Distribution date: 31 July 2009

Presently, "authority to import" biological products, is given without a specific Import Health Standard (IHS), by the issuing of a permit to import. Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act states that such considerations should be based on an IHS. In addition, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand policy is that IHS's should be based on a risk analysis and no risk analysis had been done for this range of goods. This IHS is based on the Import Risk Analysis: Non-viable Biological Products, Micro-organisms and other Viable cells into New Zealand (December 2005) and have been externally consulted in December 2006. This IHS was not issued after completion because Facility Standards needed to developed or updated before it could be issued. These facility changes have now been finalised. Before it was recommended for issue, it was updated to align with current procedures for the issuing of permits for biological products and other IHS's. This IHS therefore does not suggest any major changes to the current procedures for the import of biological products.

Products Covered: Biological products

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 31 July 2009

Presently, "authority to import" cell cultures, is given without a specific Import Health Standard (IHS), by the issuing of a permit to import. Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act states that such considerations should be based on an IHS. In addition, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand policy is that IHS's should be based on a risk analysis and no risk analysis had been done for this range of goods. This IHS is based on the Import Risk Analysis: Non-viable Biological Products, Micro-organisms and other Viable cells into New Zealand (December 2005) and have been externally consulted in December 2006. This IHS was not issued after completion because Facility Standards needed to developed or updated before it could be issued. These facility changes have now been finalised. Before it was recommended for issue, it was updated to align with current procedures for the issuing of permits for cell cultures and other IHS's. This IHS therefore does not suggest any major changes to the current procedures for the import of cell cultures.

Products Covered: Cell cultures

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 31 July 2009

Presently, "authority to import" micro-organisms, is given without a specific Import Health Standard (IHS), by the issuing of a permit to import. Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act states that such considerations should be based on an IHS. In addition, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand policy is that IHS's should be based on a risk analysis and no risk analysis had been done for this range of goods. This IHS is based on the Import Risk Analysis: Non-viable Biological Products, Micro-organisms and other Viable cells into New Zealand (December 2005) and have been externally consulted in December 2006. This IHS was not issued after completion because Facility Standards needed to developed or updated before it could be issued. These facility changes have now been finalised. Before it was recommended for issue, it was updated to align with current procedures for the issuing of permits for micro-organisms and other IHS's. This IHS therefore does not suggest any major changes to the current procedures for the import of micro-organisms.

Products Covered: Micro-organisms

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 30 July 2009 | Final date for Comment: 28 September 2009

This proposal is to revise the safety management system of ‘Textile products for infant’; ; - Modifying self-regulatory safety confirmation to safety•quality labelling; ; - Specifying the safety criteria as below; ;  Defining the legal age of infants; ;  Regulating the lead and dimethyl fumarate as the hazardous substances; ;  Deleting chlorinated phenols and dieldrin; ;  Specifying the safety requirement for drawstrings. ;

Products Covered: Textile products for infants and children (HS: 6101, 6102 etc.)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 22 July 2009 | Final date for Comment: 20 September 2009

Proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for acequinocyl, prohydrojasmon, pencycuron, brotizolam and rifaximin.

Products Covered: ・ Meat and edible meat offal (HS Codes: 02.01, 02.02, 02.03, 02.04, 02.05, 02.06, 02.07, 02.08 and 02.09) ・ Fish and crustaceans (HS Codes: 03.02, 03.03, 03.04, 03.06 and 03.07) ・ Dairy, eggs and honey (HS Codes: 04.01, 04.07, 04.08 and 04.09) ・ Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (HS Codes: 07.01, 07.02, 07.03, 07.04, 07.05, 07.06, 07.07, 07.08, 07.09, 07.10, 07.13 and 07.14) ・ Edible fruits and nuts, peel of citrus/melons (HS Codes: 08.01, 08.02, 08.03, 08.04, 08.05, 08.06, 08.07, 08.08, 08.09, 08.10, 08.11 and 08.14) ・ Coffee, tea, mate and spices (HS Codes: 09.01, 09.02, 09.03, 09.04, 09.05, 09.06, 09.07, 09.08, 09.09, and 09.10) ・ Cereals (HS Codes: 10.01, 10.02, 10.03, 10.04, 10.05, 10.06, 10.07 and 10.08) ・ Oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits (HS Codes: 12.01, 12.02, 12.04, 12.05, 12.06, 12.07, 12.08, 12.10, 12.11, 12.12 and 12.14)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 16 July 2009 | Final date for Comment: 26 August 2009

The notified regulation opens a 90-day period for public comments on the draft Normative Instruction that lays down general criteria for the import of microorganisms, material of animal origin, with insignificant or non insignificant risk, for scientific purposes, diagnostic or use as input.

Products Covered: Microorganisms and material of animal origin

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 13 July 2009

Products Covered: Consumer products (HS:  3402, 13.020, 71.100)

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 13 July 2009 | Final date for Comment: 08 October 2009

The notified draft Technical Resolution covers the following: Purpose; Scope; Definitions; General requirements for natural honey; Grading of honey; Physico-chemical and microbiological requirements; Prohibitions; Sanitary requirements for natural honey extraction; Packaging and labelling; Inspection, monitoring, control, safety measures and penalties.

Products Covered: Honey

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 08 July 2009 | Final date for Comment: 06 September 2009

- To establish standards for lead, cadmium in carrot, garlic and leek; - To establish standards for fumonisin in processed corn products; - To establish standards for ochratoxin A in meju (fermented soybeans) and red pepper powder, and revise the test method for ochratoxin A; - To provide exemptions in the specifications for bacterial count in confectionery; - To revise specifications for moisture and invert sugar in honey; - To establish the test method using liquid chromatography for micronutrients (folic acid, choline, biotin); and - To establish MRLs for veterinary drugs (ractopamine, melengestrol acetate) in foods and test methods for them.

Products Covered: Food products

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 08 July 2009 | Final date for Comment: 29 July 2009

Amends rule to address volatile organic compound (VOC) limits for 11 new consumer products categories and revisions for one existing category; covers chemically formulated products used by household and institutional consumers including: detergents; cleaning compounds; polishes; floor finishes; cosmetics; personal care products; home, lawn, and garden products; disinfectants; sanitizers; aerosol paints; and automotive specialty products; includes aerosol adhesives, including aerosol adhesives used for consumer, industrial or commercial uses.

Products Covered: Consumer products (HS 3814.00, 3402, 3506, 3808.40, 3405) (ICS 71.100, 13.020, 65.100, 87.060)

Regulation Type: Regular notification