What our fees cover
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis. Activities and services we charge for include:
- registering as an exporter
- unit fee charges for animals exported
- Animal Welfare Export Certificates (AWEC)
- official assurances (export certificates)
- hourly rate and mileage charges for MPI employees.
Not all charges on this page may apply to you, and there may be other charges not listed here.
Registering as an exporter
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual exporter registration fee | $135 for each application | $155.25 for each application |
Unit fee charges
The live animal export system requires constant review and maintenance to ensure that certification issued for the export of live animals is accepted by the importing country. The unit fee helps you to continue to export smoothly.
For live animals, a unit is usually an animal.
Unit charges for live animals
| Charge | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Cats and dogs – each animal | $114.44 | $131.61 |
| Equine (horse) – each animal | $41.22 | $47.40 |
| Livestock (only bovine, caprine, cervine, ovine and porcine) – each animal | $10.83, with a maximum charge of $54,150 for each consignment | $12.45, with a maximum charge of $62,272.50 for each consignment |
| Lamoids (llamas and alpacas) – each animal | $257.50 | $296.13 |
| Birds (excluding budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, finches, and rosellas) – each bird | $17.89, with a maximum charge of $536.70 for each consignment | $20.57, with a maximum charge of $617.21 for each consignment |
| Budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, finches, and rosellas – each bird | $0.27 | $0.31 |
| Zoo animals – each animal | $572.63, with a maximum charge of $2,863.15 for each consignment | $658.52, with a maximum charge of $3,292.62 for each consignment |
| Other animals not specified above – each consignment | $114.44 | $131.61 |
Hourly rate charges
You'll be charged the hourly rate for MPI employees doing specialist activities on your behalf. These services include:
- specialist functions and activities needed to export live animals
- negotiating alternative measures for meeting access requirements with importing countries
- negotiating new access requirements for overseas markets (exporters of cats and dogs are not charged for this type of work).
| Charge type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| MPI employee – hourly rate (except final part hour) | $186.30 | $214.25 |
| MPI employee – charge for each 15-minute block in a part hour | $46.575 | $53.56 |
If you’re exporting cats or dogs, the minimum charge is $186.30 for the first cat or dog, plus $46.575 for each additional cat or dog being inspected in the same consignment.
These are also the usual actual charges – that is, the actual charge you will pay will be $186.30 for the first cat or dog and $46.575 for additional cats and dogs unless, for example, paperwork is not in order, there is something unusual during the inspection or the inspection is done outside normal hours.
The minimum charge for other animals is $93.15, but is not indicative of the actual charge you might pay.
