WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/NZL/8
13February 1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-0526)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: NEW ZEALAND
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Ministry ofHealth (Food andNutrition Section)
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Selected food
andtableware
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Importing foodandtableware into
NewZealand: Aproposal foranewfoodstandard tolistprescribed foods, reviewed
criteria fortableware andanewregulation tocharge feesfortheadministration of
imported foods (88pages)
5. Description ofcontent: Thispaper wasissued forconsultation purposes. TheFood
Amendment Act1996 introduced theconcept ofa"prescribed" food. Thisrecognized
thatsome foods, because oftheirnature orthewayinwhich theyarehandled, can
poseanincreased riskofillness orinjury toconsumers. Thepaper proposes that"risk
foods" should beidentified andlisted inafoodstandard. People dealing witha
prescribed food, including importers, aretoprovide evidence thatthefoodcomplies
withtherelevant foodstandards.
Thepaper considers measures oftheseverity, likelihood andimpact offood-related
health risks, identifies foodandtableware under surveillance (current andproposed),
andcontains aproposal tocharge feesfortheadministration andrelated costs of
imported prescribed foods andtableware.
6. Objective andrationale: Protect public health andtoprovide consistency across
domestically-produced andimported riskfoods.
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: Importing foodand
tableware intoNewZealand (English)
./.G/SPS/N/NZL/8
Page2
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Atleast28daysbefore entry intoforce.
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: Mid-1997. Theexact dateofentry intoforce willbe
published intheNewZealand Gazette.
11. Final date forcomments: 14April 1997
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments: Consultation Officer, Public Health
Group, Ministry ofHealth, POBox5013, Wellington, NewZealand.
Fax: +(64) 4-496-2340
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:
Food andNutrition Section
Public Health Group
Ministry ofHealth
POBox5013
Wellington, NewZealand
Fax: +(64) 4-496-2340