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What our fees cover

The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis. Activities and services we charge for include:

  • processing your exporter registration application
  • developing overseas market access and export standards
  • issuing an official assurance (export certificate)
  • accessing the electronic certification (E-cert) system
  • registering or amending a risk management programme (RMP) or regulated control scheme (RCS).

Not all the charges on this page may apply to you, and there may be other charges not listed here – like storage and transport costs.

Exporter registration fee

Activity type Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST)
Annual exporter registration fee  $135 $155.25 

Levy for seafood processors

MPI charges primary processors of fish and bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) an annual levy to cover our costs in developing requirements and standards for the seafood industry.

Businesses that process bivalve molluscan shellfish wholly or partly for export will be charged the export levy rate – even if some of their seafood is for the domestic market.

The total levy you will be charged is based on estimates of how many tonnes of fish and/or BMS you're likely to process.

Levy type Levy for each tonne processed (excl GST) Levy for each tonne processed (incl GST)
Bivalve molluscan shellfish $2.90 $3.335
Fish other than bivalve molluscan shellfish $1.55 $1.7825

Read about annual levies for primary processors of fish and BMS

E-cert system charges

MPI uses an online web application called E-cert to issue official assurances and approve consignments for export. E-cert tracks products from the time they're produced until they're exported.

Exporters are charged to use E-cert.

Use of E-cert system  Charge type  Charge
Use of electronic certification system  Charge for each unit of activity  See formula in the Animal Products (Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2007

Official assurance

If there is an overseas market access requirement for the country you're exporting to, you'll likely need an official assurance, or export certificate, before you can send your product.

Some countries may also ask for a catch certificate as official assurance to confirm your fish has been caught in New Zealand waters.

You'll be charged for each type of official assurance.

Activity type Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST)
Issue of a catch certificate $33.75, plus an hourly rate of $135 after the first 15 minutes $38.81, plus an hourly rate of $155.25 after the first 15 minutes
Issue of an official assurance $33.75, plus an hourly rate of $135 after the first 15 minutes $38.81, plus an hourly rate of $155.25 after the first 15 minutes
Reissue of an official assurance if replacement assurance demanded by importing country $405, plus an hourly rate of $135 after 3 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost $465.75, plus an hourly rate of $155.25 after 3 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost

Registration and renewal charges for RMPs and RCSs

To get an official assurance for seafood for export, processors must have a:

  • risk management programme (RMP)
  • regulated control scheme (RCS) – if a limited processing fishing vessel or BMS harvest operator.

You'll need to pay MPI to register your RMP, or to register under an RCS.

Risk management programme charges

Products for export must be produced under a registered risk management programme (RMP). You'll need to pay MPI to register or amend your RMP.

Activity type  Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST) 
Application for registration of a template RMP* $270 plus
$135 per hour after the first 3 hours		 $310.50 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 3 hours
Application for registration of a customised RMP* $405 plus
$135 per hour after the first 4 hours		 $465.75 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 4 hours
Application for limited exemption from requirement to have an RMP* $135 plus
$135 per hour after the first hour		 $155.25 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first hour
Significant amendment to a template RMP* $202.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 2.5 hours		 $232.88 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 2.5 hours
Significant amendment to a customised RMP* $337.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 3.5 hours		 $388.13 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 3.5 hours
Minor technical amendment to an RMP* $135 plus
$135 per hour after the first 2 hours		 $155.25 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 2 hours
Minor administrative amendment to an RMP* $67.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 1.5 hours		 $77.63 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 1.5 hours
Application for re-establishment of export eligibitlity where this has been lost $135 plus
$135 per hour after the first hour		 $155.25 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first hour
Application for renewal of an expired beekeeper listing for export purposes  $67.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 30 minutes		 $77.63 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 30 minutes
* The charge listed covers the time a standard application is expected to take.

Verification services charges for RMPs

You'll have to pay MPI or another verification provider for services, including inspecting and auditing your risk management programme, each year.

Regulated control scheme charges

Activity type Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST)

Application to register as a BMS harvest operator under an RCS

 $135 $155.25
BMS harvest operator registration renewal fee (every 5 years) $135 $155.25
Application to register a limited processing vessel under an RCS $135 $155.25
Limited processing vessel registration renewal $135 $155.25

Other charges for seafood processors that export

Registration, listing, and renewal charges also apply to fish and BMS depots, sorting shed operators, and BMS transport operators.

You'll find these fees and charges listed on the relevant applications forms.

Find seafood industry application forms

Charge to issue a statement of a New Zealand standard

MPI can provide a statement confirming your product has met relevant requirements under the Animal Products Act. We will charge you for this service.

Activity type Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST)
Issue of statement of a New Zealand standard $32 $36.80

Find out more

Updated fees and charges

Animal Products (Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2007 – NZ Legislation website

Who to contact

If you have questions about the fees and charges for exporting, email info@mpi.govt.nz

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