What our fees cover
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis.
Activities and services we charge for include:
- import permits
- border clearance inspections
- travel charges for MPI inspectors.
Not all the fees on this page may apply to you and there could be other charges not listed here – like transport, storage, treatment or laboratory costs.
Import permit
Biological products may require a permit before they can be imported into New Zealand. The import health standards (IHS) for your product will tell you if a permit is needed.
Check the IHS for your biological product
| From 1 July 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fee type | Fee (excl GST) | Fee (incl GST) |
| • Application for permit to import biological products, microorganisms, and cell cultures | $233.25 | $268.24 |
| * If processing your application takes longer than one-and-a-half hours, additional time will be charged at an hourly rate of $155.50 excluding GST or $178.83 including GST. | ||
Border clearance charges
MPI may charge you for costs related to inspecting your biological products when they arrive in New Zealand.
The fee is $155.50 ($178.83 including GST) per hour for biosecurity inspectors.
You may also be charged extra fees if MPI's inspector has to:
- travel to inspect your goods
- wait before inspection can start
- work outside of normal hours.
Other charges
If your biological products are considered high risk, they’ll need to go to an MPI-approved transitional or containment facility.
You'll need to contact the individual transitional facility to find out its charges.
Find out more
Who to contact
If you have questions about MPI's fees and charges, email info@mpi.govt.nz.
