KEY POINTS:
New biosecurity rules proposed yesterday may allow New Zealand horses "trapped" in Australia six months ago by the equine influenza outbreak to return home after April.
The tighter import health standard will apply to racing stables and others importing horses from Australia.
Horse imports across the Tasman were halted in August after equine influenza outbreaks in New South Wales and Queensland.
When the shutters came down, some New Zealand stables were caught out, with their horses "trapped" in Australia.
New Zealand biosecurity staff worked closely with the Equine Health Association (EHA) and other industry representatives to develop new import conditions which could protect New Zealand from the contagious virus.
The horse industry will bear the cost of the tighter import conditions, which include:
* Vaccination against equine influenza between 42 and 120 days prior to export.
* Horses held for 21 days prior to export in approved premises, where they will undergo two tests for equine influenza.
- NZPA
