Steps to importing seafood

To import seafood products successfully you need to know about:

Biosecurity requirements

• ensuring your product is covered by an import health standard (IHS)
• complying with the IHS requirements
• getting a biosecurity import permit, if needed
• arranging zoosanitary certificates and manufacturers' declarations, if needed
• relevant legislation.

New Zealand Customs Service requirements

• product prohibitions and restrictions
• tariffs and permits
• using a customs broker
• restrictions on importing trout, if applicable.

Food Act requirements

• food importer registration
• general requirements of registered food importers – sourcing and keeping food safe and suitable, records, and recalls
• the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, including labelling, composition and restricted foods
• foods of "high regulatory interest" and "increased regulatory interest" (these will require food safety clearance)
• how to get food safety clearance
• fees and charges that apply for services provided by MPI and other agencies.

Additional requirements

Organic food, irradiated food, genetically modified food, and supplemented foods have additional requirements besides the Food Act. Learn more:

• Organic food
• Irradiated food and ingredients [PDF, 125 KB]
• Genetically modified food and ingredients [PDF, 137 KB]
• Supplemented foods [PDF, 67 KB]

Restrictions on importing trout

If you want to import trout for sale, or import more than 10 kg of trout for any use, you need to get approval from the Minister of Conservation.

Find out about import restrictions for trout – NZ Customs

Are you using wood packaging?

If your consignment is shipped to New Zealand on wooden pallets, or wood has been used to package any part of your consignment, you'll also need to comply with the requirements for importing wood packaging.

Follow the steps for importing wood packaging

Export goods returning to New Zealand

If you have New Zealand-origin seafood products returning to New Zealand – for example, a consignment that has been rejected by an importing country – you need to notify MPI. You can use the export non-conformance report to do this.

Download the export non-conformance report [DOC, 226 KB]

Learn more about export non-conformances

Meet biosecurity requirements

You'll need to understand and comply with the biosecurity requirements for your product.

Find the import health standard for your product

Biosecurity requirements are detailed in documents called import health standards (IHS). The IHS for your product tells you what you need to do to meet the biosecurity requirements to import it, including getting manufacturers' declarations and zoosanitary certificates when required.

If your product contains multiple animal ingredients (like fish, milk, and egg), you will need to meet the IHS requirements for each of these ingredients. Often you can only import certain products from countries listed or named in an IHS.

Search for the IHS for your seafood product

If there's no IHS for your product, you can't import it.

Products that meet all of the requirements specified in the IHS will be given biosecurity clearance. If your product doesn't meet IHS requirements you may have to:

• reship your goods at your cost
• pay for your consignment to be destroyed.

Apply for an import permit online, if required

The IHS will tell you if an import permit is required. If needed, apply for a permit by completing an application online. Manual application forms are no longer available.

Payment is required when submitting an online application.

Processing time for permit application is 20 working days. Ensure you give us this time to process the application.

Online permit application – Animal and Plant Import Permits

If you have any questions about permits, email animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz

Importing your product under equivalent measures (equivalence)

If your product doesn't meet all the IHS requirements (for example, if it has been treated using a different method from what is listed in the IHS), you can ask MPI about assessing your product under equivalent measures. This is known as "equivalence".

You will need to supply information to show how the risks managed by the IHS will be managed to an equivalent level (for example, by providing information about cooking times and temperatures, and other processing details).

You'll need to provide MPI with supporting information as listed in each IHS. MPI will issue a biosecurity permit if your request is approved.

To ask about equivalence, email animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz

Options for products not included in the IHS

If there's no IHS for your product, you can't import it. However, you can ask MPI to consider developing a new IHS for your product.

To make a request, use a separate form for each commodity, and email or post it and any additional information to MPI.

MPI prioritises requests for each new IHS, and it may take several years to finalise your request.

Read more about requesting an IHS

Arrange transitional storage

MPI approves transitional facilities to hold and manage imported goods that might pose a biosecurity risk. These goods may need to be inspected or treated at the transitional facility before they can be cleared by MPI.

All sea containers arriving in New Zealand need to be taken to a transitional facility and unpacked there.

You or your customs broker need to arrange for the transfer of your container to a transitional facility, before your goods arrive in New Zealand.

Read more about finding a transitional facility

All treatments at a transitional facility must be done by an approved treatment provider. You are liable for any costs associated with non-compliance or contamination.

Download a list of approved treatment providers [PDF, 375 KB]

Meet NZ Customs Service requirements

Check with the New Zealand Customs Service whether:

• you can import the product without restriction
• the product will be subject to duties or tariffs
• a NZ Customs permit is needed (such as for health products).

