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Proposed changes to the import health standard for importing cats and dogs

Update

15 May 2026

Publication of import health standard

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has published the final import health standard (IHS) for cats and dogs. Implementation begins on 1 July 2026.

To ensure trade continues smoothly, the 2021 IHS may continue to be used until 1 April 2027.

Cats and Dogs 2026 – Import Health Standard (comes into force on 1 July 2026) [PDF, 664 KB]

Cats and Dogs 2021 – Import Health Standard (valid until 1 April 2027) [PDF, 295 KB]

Review of submissions

We received 8 submissions by email. MPI has reviewed and responded to the feedback provided by submitters.

Review of submissions – Import Health Standard (from consultation in 2025) [PDF, 946 KB]

5 March 2025

Closing date for submissions extended

The closing date for this consultation has been extended. We're now accepting submissions until 5pm on Friday 21 March.

Consultation background

From 13 January to 21 March 2025, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invited comment on proposed changes to the Cat and Dog Import Health Standard (CATSDOGS.GEN).

In 2021, we also asked for your feedback about changes to the standard.

However, those proposed changes were not implemented because of concerns about fraudulence relating to the rabies and residency import requirements.

Since then, we've reviewed the rabies and residency requirements and completed further risk work on Brucella canis and Babesia spp.

2021 consultation: Proposed new import health standard (IHS) for cats and dogs

Changes to the proposed IHS since the 2021 consultation are outlined in the 'Review of submissions'. Full details are in the consultation documents.

Summary of proposals

In this consultation, the proposed amendments cover 4 topics.

Brucella canis

Increase the timeframe for testing.

For mated dogs:

test the dog that naturally mated the dog for export, or the dog that produced semen for artificial breeding
test a sample of semen used to breed the dog for export.

Babesia gibsoni and rossi

Increase the timeframe for testing.
Increase the number of PCR tests from 2 to 3 and reduce the timeframe between each test.
Test dogs younger than 6 months of age with PCR tests.
Post-arrival inspection includes a check for evidence of recent bites.

Pre-export identification check

Addition of pre-export identification checks by an official veterinarian prior to the rabies titration test.

Transit

Remove the previous proposal to allow transit through non-categorised countries.

Consultation documents

Import Health Standard: Cats and Dogs (IHS) [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Risk Management Proposal (RMP) [PDF, 591 KB]

Steps to finalising the new IHS

After consultation on a draft import health standard, MPI publishes a provisional IHS.

If you made a submission during the consultation, you have 10 working days to notify the Director-General of MPI that you intend to request an independent review. Reviews are limited to whether specific scientific evidence was given sufficient consideration.

If no review is requested within 10 working days, then the provisional IHS is confirmed and the final IHS is issued. A 6-month transition period will be implemented during which time either the old or new import requirements can be used. After this period, the new import requirements in the IHS must be followed.

For more information about reviews refer to Section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 – NZ Legislation

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

Legal background

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.