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.
An import risk analysis for horses and horse semen, including a risk assessment on equine piroplasmosis (EP), was last conducted in 2000.
Equine piroplasmosis was absent from New Zealand until recently when an imported horse tested positive for antibodies against Theileria equi. Following the detection of this evidence of T. equi infection, this rapid risk analysis (RRA) reviews and updates the risk assessment and risk management measures on EP.
The likelihood of entry of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, the pathogens causing EP in live equids, is assessed to be medium. The likelihood of exposure and establishment of these pathogens in New Zealand is assessed to be low. There is no evidence that Haemaphysalis longicornis, the only tick species in New Zealand known to be present on livestock, is a vector competent of transmitting Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. The direct and indirect consequences of entry and exposure of this disease are assessed to be low. Therefore, the overall risk is estimated to be low to medium.
Because the likelihood of entry and exposure and the consequences are assessed to be non-negligible, measures are justified to prevent infected horses to be imported into New Zealand and options for managing this risk have been presented.
The suggested risk mitigation options include country freedom declaration, testing protocols and prevention of transmission before export.
This document is a qualitative biosecurity import risk analysis for zoo Bovidae, Giraffidae, Tragulidae and their semen from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries to facilitate a trade request by the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia.
A number of agents were identified as hazards in the commodity and further assessed as risks in the commodity. The risk indicators for the vast majority of the hazards were assessed as very low to low. The main contributing factors to the low risk indicators included the low volume of trade of commodities, the absence of competent vectors in New Zealand and the negligible risk of a zoonotic potential.
The recommended risk mitigation measures included but were not limited to, country freedom declarations, physical examinations, health attestations, diagnostic testing, vaccination, long-term premises freedom, pre-export isolation and treatment.
Keywords: zoo, Bovidae, Giraffidae, Tragulidae, semen, bovine, giraffe, antelope, wildlife
This document reviews the biosecurity risks associated with species of non-viable frozen, whole (uneviscerated) wild-caught marine finfish (Class Actinopterygii) and molluscs (Subclass Coloidea, Class Cephalopoda - cuttlefish, octopus and squid) imported for use as fish bait in commercial and recreational fishing. It supplements an earlier risk analysis completed for eviscerated and trunked fin fish for human consumption. This SRA is restricted to the finfish and coleoid cephalopod mollusc species imported as bait during 2018.
It identifies 14 risk organisms (6 viruses, 3 bacteria and 5 myxozoan pathogens). It proposes several general and specificrisk management options to address these identified risks.
Keywords: Marine fish, Fish bait, Risk analysis
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).