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Requirements for exporting animal products
Find out about the requirements you need to meet when exporting animal products.
Key requirements for exporting animal products
Products can only be exported if they meet:
- New Zealand domestic standards, and
- New Zealand general export requirements, and
- market or importing country requirements.
Meeting New Zealand domestic standards
Animal products can only be exported from New Zealand if they meet New Zealand's domestic standards and requirements. Products must be able to be sold freely in New Zealand, and be safe and suitable for their intended end use.
You must comply with the Animal Products Act 1999, and associated legislation such as animal products notices.
Animal Products Act 1999 – NZ Legislation
Meeting New Zealand general export requirements
Animal products can only be exported if you meet specific additional requirements on top of the domestic standards. For example, there are requirements for:
- official assurances (export certificates)
- labelling and packaging
- storage and transport
- contaminant testing.
Information on general export requirements for animal products is provided in animal product notices and some overseas market access requirement (OMAR) notifications.
Animal product notices (filter using the keyword "export")
OMAR notifications for animal products
You may have to meet other requirements in addition to those administered by MPI. These could be set by other government agencies like the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs).
Export clearance procedures – Customs
Meeting market requirements
Often there are addtional importing country or market requirements for animal products exported from New Zealand. Market access information and guidance is provided in OMARs and associated documents.
