Health standards
New Zealand has the right to set standards for products entering the country. These standards protect the health of our people, plants, and animals – they must also be based on science and help make trade easier. New Zealand records sanitary and phytosanitary requirements primarily in our import health standards.
All notifications MPI makes to the World Trade Organization (WTO) are listed on this web page. Member nations have 60 days to comment on any proposed changes, except when there's an emergency.
Emergency WTO notifications
In the case of genuine emergency measures, MPI can bypass the normal consultation process. For example, MPI might put a stop on cut flowers from some countries because they've had an outbreak of 'sudden oak death', a plant disease not present in New Zealand. However, MPI must revisit the measure in the future. At that time, we do the regular notification for consultation.
Other WTO notifications
If MPI revokes a measure or replaces one, we don't need to consult, but we need to notify the WTO.
