For individuals
Mā te takitahi
Last reviewed:
Steps to exporting meat
The steps you need to follow to export meat from New Zealand. Types of meat include beef, lamb, goat, pork, ostrich, and emu.
The process for exporting meat
The requirements on this page are for meat products. Types of meat include beef, lamb, goat, pork, ostrich, and emu.
Export requirements vary for meat products, depending on your destination market. We’ve created a step-by-step process so you can see what’s involved.
Expand all
Meet New Zealand requirements for meat exports
New Zealand legislation and operating requirements.
Comply with NZ legislation and food standards
You need to meet labelling requirements and all relevant food standards and regulations, including the:
Operate under a risk management programme
To get an official assurance for exporting meat, the meat must be produced and processed under a registered and verified risk management programme (RMP). Other suppliers in your export chain – for example, storage facilities, processors, and transporters – also need to operate under an RMP. RMPs help you manage hazards and ensure that your product is fit for purpose and meets legal requirements.
Information in the RMP will form part of your application for official assurance – you'll need to log this information in E-cert throughout the process. If at any point the meat is processed, transported, or stored outside of an approved RMP, you can’t get an official assurance and your meat will lose its eligibility for export.
Develop and register your RMP
Download the RMP manual [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Transport operators must operate under either a regulated control scheme or a risk management programme.
Options for transport operators
Verify your RMP
After developing and registering your programme, you must get it verified regularly by an MPI recognised verification agency.
Animal products recognised agencies – including dairy
When you don't need an RMP
In some circumstances, depending on the destination market's requirements and the type of meat you're exporting, you might not need to operate under a RMP.
Complete animal status declarations, if needed
If you send animals for processing, or move them between properties or to saleyards, you need to complete an animal status declaration (ASD).
Check use of hormonal growth promotants
The use of hormonal growth promotants (HGPs) is strictly controlled in bovine animals (cattle). You cannot export meat from animals implanted with HGP to the European Union and some other countries where the use of HGP is banned.
Find out more about the requirements for using HGPs
Get official devices for your products
Meat products must be packed and labelled to ensure they're secure and the contents can be traced to the official assurances (export certificates) that apply to them. Official devices, which help protect the integrity of the products, have to be approved by MPI.
Check destination requirements for meat exports
Overseas market access requirements and requirements for your market.
About Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMARs)
As a meat exporter, you're responsible for knowing and meeting the requirements of your destination country. You can find most of the requirements in documents called OMARs – Overseas Market Access Requirements. They differ between countries and products. OMARs set out requirements for all operators in your export chain – for example, farms, manufacturers, storage facilities, and transporters.
Some countries have much stricter and more costly requirements than others. It's worth checking the requirements before deciding where you want to export to. Some countries also require premises or harvest areas to be approved, or 'listed', before you can export your products. The OMAR will tell you if you need to be listed, and the process to follow.
Tip: It's helpful to establish a working relationship with an import agent in your destination market.
Get your password
You need to apply to MPI to read animal product OMARs because they're password protected.
Apply for a password to access OMARs
Search for your OMAR
When you have your password, you'll be able to read the OMAR for your destination market. For meat, you need to look at OMARs for animal products. Read the OMAR for your destination market thoroughly to make sure you can comply with all the requirements.
Export certificates
If your export destination has an OMAR you'll likely need an 'official assurance', also known as an export certificate, before you can send your meat product. Official assurance is the New Zealand Government's assurance to the destination market that your product meets the standards set out in the OMAR.
Check FYIs and OMAR notifications
Other information you should read includes:
Guidance offered by FYIs can help you with exporting concerns or issues. (You may need your OMAR password to read some FYIs.)
OMAR notifications will give you the latest updates for your destination country.
When there is no OMAR
If there is no OMAR for your export destination, work directly with your importing agent to find out about certification and any other requirements. If an import permit is required, the permit will outline the requirements.
Note, if there is no OMAR, it could mean your product is prohibited from being sent to that country.
Some destinations that don't need official assurances may instead require Free Sales Certificates (FSC), or Free Sales Advice Statements (FSAS).
Find out more about FSCs and FSASs
If you are exporting to a halal market
Check the OMAR for your market to see if there are halal requirements. If your market has halal requirements, you will need to engage an approved halal organisation and may need to get halal certification.
Find out the process you need to follow for halal products
If you use wood packaging
If you use wood packaging products – other than paper – for your export product, check that your wood packaging meets the phytosanitary requirements of the destination market. Most markets require you to treat your wood packaging to make sure it's free of pests and diseases.
Register as an animal products exporter
How to register and list of registered exporters.
How to register
You can do this online.
AP1 exporter registration – online form
Notes about registering
- You'll need to pay a registration fee each year.
- If you don't register with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), you can use the services of an exporter who is already registered.
Questions?
If you have questions about registering as an exporter, email approvals@mpi.govt.nz
Our list of registered exporters
When your application has been processed and approved by MPI, you will be added to our list of registered exporters. This list is available to the public.
Register of animal products exporters
If you're exporting organic meat
If you want to export organic meat under the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP), you must be registered as both an organics exporter and an animal products exporter. You need to register as an animal products exporter first.
You can register as an organics exporter online or complete the form.
Register for E-cert, if needed
About E-cert and how to register.
About E-cert
Animal products E-cert is what we use to issue official government assurances for animal products, including meat, that are exported from New Zealand.
At each step of the production process, operators need to add information to E-cert. At the end of the process, the exporter uses E-cert to apply for an export certificate (an official assurance as provided for in the Animal Products Act).
It is mandatory to use E-cert for some markets and strongly recommended for a number of others.
E-cert is password protected and new exporters and operators need to apply for access.
How to register
To use E-cert, your company must be one of the following:
- a registered exporter under the Animal Products Act 1999
- a business with a registered Risk Management Programme
- an export-approved premise
- acting as an agent for another company that is registered as one of the above.
You need to get company access first, then add access for individuals.
Apply for a meat export certificate, if needed
Using E-cert and how to request approval to get your certificate.
Using E-cert
If the destination market for your meat or meat products requires an export certificate (or official assurance), you need to apply for it through E-cert. You have to register to access E-cert. We explain how to register for E-cert in the previous step.
Log in
When you're registered, you can log in and use the system.
The information and declarations you, or the operators you work with, have entered about the production of your meat products confirm that they comply with requirements.
Training and help using AP E-cert
Guidance resources to help you understand the exporting process, certification, and how to use AP E-cert.
AP E-cert demonstration
Walk-through a demo to learn how to raise an export certificate in AP E-cert.
Walk-through demo of AP E-cert
Request approval of your certificate
Once the export certificate application has been raised in E-cert, email your nearest MPI signing office to arrange approval of the export certificate.
Find contact details for MPI signing offices
Getting your export certificate
When MPI is satisfied that your meat products comply with all requirements and standards, we issue the official assurance (export certificate) through E-cert.
The official assurance can be provided for your consignment in various ways. Check the OMAR of your destination country and the Official Assurances Specification to work out what you need.
Read the Animal Products Notice: Official Assurance Requirements [PDF, 401 KB]
Other requirements
You may also have to meet other requirements, including those set by government agencies like the New Zealand Customs Service.
Export clearance procedures – New Zealand Customs Service
Storage and transport requirements
Export non-conformance
If your export products are stopped at the border or no longer meets export requirements, you must tell MPI within 24 hours.
Find out more about export non-conformances
Who to contact
If you have questions about exporting, email exporterhelp@mpi.govt.nz
