About non-registration holds of food consignments
All consignments of food for sale entering New Zealand are checked to make sure the importer is a registered food importer.
Consignments of food imported by unregistered food importers are held at the border until a valid registration is obtained.
This affects products imported under tariffs in Chapters 2 to 5, 7 to 13, and 15 to 22, and codes 0602.90.00.01G and 1404.90.00.39C of the Working Tariff Document, where the intended use declaration shows it is for sale as human food.
Working tariff document – NZ Customs Service
Consignments being held by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must not be sold or released to the market. Failure to hold is an offence under the Food Act 2014 and carries significant penalties.
To release a consignment held for non-registration, you will need to determine why it has been put on hold, and then complete actions to resolve the problems.
Main reasons consignments are held for non-registration
Reason 1: The importer is not a registered food importer with MPI
Register and resubmit your lodgement.
1. Confirm if the importer is registered
You can check if an importer is registered by searching our public register of food importers.
Public register of food importers
2. Register with MPI as a food importer
If an importer needs to register as a food importer, visit our web page for the application form, how to complete the form, renewing your registration, and keeping your details up to date.
Registering as a food importer
3. Receive food importer registration certificate and FIMP#
Once processed, the importer will receive notification from MPI as well as a copy of their food importer registration certificate. This certificate will contain their food importer registration number (FIMP) and will list the Customs client code linked to it.
Note: If Customs had to issue you a new Customs client code and it differs from that used in the import entry, resubmitting the import entry (step 4) will not automatically release this hold. You will need to submit a Manual Food Referral. See reason 2, step 1 for how to do this.
4. Resubmit your lodgement
After at least 4 hours has passed from the time the importer was registered, you can resubmit the TSW lodgements and this should automatically release the consignment from hold.
Waiting at least 4 hours between receiving your new FIMP and resubmitting the lodgement allows time for our systems to refresh and new registrations to be recognised.
Reason 2: The importer is registered, but the wrong Customs client code was used on the import entry
You'll need to complete a Manual Food Referral.
Our border system uses the importer’s Customs client code to check if they are registered with MPI as a food importer. If the wrong client code is used, the system will think the importer is unregistered.
1. Complete a Manual Food Referral (MFR)
Complete a Manual Food Referral (MFR) in TSW and reference the importer’s FIMP number in the comments section. You may need to contact your service provider for information on how to submit a MFR.
2. Receive a Food Authority Clearance Certificate (FACC) showing the consignment has been released
The entry will be evaluated by a food safety officer who will check the importer is registered and can manually issue a release with a FACC.
Note: Once submitted, the Customs client code for the importer cannot be amended for an import entry. It is a key identifier for the entry. An MFR must be submitted to release these consignments.
Reason 3: The importer does not need to be registered but the wrong intended use was declared
Check the intended use code and update the import entry.
Check if registration is required
Food importer registration is required only for food products that are for human consumption and intended for sale.
The Food Act definitions of "food" and "sale" are broad. Check the legislation for details.
Meaning of Food – NZ Legislation
Meaning of Sale – NZ Legislation
If the goods meet these definitions, then food importer registration is required. Refer to reason 1 for how to release these goods.
If the goods are not food for humans or not for sale, follow the next steps.
1. Determine which intended use code applies to the goods
The 10 intended use codes are:
- HC – Sale for human consumption
- TS – Trade sample not for sale
- AC – Animal consumption
- PU – Personal use
- FP – Further processing for human consumption
- FN – Further processing, NOT for human consumption
- RE – Import for re-export
- LA – Laboratory analysis
- SS – Seed for sowing
- OT – Other, NOT for human consumption
Find out about registering as a food importer
2. Update the intended use code in the import entry
Update the intended use codes for each applicable line in the import entry and resubmit. If they are now all non-food or non-sale codes, this entry will be released from hold.
If you do not know the reason
If none of these reasons apply, or if you have any further questions regarding a consignment on hold:
- email import.systems@mpi.govt.nz
- freephone 0800 00 83 33
Provide the importer name and TSW# of the consignment.