Visit the NZ Customs website to:

• find out more about the import entry process

Consider using a customs broker

A customs broker will help you get import entry clearance. Some services provided by the New Zealand Customs Service can only be accessed by registered customs brokers.

Many freight and transport companies employ their own brokers but if you need help finding one, contact the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation.

Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation

Meet Food Act requirements

Registered food importers

If you want to import food for sale in New Zealand, you must:

• register as a food importer with MPI, or
• use an agent who is registered as a food importer.

MPI lists registered food importers in a public database.

Find a registered food importer

Note: To register as a food importer you or your company must be a New Zealand resident as defined in sections YD1 (for persons) or YD2 (for companies) of the Income Tax Act 2007. 

Income Tax Act 2007 – NZ Legislation

Becoming a registered food importer

To register as a food importer, download and submit the Customs client registration form 224.

Customs form 224

Your registration won't be completed until the form has been processed and the fee has been paid.

Find out more about how to register as a food importer

If you need help with registering, contact MPI by:

• email: approvals@mpi.govt.nz
• phone: 0800 008 333 or 04 894 2550

Comply with regulations and standards

Registered food importers must meet food safety requirements under the Food Act 2014. These include:

• confirming the safety and suitability of food they import
• safely handling and transporting food
• meeting specific requirements for foods identified as presenting a higher risk to consumers, also known as foods of high or increased regulatory interest.

All food businesses must comply with the Food Act 2014, Food Regulations 2015 and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. For example, food sold in retail shops must have labels in English, with a New Zealand distributor's name and address.

Read the guide to complying with labelling requirements [PDF, 1 MB]

Find out more about the code – Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Food Regulations 2015 – NZ Legislation

As a registered food importer you must also comply with regulations about sourcing foods that are safe and suitable, storing and transporting those foods, and keeping records.

Check if your product requires food safety clearance

MPI must check the safety of "foods of regulatory interest" before they can be imported and sold. These are types of foods that have made people sick in the past, or may make people sick. Customs or your customs broker will tell you if a food safety clearance is required.

Seafood of regulatory interest

• Histamine-susceptible (scombroid) fish and fish products
• Puffer fish
• Ready-to-eat smoked fish and smoke-flavoured fish
• Bivalve molluscan shellfish
• Ready-to-eat crustaceans – lobsters, crabs, bugs, shrimps, and prawns – and their products

If, after checking, they're shown to be safe, you'll be given a food safety clearance and the food can be imported.

Seafood from Australia

The only seafood from Australia that needs food safety clearance is bivalve molluscan shellfish or products containing them. All other seafood from Australia can be imported without a food safety clearance.

If your products don't need food safety clearance

Go to Step 3 – Getting your import documentation.

Getting food safety clearance

If you're importing seafood that requires food safety clearance, you may be asked to demonstrate its safety one of 3 ways:

1. NZ Importer Assurance: A registered food importer that's verified by MPI can be issued with a NZ Importer Assurance (previously known as a Multiple Release Permit).
2. Official certificate: For some countries, MPI will accept official certificates (from the appropriate government agency) as assurance the food is safe.
3. Sampling and testing: In some cases, food will have to be sampled and tested. MPI will tell you if this is required.

How to apply

You can request food safety clearance using the Trade Single Window or by filling out a food safety clearance application form.

Trade single window

Follow the instructions on the Trade Single Window (TSW) website. You'll need to log in using the RealMe login service, and then register as a TSW user.

Trade Single Window

When inspection, sampling or testing is required

MPI will tell you if the food you're importing needs to be inspected, sampled or tested. If that happens, MPI will sample the product and send samples to your choice of MPI-approved laboratory. You'll need to pay the sampling, transport and testing costs – and share the test results with MPI.

Learn more about fees and charges

MPI's Central Clearing House can also answer questions:

• Email imported.food@mpi.govt.nz
• Phone 09 909 6210 or 09 909 6211
• Fax 09 909 6208.

All imported seafood products need biosecurity clearance. Some may also require a food safety clearance.

Biosecurity clearance

If a biosecurity inspector is satisfied that your products comply with the import health standard (IHS), clearance will be issued soon after your goods arrive.

If your products do not comply with an IHS, your goods may not be cleared. However, you may be given the chance to provide further documentation about your products.

Food safety clearance

Some seafood requires a food safety clearance. If you need one, a Food Safety Officer (FSO) will assess your application against the requirements of the Food Act. You'll be notified of the outcome through the Trade Single Window system or directly by MPI.

Clearance may be given "without direction", which means you're free to move and sell the product within New Zealand. If the food requires inspection or sampling, or it's not safe and suitable for people to eat, then you'll receive clearance with direction. Directions given may include reprocessing the food, re-exporting it, or destroying it.