Global IssuesInternational OrganisationsAfricaAsia NorthAsia South and SoutheastAustraliaCERSEMDefenceEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacific
Start writing the country or territory name in the box. Typing more letters narrows the search. Click "go" or hit "Enter" to go to the information paper on the country or territory.
(We don't have information papers on all countries and territories.)
Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
If you come across a term that isn't included in the Glossary please send us an email.
Quarantine issues were carved out of the original CER Agreement, and an exception in this Agreement allows for reasonable, scientifically justified quarantine measures to be taken to protect human, animal or plant life or health.
The 1988 Protocol on the Harmonisation of Quarantine Administrative Procedures sought to improve the efficiency and speed of the flow of goods between the two countries by harmonising quarantine administrative procedures. Under the Protocol, New Zealand and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to the principle that quarantine requirements should not be deliberately used as a means of creating a technical barrier to trade where this is not scientifically justified.
The Protocol also placed some rules or disciplines around harmonising technical measures with international standards where they exist, and promoted bilateral harmonisation of quarantine and inspection standards and procedures, notwithstanding the fact that the exception in the original agreement continues to apply.
The Protocol also provided for the establishment of a bilateral consultative group to drive quarantine harmonisation, coordinate technical committees and help resolve technical differences relating to quarantine.
Under the Protocol, Australia and New Zealand agreed to work toward the speedy resolution of quarantine issues hindering the trans-Tasman trade in goods annexed to the Protocol. The overwhelming majority of these issues have now been resolved, with only one or two remaining. Apples is one of these few remaining irritants, and New Zealand looks forward to the resolution of this issue.
A high-level dialogue on biosecurity issues, known as the Consultative Group on Biosecurity Cooperation (CGBC), was established by the New Zealand and Australian Ministers of Agriculture in 1999. The purpose of the CGBC is to strengthen trans-Tasman relations through increased dialogue on quarantine issues. Key areas are to:
There are four working groups: animal health; plant health; border operations and risk analysis. The CGBC meets annually and can consider issues out of session. The CGBC reports to the Ministers of Agriculture and is chaired alternately by the Group Director of New Zealand MAF’s Biosecurity Authority and the Executive Manager of Biosecurity Australia in DAFF.
The last meeting of the CGBC was in Canberra in September 2005.
top of page