Final Risk Analysis - Biosecurity New Zealand

infectious period is not known because data are not available from a sufficiently large number
of cases or because of technical difficulties in obtaining accurate data. Data quoted may be
unreliable because of the small numbers of animals used in experiments or because analysis
was done at discrete intervals and therefore exact end-points were not determined. The
measurements are also dependent on the accuracy and sensitivity of the method used to detect
the infectious agent. For these reasons a conservative margin of error may be added to the best
available estimates when determining quarantine periods. The margin of error added cannot
be scientifically determined but relies on judgement, taking into account such things as
amount and perceived accuracy of the available data, type of disease and the analytical
methods used. In some infectious diseases recovered animals remain carriers of the infectious
agent for long periods or even for life, and in these cases quarantine is not useful. In this risk
analysis quarantine periods are generally adjusted to whole weeks or months.
Where animals for importation have been isolated as a group prior to export, the testing
options within this risk analysis assume that any positive or inconclusive test results
associated with any individual within that group will be notified to MAF Biosecurity New
Zealand for further consideration before any animal from that group is exported to New
Zealand.
All risks associated with the importation of bull semen also apply to bulls. Therefore, when
importing bulls, applicable risk management options presented in the risk analysis for the
importation of semen and embryos from cattle could be considered.
4.7. COUNTRY FREEDOM STATEMENTS
Several important diseases have not been included in this risk analysis because they are not
known to occur in any of the countries covered by this risk analysis. However, since the
position could change, veterinary certificates provided by the exporting country should certify
country freedom from the following disease agents/diseases:
Besnoitia besnoiti (besnoitiosis)
Ehrlichia ruminantium (heartwater)
Ibaraki disease virus
Jembrana disease virus
Lumpy skin disease
Acelaphine herpes virus-1(Malignant catarrhal fever virus, wildebeest type)
Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC (Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia)
Old and New World screwworm
Rift Valley fever virus
Rinderpest virus
Theileria parva (East Coast fever and related theilerioses)
Tsetse fly transmitted Trypanosoma spp.
Trypanosoma evansi (Surra)
For importation to be considered from further countries in the future, risk assessments for the
relevant diseases from this list may need to be conducted.
In addition, country freedom statements should be provided for any of the diseases in the risk
analysis for which a country wishes to declare freedom and thereby obtain exemption from
any relevant sanitary measures.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import Risk Analysis: Cattle from Australia, Canada, the EU & the USA ● 13