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Draft IHS for importing pig semen

Update – 18 December 2017

The final import health standard (IHS) was issued.

Update – 30 November 2017

Provisional issue of IHS: Pig Semen (PIGSEMEN.GEN)

The director-general for Primary Industries (DG), New Zealand has developed a provisional import health standard for pig semen (Import Health Standard: Pig Semen, PIGSEMEN.GEN). 

This provisional import health standard is being provided to persons who made a submission as a result of consultation under section 23(3) (b) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act).  

Request for independent review

A person consulted under section 23(3)(b), and that made a submission has 10 working days from the date this notification is sent to notify the director-general of MPI if they intend to request an independent review in accordance with the Biosecurity (Process for Establishing Independent Review Panel) Notice 2015 – published on the this website on 26 June 2015 for the purposes of section 24 of the Biosecurity Act.

A person seeking a review must be eligible to do so under

If no person notifies the director-general of an intention to request an independent review by 14 December 2017, this import health standard will be issued on 15 December 2017.

Update – 11 November 2017

The final import health standard (IHS) Pig Semen from Canada or USA (PIGSEMIC.NAM) was issued 11 November 2017.

Note: this IHS has since been revoked and replaced by the IHS Pig Semen (PIGSEMEN.GEN)

Update – 27 October 2017

Provisional issue of IHS: Pig Semen from Canada or the USA

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is amending the import health standard for Pig Semen from Canada or the United States of America (PIGSEMIC.NAM) dated 26 January 2011, specifically in relation to the requirements for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus.

As part of the amendment of the generic import health standard for pig semen, MPI has been reviewing the import conditions for pig semen taking into consideration the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Code) chapter for Infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (adopted by the OIE in May 2017), current science, and stakeholder comments.

Under the existing import health standard (PIGSEMIC.NAM), the risk of PRRS introduction is mitigated by a combination of measures (for example, pre-entry isolation/testing, semen collection centre freedom). The semen collection centre’s continuing freedom from PRRS is demonstrated by herd monitoring/testing of a statistically representative number of animals at least every 6 months and individual animal freedom using PCR of semen.

More recent studies suggest that the likelihood of detecting PRRS infection using PCR for semen is low, and this effectively means that New Zealand’s current risk mitigation for PRRS relies solely on pre-entry isolation procedures and herd monitoring. The new Code chapter for PRRS considers pre-entry isolation and herd monitoring undertaken at least monthly to be appropriate. A herd monitoring frequency of 6 months (as required in PIGSEMIC.NAM) means that PRRS introduction into a semen collection centre is unlikely to be detected before the semen is exported to New Zealand and used to inseminate sows and gilts.  

Hence, the import health standard PIGSEMIC.NAM is being amended to align with the Code measures for PRRS. MPI considers that the risk mitigation measures for PRRS in the Code exceed those in PIGSEMIC.NAM, and meet New Zealand’s level of protection. 

Request for independent review

A person consulted under section 23(3)(b), and that made a submission has 10 working days from the date this notification is sent to notify the Director-General of MPI if they intend to request an independent review in accordance with the Biosecurity (Process for Establishing Independent Review Panel) Notice 2015 – published on the this website on 26 June 2015 for the purposes of section 24 of the Biosecurity Act.

A person seeking a review must be eligible to do so under  the Notice [PDF, 642 KB] 

If no person notifies the director-general of an intention to request an independent review by 10 November 2017, this import health standard will be issued on 11 November 2017.


Update – 21 July 2017

From 21 July 2017 to 18 August 2017 the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invites comment on the proposed changes to the Risk Management Proposal (RMP) and import health standard (IHS) for pig semen in relation to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. MPI is not seeking comment on the content of the remainder of these documents as that consultation period was closed on 24 January 2017. The reason for the re-consultation of the PRRS requirements is that the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Code) chapter for Infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus was adopted at the OIE General Session (May 2017). MPI is proposing to align the PRRS requirements in these documents to the Code chapter for PRRS.

Have your say

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invited comment on proposed changes to the import health standard (IHS) for pig semen.

The proposed changes related to the:

  • removal of bovine viral diarrhoea virus and swine vesicular disease virus measures
  • revision of Brucella suis measures
  • alignment of the general requirements with international standards.

Additionally, MPI sought comment on the document Recognition of Export Controls and Certification Systems for Animals and Animal Products. This document outlines the information needed by MPI to do an assessment of an exporting country's systems against the requirements of the IHS.

Full details of the proposed changes are in the consultation documents.

Consultation documents

Related document

Making your submission

Email your feedback on the draft by 5pm on 24 January 2017 to animalimports@mpi.govt.nz

Make sure you include in your submission:

  • the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
  • your name and title, if applicable
  • your organisation's name (if you're submitting on behalf of an organisation)
  • your contact details (for example, phone number, address and email).

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

Animal Imports
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

All submissions received by the closing date will be considered before the amended import health standard (IHS) is issued. MPI may hold late submissions on file for consideration when the issued IHS is next revised or reviewed.

Steps to finalising the new IHS

After we've considered all submissions, we publish a provisional IHS for 10 days to give authorised people a chance to ask for an independent review (under section 24 of the Biosecurity Act 1993). If there's no review, the IHS becomes final after 10 days.

The provisional IHS will be published on this consultation page and other relevant pages on this website.

Submissions are public information

Any submission you make becomes public information. Anyone can ask for copies of all submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the information available unless we have a good reason for withholding it. You can find those grounds in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA. Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include, it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may require the information be released.

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.