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Draft IHS Semen and Embryos from Horses (Equidae) from Specified Countries

Consultation update

Final IHS

The final import health standard (IHS) was issued 17 December 2015.

Provisional IHS

Consultation has closed and a provisional IHS was issued 9 December 2015. Authorised people had 10 days from this date to ask for an independent review under section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Submissions

A summary of the submissions received for this consultation are available to download:

Background to consultation

In line with the strategy to move away from country-specific import health standards (IHSs) to more generic IHSs, the Ministry for Primary Industries asked for submissions on this consultation. The proposed IHS will replace the following 4 IHSs with one for semen and embryos from horses, aligning import requirements with international standards and making New Zealand one of the first countries to allow the importation of frozen equine embryos.

  • Import Health Standard for Horse Semen from Australia
  • Import Health Standard for Horse Semen from Canada
  • Import Health Standard for Equine Semen from the European Union
  • Import Health Standard for Horse Semen from the USA.

Draft IHS and supporting documents

A draft IHS for importing semen and embryos from horses was issued for public consultation and comment:

Additional information was available in the:

How to make a submission

Comments on the draft documents should be sent to MPI by close of business on 21 August 2015. MPI prefers to get submissions by email to animalimports@mpi.govt.nz.
However, written submissions can also be posted to:

Animal Imports: Equine Germplasm Consultation
Animal and Animal Products Directorate
Regulation and Assurance Branch
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington
New Zealand

Fax: +64 4 894 0733

Make sure you include in your submission:

  • the title of this discussion document
  • your name and title
  • your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation)
  • your contact details (for example, phone number, address and email).

Submissions received by the closure date will be considered for the final issue of this import health standard. Submissions received after the closure date may be held on file for consideration when the issued standard is next revised or reviewed.

Legal requirements

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must consult with interested parties in accordance with section 23 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and MPI’s consultation policy before issuing or amending (other than of minor or urgent nature) import health standards (IHS) under sections 24A and 24B of the Act.

An IHS specifies import requirements that must be met either in the country of origin or of export, or during transit, before biosecurity clearance can be given for the goods to enter New Zealand. MPI must ensure that these requirements are technically justified and provide an appropriate level of biosecurity protection.

Submissions are public information

Note, that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA. Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as the information is commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld. Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.

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