New Zealand

Agreement signed · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05

23 screening rules

Labeling: 10 rules — 9 blocking, 1 conditional, 0 advisory
Additives: 3 rules — 3 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Contaminants & residue limits: 4 rules — 4 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Import & registration: 6 rules — 4 blocking, 2 conditional, 0 advisory

Market profile

Main food law: Food Act 2014
Labeling regulation: ANZ FSC Code Compilation 2025 (Std 1.2)
Additives and residue limits: In FSANZ Code (schedules)
Import requirements: MPI Food Notice imported food 2024
National standards body: Standards NZ (NZS) — paywalled
Latest USDA FAIRS report: 2025

Import and export

Documents to import

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Customs declaration — Issued by: NZ Customs (import entry via TSW) — Mandatory
Certificate of origin (incl. preferential forms) — Issued by: Exporting country chamber/authority — Conditional
MPI food importer registration — Issued by: MPI — Mandatory
MPI biosecurity clearance / Import Health Standard compliance — Issued by: MPI — Mandatory
MPI permit to import — Issued by: MPI — Conditional
Foreign official health / veterinary certificate — Issued by: Exporting authority — Conditional
Food safety clearance (high regulatory interest foods) — Issued by: MPI — Conditional
Sampling and testing — Issued by: MPI/recognised lab — Conditional
Phytosanitary certificate — Issued by: Exporting NPPO — Conditional
FSANZ-compliant English label — Issued by: Importer — Mandatory

Documents to export

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Customs declaration — Issued by: NZ Customs (import entry via TSW) — Mandatory
Certificate of origin (non-preferential and FTA forms) — Issued by: NZ Chambers / Customs — Conditional
Export entry — Issued by: NZ Customs — Mandatory

Government fees

Import entry transaction fee (Customs + MPI biosecurity system entry levy), sea >NZD 1,000 (Import) — 118.44 (excl. GST) NZD
Food importer levy (Import) — 77.63 (up to 118,500 kg) + 0.0006555/kg above NZD
MPI import permit (Import) — 268.24 NZD
Biosecurity inspection (hourly) (Import) — 178.83/hour NZD
Food safety clearance initial fee (Import) — 77.64 NZD
Sampling and testing minimum charge (Import) — 232.88 NZD
Customs/MPI other services hourly rate (Import) — 133.00/hour (min 399) NZD
VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — 15% GST
MPI export certificate fees (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority

Customs single window: NZ Customs Trade Single Window

Customs duties are not included.

A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.

Official sources

Food Act 2014 (No 32) (2014) Open the source
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code — Compilation (March 2025) (2025) Open the source
MPI Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale (2024) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — New Zealand (NZ2025-0004) (2025) Open the source
MPI — Food safety clearance of imported food (web) (2025) Open the source

Reference documents

ANZ Food Standards Code — Compilation (March 2025) (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — New Zealand (NZ2025-0004) (2025) Open the source
MPI Food Notice — Registered Food Importers and Imported Food (2024) Open the source
USDA Exporter Guide Annual — New Zealand (NZ2024-0005) (2024) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report — New Zealand (2021) Open the source
Food Act 2014 (No 32) (2014) Open the source
NZS standards (Standards New Zealand)

Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.

Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.