NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 126

Departmental Notices

Agriculture and Fisheries

Animals Act 1967

Exemption From Permit Requirement Under The Animals Act 1967 Notice (No. 5274)

Pursuant to section 13 (4b) of the Animals Act 1967 as inserted by section 3(2) Animals Amendment Act 1982, the Minister of Agriculture hereby gives notice exempting all persons from the necessity of obtaining a permit under section 13(1)(a) in respect of the importation into New Zealand from Australia of horses, asses and mules subject to the conditions listed in the First Schedule to this Notice.

First Schedule

Conditions for the Importation of Horses Asses and Mules into New Zealand From Australia for Permanent Residence

1. Permit

1.1 A permit to import is NOT required

2. Documentation

All the required certification must be presented in the forms prescribed in the Second and Third Schedules and must accompany the consignment to New Zealand.

3. Eligibility for Importation

3.1 Importation is restricted to horses which have been continuously resident in Australia or New Zealand either since birth or, if imported into Australia, are free from quarantine restrictions.

3.2 Horses may be imported into New Zealand from:

either 3.2.1 The tick-free states or areas, as defined by the individual states. Note—If the animals have left a tick area during the previous 2 months, they must be accompanied by a certificate of treatment for ticks from the border control post.

or 3.2.2 The tick area of Australia via Queensland under the extra conditions of part 2 of the veterinary certificate contained in the Third Schedule (“Veterinary Certificate”)

4. Identification

4.1 All animals must be fully identified on;

either 4.1.1 the Zoo-Sanitary Certificate contained in the Second Schedule, by brands or tattoos if so marked;

or 4.1.2 an outline diagram, giving details of any marking, scars, whorls etc;

or 4.1.3 an official passport which accompanies the animal.

5. Health Testing

5.1 The required health tests and treatments are detailed in the Veterinary Certificate.

5.2 All serological and semen culture tests must be conducted at a Government approved laboratory.

5.3 Where entire males, greater than 24 months actual age return positive serological tests for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) they may qualify for export on the basis of negative virus isolation tests for EVA on semen or by test breeding to two seronegative mares according to the following specifications.

5.3.1 For Virus Isolation:

Semen samples must contain the sperm-rich portion of the ejaculate, not pre-ejaculate fluid or dismount samples.

No disinfectants or detergents must be used on the animals or the equipment used in semen collection. Only water must be used in the preparation of horses for semen collection.

Either a new A-V liner or one that has been washed with water only must be used for collection of semen samples. Separate samples must be collected, chilled immediately and sent by the quickest method to the testing laboratory.

5.3.2 For Test Breeding:

Two seronegative mares must be test-bred and rebled 28 days after mating—both mares should be isolated from other horses after the test breeding until being rebled and must remain seronegative.

5.4 Stallions being re-imported into New Zealand which, as part of the testing programme for export to Australia, were seropositive and virus isolation or test mating negative are exempt from the EVA testing requirements of these conditions.

5.5 The animals may only be shipped on aircraft which can carry crates or pens of a standard and type approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (“Ministry”), MAF Quality Management Services (“MAF Qual”) and/or the Australian Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Australian Quarantine Inspection Services (AQIS). Crates conforming to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or Australian Marine Orders are the minimum acceptable standard.

5.6 Horses of New Zealand origin visiting Australia must fully comply with the requirements of these import conditions in order to be eligible for re-entry into New Zealand.

6. Entry Conditions

6.1 Details of transport and arrival times must be supplied to the MAFQual Port Veterinarian at the port of entry not less than 7 days in advance of importation.

6.2 A permit to land will be issued only if the animals are healthy on arrival and the documentation is in order.

6.3 The importer must keep records and be able to identify the location of the imported horses for a period of fourteen (14) days after their arrival in New Zealand.

6.4 During this period the importer may be requested to confirm the location of the imported animal/s. The horses may be inspected by a Ministry Inspector appointed under the Animals Act 1967.

6.5 Any suspected infectious disease or death occurring during this post-arrival period must be reported to a veterinary practitioner and a MAFQual Veterinary Officer.

PLEASE NOTE

The attached health conditions have been agreed as being suitable for trade between the Exporting and the Importing countries. It is expected that the animal/s being shipped will meet the conditions in every respect.

Occasionally it is found that, due to extenuating circumstances, the animal/s do not completely comply with the requirements. In such cases applications for dispensations will be considered and issued at the discretion of the Ministry, but only if the following information is forwarded by the certifying Government’s Veterinary Authorities:

1. which clause/s of the health requirements cannot be met and how this has occurred;

2. the reason the animal/s are considered to be of an “equivalent health” status and/or what proposal is made to return the animal/s to an equivalent health status as set-out in the Health Conditions;