RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/36
15November 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-3551)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
PROTOCOL FOR THE EXCHANGE OFINFORMATION:
PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BYNEW ZEALAND
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
OFAPLANT IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD1
Submission byNewZealand tothe
meeting of15-16 November 1995
Introduction
1. Thispaper describes theprocedures thatNewZealand hasestablished forthenegotiation of
bilateral quarantine protocols withreference toplantproducts. Theunderlying criteria areasfollows:
- tofacilitate market access while protecting NewZealand 'simportant agricultural sector
from unwanted pests anddiseases;
- toclarify thevarious procedures inbilateral market access negotiations sothatboth
parties clearly understand eachothers obligations andresponsibilities atvarious stages
ofthenegotiations;
- toensure thathazards associated withtheimportation ofvarious plants areidentified
andtheassociated risksareassessed andmanaged totheextent possible intheexporting
country;
- toreduce costs ofcompliance withregard toquarantine procedures; and
- toensure consistency intheprocess ofdeveloping anynewquarantine standards and
toensure thatnewly developed plantimport health standards areconsistent withNew
Zealand 'sinternational obligations.
GeneralproceduresforthedevelopmentandimplementationofaNewZealandPlantImportHealth
Standard
2. Annex 1describes thedifferent stages ofbilateral negotiations from thetimeanapplication
formarket access isreceived tothestage ofclearance ofaproduct forentry intoNewZealand. The
sequence ofexchange ofinformation isasfollows:
(a) Thefirststepinthebilateral negotiations onmarket access usually commences with
arequest fromanexporting country formarket access foraparticular plant product;
1Prepared bytheNewZealand Ministry ofAgriculture asaninformation paper totheThird Meeting
oftheWTO Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures.G/SPS/W/36
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(b) Upon receipt ofsucharequest, theNewZealand National PlantProtection Organization
(NZMinistry ofAgriculture) prepares a"Comprehensive List" ofpests relevant to
thatplantproduct andforwards ittotheexporting country 'sNational Plant Protection
Organization (NPPO) foritsresponse;
(c) TheNPPO oftheexporting country reviews thepestlistprovided byNewZealand
toproduce itscountry listofpestsincluding anyadditional pestspresent inthecountry
butnotonthelistprepared byNewZealand. Thecountry pestlistissubmitted to
theNewZealand NPPO foritsconsideration;
(d) TheNewZealand NPPO reviews thecountry listandcategorizes themintoquarantine
andnonquarantine pests. Thisinformation isusedtodetermine thephytosanitary
measures required tobemetbefore theproduct isallowed toenterNewZealand. This
isreferred toasthePlant Import Health Standard. Typically aPlant Import Health
Standard would listthegeneral conditions forentry ofplant products, pre-export
inspection requirements, offshore quarantine requirements, country pest list,
shipping/transit requirements, actions taken intheevent ofpestinterception andpost
entry quarantine conditions;
(e) TheDraft Plant Import Health Standard isforwarded totheexporting country for
consideration. Iftheexporting country accepts thestandard itthenhastheresponsibility
toestablish export certification systems andprocedures toconform totheplantimport
health standards. Theprocess ofdevelopment ofaplant import health standard may
frequently involve multiple rounds ofconsultations andexchange ofinformation before
animport health standard isestablished. Once thestandard isestablished itprovides
thebasis forexports tocommence;
(f) Once trade hascommenced NewZealand hasaprocedure foraudit oftheexporting
countries 'systems forcompliance withtheImport Health Standard andinspection of
asample ofproduce entering thecountry. Ifconsignments comply withtheImport
Health Standard theproduct isreleased. Iftheaudits/inspection indicate non
conformance, offending consignments aretreated, reshipped ordestroyed depending
ontheconsequences ofthenonconformance andthisinformation iscommunicated
totherelevant authorities inexporting country sothatnecessary corrective action can
betaken. Once conformance hasbeenconfirmed, imports arere-established.
Summary
3. NewZealand hasfound ituseful tosystematize andmake transparent thevarious processes
involved inthedevelopment ofplant import health conditions. Ithasenabled ustoidentify the
responsibilities oftheimporting andexporting countries inthevarious stages ofbilateral negotiations.
Atthesame timetheNewZealand authorities havebeenprepared tobeflexible intheirapproach
depending onthecircumstances surrounding theapplication. TheBilateral Quarantine Agreements
havebeenspecifically developed tomanage therisksassociated withFruitFlyoffshore while facilitating
tradefromsome oftheSouth Pacific island nations. Theessential criteria thatwehavetriedtofollow
inthedevelopment ofPlant Import Health Standards are:
- toensure thattheprocedures established forbilateral exchanges aretransparent;
- tomanage therisktothemaximum extent possible offshore;
- tofacilitate trade while protecting NewZealand from unwanted pests anddiseases.G/SPS/W/36
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4. Asindicated intheintroduction, thepurpose ofthispaper istooutline theprocedures thatNew
Zealand hasfollowed inthedevelopment ofbilateral quarantine protocols fortheimportation ofplant
products intoNewZealand. Wehavefound theprocedures helpful innegotiating bilateral agreements
fortheimport ofplant products from awiderange ofcountries (seeAnnex 2).
Conclusions
5. Itisnotpossible togeneralize ormandate whether theburden ofproof fallsononeorother
party toabilateral negotiation. Eachparty isobligated tofacilitate theexchange ofinformation. The
obligation ontheexporting country tomeetthestandards oftheimporting country mustbematched
bytheobligation ontheimporting country tospecify thestandards.
6. Theclearspecification ofrequirements byanimporting country enables exporting countries
toestablish systems which minimize therisks totheimporting country andhastheopportunity to
minimize thecostofmanaging those risks;
7. NewZealand hasfound thatbyproviding technical assistance where necessary, abetter level
ofriskmanagement hasbeenachieved thanwould havebeenpossible withpostentry inspection and
treatments alone.
Recommendations
8. Itisrecommended thattheCommittee:
(a) invite member countries todescribe howtheyfacilitate theexchange ofinformation
intheirbilateral negotiations; and
(b) consider whether amodel framework canbedeveloped from thereports ofmember
countries.G/SPS/W/36
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Annex 2
BILATERAL QUARANTINE AGREEMENTS
INOPERATION
Australia Apple, Avocado, Banana, Capsicum, Citrus, Cucumber, Eggplant,
Grape, Honeydew melon, Pear, Rockmelon, Scallopini, Strawberry,
Tomato, Watermelon, Zucchini
Chile Grape, Stonefruit
Cook Islands Banana, Eggplant, Plantain
Ecuador Banana
Fiji Banana, Chillie, Plantain
Japan Apple
Mexico Banana, Mango
NewCaledonia Eggplant, Lime, Pineapple, Strawberry, Tomato
Niue Banana, Plantain
Panama Banana, Plantain
Papua NewGuinea Pineapple
Peoples Republic ofChina Yapears
Philippines Banana, Pineapples
Tonga Banana, Eggplant, Plantain, Watermelon
Western Samoa Banana, Plantain
UNDER DISCUSSION
Australia Mango, Stonefruit
Fiji Breadfruit, Capsicum, Jackfruit, Mango, Pawpaw, Tomatoes
French Polynesia Citrus
Mexico Apple, Avocado, Citrus, Grape, Melon, Peach, Pineapple, PlumG/SPS/W/36
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Norfolk Island Area Freedom
TheNetherlands Capsicum
United States ofAmerica Nectarine, Peach
SUSPENDED
Cook Islands Pawpaw