Biosecurity New Zealand has identified new risks associated with importing horse semen and embryos from some countries.
The agency has issued a draft report identifying biosecurity risks around importing equine organisms from Australia, Canada, the European Union and the United States.
It was prepared in response to applications to import equine embryos.
The report examines the biosecurity risks around importation of frozen semen and derived frozen embryos of horses, donkeys and zebras.
Organisms already present in New Zealand were excluded from further consideration but at least seven new organisms were identified as carrying risk.
Options for the management of the risk for each disease are recommended in the report.
Radio New Zealand's Customs and Biosecurity reporter says submissions on the draft document are due by the first week in September.
