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Steps to exporting poultry meat
Poultry meat exporters must be registered and follow food standards and other regulations, as well as meet the requirements of their destination country. We've created a step-by-step process so you can see what's involved.
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Step 1: What you need to know
An overview of exporting poultry meat from start to finish.
'Poultry' is all poultry and poultry products, including chicken, turkeys, ducks, pheasants, quail, guinea fowl, geese, partridges, pigeons, and other game birds. It excludes eggs and wild birds.
To export poultry meat successfully you need to know about:
- registering as an exporter with MPI
- all of the legislation relating to your type of business
- the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and New Zealand Food Standards, including labelling and packaging requirements
- all the requirements of your destination country
- risk management programmes or Food Act requirements
- registering for access to E-cert, MPI's online certification system, to apply for the required export certificates
- relevant fees and charges
- border clearance requirements.
In addition to this list, you may have to meet other requirements as well. These requirements might be commercial or set by other government agencies like the New Zealand Customs Service. It will also pay to check with the importing agent in your destination country to make sure you haven't overlooked any requirements.
Official Organic Assurance Programme
If you're exporting organic poultry meat products, you need to know about the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP). This programme is designed to facilitate the exporting of organic products to specific markets.
Step 2: What you need to do
The tasks you need to complete.
Register as an exporter or use the services of a registered exporter
If you're exporting commercially, you must register with MPI or use the services of a registered exporter. Exporter registration can be done online, or by completing a printed form.
Find out how to register as an exporter
If you have questions about registering as an exporter, email approvals@mpi.govt.nz.
Comply with New Zealand legislation and food standards
You need to meet labelling requirements and all relevant food standards and regulations.
- Refer to our full list of poultry meat export requirements, including Overseas Market Access Requirements
- Refer to the Animal Products Act 1999 on the NZ Legislation website
- Refer to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code on the Food Standards website
Check the requirements of your destination market
As an exporter, you're responsible for knowing and meeting the Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMAR) for your destination country. OMARs set out the requirements for all operators in your export chain (for example, farms, manufacturers, storage facilities, and transporters).
If there’s an OMAR for your export destination, you'll likely need an 'official assurance' (also known as an export certificate) before you can send your product. Official assurance is the New Zealand Government's assurance to the destination country that your product meets the standards set out in the OMAR.
You need to register with MPI to read poultry meat OMARs, which are password-protected.
Download Animal Products Notice: Official Assurance Requirements [PDF, 401 KB]
Search for the OMAR for your destination country, and read it thoroughly to make sure you can comply with all of the requirements.
Find the OMAR for your destination country
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
More information
Other information you should check 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.
Find out if you need to be 'listed'
Some countries require you to be 'listed' before you can export your products. 'Listing' is a procedure agreed between governments for ensuring that a country's market access requirements are met and products are produced in premises approved to export to that country.
Your OMAR will tell you if you need to be listed, and the process to follow. You'll need a fully operational RMP to be listed, and to work with your verifier to meet listing requirements.
Exporting to a country with no OMAR?
If there's no OMAR for your export destination, work directly with your importing agent to find out what certification you need and any other requirements. Note that if there's no OMAR, it could mean that the intended product is prohibited from being sent to that country.
Operate under a risk management programme (RMP) if you need official assurance
To get an official assurance for exporting poultry meat, the meat must be produced and processed under a registered and verified risk management programme (RMP). Other suppliers in your export chain – like storage facilities, processors, and transporters – also need to operate under an approved programme. Information in the RMP will form part of your application for official assurance.
RMPs help you manage hazards, and ensure your poultry meat is fit for purpose and meets legal requirements. If at any point the poultry 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.
Primary processors
If you are a primary processor (who slaughters and dresses poultry) you must operate under a risk management programme (RMP) under the Animal Products Act 1999, regardless of whether your destination country needs an official assurance. You can find out more about RMPs in Step 2.
Secondary processors
If you are a secondary processor (who processes poultry beyond slaughter and dressing) you may operate under 1 of the following:
- a risk management programme (you must choose this option if you export to countries that require official assurances) – refer to Step 2 or
- a food control plan under the Food Act 2014 (only choose this option if you export to countries that do not require official assurances).
Learn more about food control plans
Ensure storage requirements are met
Stand-alone operators who store poultry meat before it's exported must meet specific requirements, depending on the market. Poultry meat also has specific storage temperature requirements, which are detailed in the code of practice.
Ensure transport requirements are met
Use a recognised verifier to do verification
MPI Verification Services undertakes verification of operators. You need to work with them to ensure your poultry meat complies with all the requirements, and that you’re following your RMP.
Apply for access to E-cert
Export applications are handled online through E-cert, the web application MPI uses to issue government assurances and approve consignments for export. E-cert tracks products from the time they’re produced until they’re exported.
E-cert is password-protected, and new exporters need to apply for access.
Registration should be finalised within a week, provided all information supplied is correct and payments have been made.
Request an export certificate through E-cert
Once you're a registered user of E-cert, you can access the password-protected website and apply for an official assurance or export certificate for your consignment.
The information you enter about your poultry meat products and the declarations you make confirm that your product complies with requirements.
Are you using wood packaging?
If you use wood packaging products (other than paper) for your export product, check that you meet the OMAR requirements or any other conditions of your destination country.
Step 3: Getting your export documentation
How you know you've met MPI requirements.
When MPI is satisfied that your poultry products comply with all of the requirements and standards throughout the process, 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 Programme.
Read the Animal Products Notice: Official Assurance Requirements [PDF, 401 KB]
When to alert MPI
As an exporter you’re responsible for telling MPI within 24 hours if your poultry meat for export:
- becomes unfit for its intended purpose
- is refused entry by a foreign government
- fails to meet relevant Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMARs)
- doesn't have the required export documents – for example, if they have been removed or lost.
Who to contact
Use the export non-conformance report to alert MPI about any problems.
Download the export non-conformance report [PDF, 132 KB]
Learn more about export non-conformances
Alternatively, you can use your own form – so long as your notification contains all of the necessary information.
If you need to contact MPI about exporting poultry meat, email info@mpi.govt.nz.
