None
10. Proposed date of adoption:   22 August 2003
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   22 August 2003G/SPS/N/NZL/248
Page 2
12. Final date for comments:  8 August 2003
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:
Joanne Thompson
National Adviser International TradeAnimal Biosecurity Group
MAF Biosecurity Authority
P.O. Box 2526
Wellington
New ZealandTel:  (+64) 6 323 1183
Fax:  (+64) 6 323 1183
E-mail:  thompsonj@MAF.govt.nz
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Sally Griffin
Co-ordinator
SPS New ZealandPO Box 2526
101-103 The Terrace
Wellington
New Zealand
Tel:  (+64) 4 474 4140Fax:  (+64) 4 470 2730
E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz
Website: www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/sps/transparency/notifications/index.htm