G/SPS/N/NZL/77 12 January 2001 ORGANIZATION (01-0160)

WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/NZL/77 12 January 2001 ORGANIZATION (01-0160)

Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original: English

NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES

1. Member to Agreement notifying: NEW ZEALAND If applicable, name of local government involved:

2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Health

3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable). Beef and beef products: Meat and edible offal – bovine meat, fresh or chilled (2.01) Meat and edible offal – bovine meat, frozen (2.02) Meat and edible offal – edible offal of bovine animals, fresh or chilled (0206.10.00) Meat and edible offal – tongues (0206.21.00) Meat and edible offal – livers (0206.22.00) Meat and edible offal – other (0206.29.00) Meat and edible offal – salted, dried, ect. meat of bovine animals (0210.20.00) Other, including edible flours and meals of meat or meat offal (210.9) Guts, bladders, ect. – bovine – sausage casings (0504.00.00.11A) Guts, bladders, ect. – tripe, beef and veal (0504.00.00.51L) Guts, bladders, ect. – other (0504.00.00.89H) Bones and horn-cores, ect. – bone meal or powder (0506.90.00.01C) Sausages and similar products, ect. (16.01) Other prepared meat, ect. – homogenised preparations – in airtight cans or jars – in combination with vegetables or other food substances – meat pastes (1602.10.01.00A) Other prepared meat, ect. – homogenised preparations – corned beef – in airtight cans or jars (1602.10.09.01L) Other prepared meat, ect. – homogenised preparations – tongues – other kinds – in airtight cans or jars (1602.10.09.11H) Other prepared meat, ect. – homogenised preparations – other – in airtight cans or jars (1602.10.09.29L) Other prepared meat, ect. – homogenised preparations – otherwise packed (1602.10.19.00H) Other prepared meat, ect. – of liver of any animal – Pates de poie gras (1602.20.01.00E) Other prepared meat, ect. – of liver of any animal – other (1602.20.09.00F) Other prepared meat, ect. – bovine animals – in airtight cans or jars – in combination with vegetables, ect., meat pastes (1602.50.01.00F) Other prepared meat, ect. – of bovine animals – in airtight cans or jars – corned beef (1602.50.01.00F) Other prepared meat, ect. – in airtight cans or jars – other (1602.90.19.19H) Other prepared meat, ect. – otherwise packaged – other (1602.90.29.00B) Extracts and juices of meat, ect. – extracts (1603.00.01.01D) Extracts and juices of meat, ect. – other (1603.00.01.09K) G/SPS/N/NZL/77 Page 2

Stuffed pasta, whether or not cooked, ect. (1902.20.00.00H) Other pasta in combination with other food stuffs – dried noodle cake with flavour sachet (1902.30.01.01F) Other pasta in combination with other foodstuffs – other (1902.30.01.09A) Sauces and preparations – other sauces not elsewhere specified (2103.90.00.01D) Sauces and preparations – mixed condiments (2103.90.00.11A) Sauces and preparations – mixed seasonings (2103.90.00.19G) Sauces and preparations – other (2103.90.00.0029D) Soups and broths and preparations – meat (2104.10.09.41K) Soups and broths and preparations – other (2104.10.09.49E) Soups and broths and preparations – homogenised composite food preparations (2104.20.00.00J) Food preparations not elsewhere specified – textured vegetable protein (2106.10.01.00H) Food preparations not elsewhere specified – other (2106.10.09.00J) Food preparations not elsewhere specified – mixtures of chemicals and foodstuffs, ect. (2106.90.90.01H) Food preparations not elsewhere specified – other (2106.90.90.79D) Provitamins and vitamins, ect. (29.36) Enzymes, ect. (35.07) Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Finland, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom

4. Title and number of pages of the notified document: New Zealand (Emergency) Food Standard 2001, issued 5 January 2001 (2 pages)

5. Description of content: New Zealand has introduced an import suspension on beef and beef products from the European Communities and other non-EC European countries. The purpose of the import suspension of beef and beef products is to minimize the risk of transmission to humans of BSE or mad cow disease in cattle from humans eating contaminated beef. The suspension remains in force for six months from 5 January 2001.

There has been an import ban on beef and beef products from the United Kingdom since 1996 because of an epidemic of BSE and evidence demonstrating a link to vCJD in humans. New Zealand previously notified its import ban under the SPS agreement – G/SPS/N/NZL/3 (2 April 1996), G/SPS/N/NZL/3/Rev.1 (16 April 1996) and G/SPS/N/NZL/4 (12 April 1996). Australia has introduced a similar import suspension on the import of European beef and beef products. A procedure for lifting the suspension for products which have been produced in accordance with appropriate safety standards is under development by New Zealand’s Ministry of Health in consultation with the Australian authorities.

6. Objective and rationale: [ X ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests G/SPS/N/NZL/77 Page 3

7. Nature of the urgent problem(s): The import suspension is in response to increasing evidence of BSE in EC countries and concerns that it may have spread elsewhere in Europe through trade in live animals and animal feed. New Zealand is suspending imports pending the development of a certification scheme that can assure importers that European product has been produced in accordance with appropriate safety standards.

8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [ X ]. If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate reference and briefly identify deviations:

9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: The New Zealand (Mandatory) Food Standard 1997 and the New Zealand Food Act 1981 s 11M (Available both in English)

10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable): The standard comes into force on the 11 January 2001, except for importers who were notified directly and for whom the standard came into force upon service of that notification. The standard expires on 5 July 2001 unless revoked earlier.

11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ X ] National notification authority, [ ] National enquiry point or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: Text: Keawe Woodmore, Coordinator, New Zealand SPS Notification Authority, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand, Tel: +64 4 474 4226, Fax: +64 4 470 2730, E-mail: [email protected] Comments: Jim Wilson, Senior Advisor (Imported Foods), Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington, New Zealand, Tel: +64 4 496 2360, Fax: +64 4 496 2340, E-mail: [email protected]