Import risk analysis
Risk analysis helps us work out how to manage risks. An import risk analysis assesses the pest and disease risks associated with importing a wide range of plants, animals, and other products. Find out about the import risk analysis process.
What an import risk analysis tells us
An import risk analysis can tell us:
- the pests or diseases that could come with the imported item
- how likely it is these pests or diseases will be on the item
- the possible effects these pests or diseases could have on human health, the environment, or the economy
- the effectiveness of any control measures (for keeping pests or diseases out of New Zealand, or controlling them if they arrive).
Import risk analysis requirements
The World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) sets out the requirements countries must follow.
Risk management measures:
- must be based on existing international standards, guidelines, or recommendations, or be supported by science
- must not restrict trade any more than they need to.
The role of the SPS agreement is discussed in the MPI report Balance in trade.
Balance in trade [PDF, 665 KB]
A risk assessment or risk analysis is a critical part of developing an import health standard. The Biosecurity Act (1993) describes how to develop an import health standard.
Biosecurity Act section 23: From draft to recommendations – NZ Legislation
The import risk analysis process
Before we begin an import risk analysis, we review the information we already have. This includes looking at existing assessments and previous policy.
We discuss the risk analysis with people both inside and outside MPI (often referred to as stakeholders). That includes our border staff, industry representatives, other government agencies, and iwi. This helps us figure out what the risk assessment needs to tell us.
We also work out what criteria we will use and the evidence we'll need to make decisions.
After we have gathered the information we need and decided on a plan, we:
- identify the pests and diseases which require assessment
- consider the likelihood of pests and diseases entering New Zealand and becoming established, and the possible impacts on the economy, environment, and people.
- consider how to manage or control any pest and disease threats.
We work with the stakeholders throughout the project. This gives allows them to submit evidence which may change the project's scope or conclusions.
Find out more
An overview of our import risk analysis process [PDF, 317 KB]
Who to contact
If you have questions about import risk analysis or import health standards, email info@mpi.govt.nz
Published risk analyses and submission reviews
You can download a copy of a published import risk analysis. Each risk analysis has a related document, which is a review of the submissions received.
Extra details about each document can be read by clicking on the "+" sign that appears on the same line as the document title.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has completed an import risk analysis (IRA) in 2000 covering the disease risks associated with importation of horses and horse semen into New Zealand. This IRA suggested risk management measures for the development of an Import Health Standard (IHS) for the importation of live horses and their semen. In developing an updated IHS in 2019, an updated import risk analysis was requested in regard to two viral diseases previously assessed as risks in the live equids commodity, equine infectious anaemia (EIA) and equine viral arteritis (EVA). The scope of the analysis is limited to live equids from Australia.
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects warm blooded animals.
The Import Risk Analysis 2019, Milk and milk products derived from pasteurised camel milk for human consumption (IRA 2019) is an extension to the Import Risk Analysis for milk and milk products derived from pasteurised milk for human consumption, 2015 (IRA 2015).IRA 2019 is conducted because milk derived from camels was not included in the IRA 2015. A detailed description of the pasteurisation, additional manufacturing processes for milk products and relevant legislation in New Zealand has been included in the IRA 2015.
keywords: Camel, milk, milk products, pasteurised, human consumption
This document presents a qualitative analysis of the risk posed by canine influenza virus subtype H3N8 (CIV H3N8) and canine influenza virus subtype H3N2 (CIV H3N2) in dogs and cats imported into New Zealand.
An initial assessment of the risks to sustainability
This risk analysis is consistent with the guidelines described in Biosecurity New Zealand Risk Analysis Procedures – Version 1 and in Chapter 2 of the Aquatic Animal Code 2016 of the World Organisation for Animal Health (hereafter referred to as the Code).
This import risk analysis examines the biosecurity risks associated with the international trade in non-viable crustaceans of freshwater or marine origin that are intended for human consumption. Crustaceans that are cultured or wild-caught for human consumption mainly belong to the order Decapoda (shrimps or prawns, lobsters and crabs) and to a lesser extent the order Euphausiacea (krill) and the order Stomatopoda (mantis shrimps). They may be imported into New Zealand chilled, frozen or processed.
This document is a qualitative analysis of the risk posed by Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) in bovine in-vivo derived and in-vitro produced embryos.
This risk analysis considers the biosecurity risks associated with the importation of captive hatched and reared, saltwater and freshwater Crocodilia from the European Union (for the purposes of this document referred to as the European Zone), and Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and northern Australia (collectively referred to as the ‘Malaysian Zone’).
This document is a qualitative analysis of the risk posed by bovine leukaemia virus (BLV), the causative agent of Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) and Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis (Cfv), the causative agent of bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC), in imported frozen bovine semen and in-vivo derived and in-vitro produced embryos.
This qualitative risk analysis examines the biosecurity risks associated with the importation of bee products derived from honey bees (Apis mellifera). These risks were previously examined in 2004 (MAF 2004). However, recognising technical advances, reports of newly identified pathogens of honey bees and changes to the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code over the intervening 11 year period, a supplementary biosecurity import risk analysis has been requested.