What our fees cover
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis. Activities and services we charge for include:
- registering as an exporter
- unit fee charges for animals exported
- Animal Welfare Export Certificates (AWEC)
- official assurances (export certificates)
- hourly rate and mileage charges for MPI employees.
Not all charges on this page may apply to you, and there may be other charges not listed here.
Registering as an exporter
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual exporter registration fee | $135 | $155.25 |
Unit fee charges
The live animal export system requires constant review and maintenance to ensure that certification issued for the export of live animals is accepted by the importing country. The unit fee helps you to continue to export smoothly.
For live animals, a unit is usually an animal.
Unit charges for live animals
| Charge | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Cats and dogs – each animal | $114.44 | $131.61 |
| Birds (excludes budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, finches, and rosellas) – each bird | $17.89, with a maximum charge of $536.70 for each consignment | $20.57, with a maximum charge of $617.21 for each consignment |
| Budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, finches, and rosellas – each bird | $0.27 | $0.31 |
| Other animals and germplasm not specified above – each consignment | $114.44 | $131.61 |
Hourly rate charges
You'll be charged the hourly rate for MPI employees doing specialist activities on your behalf. These services include:
- specialist functions and activities needed to export live animals
- negotiating alternative measures for meeting access requirements with importing countries
- negotiating new access requirements for overseas markets (exporters of cats and dogs are not charged for this type of work).
| Charge type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| MPI employee – hourly rate (except final part hour) | $186.30 | $214.25 |
| MPI employee – charge for each 15-minute block in a part hour | $46.575 | $53.56 |
If you’re exporting cats or dogs, the minimum charge is $186.30 for the first cat or dog, plus $46.575 for each additional cat or dog being inspected in the same consignment.
These are also the usual actual charges – that is, the actual charge you will pay will be $186.30 for the first cat or dog and $46.575 for additional cats and dogs unless, for example, paperwork is not in order, there is something unusual during the inspection or the inspection is done outside normal hours.
The minimum charge for other animals is $93.15, but is not indicative of the actual charge you might pay.
After-hour rates
If the MPI staff have to work outside their normal hours, after-hour charges may apply. These charges include the following:
- Callout charges for when an inspector needs to return to work having completed their normal hours. A minimum of three-hours are charged when an inspector is called-out.
- Overtime rates for when an inspector works extra hours on top of their normal roster (for example, additional hours after the end of a rostered shift).
- Penal rates, which are additional hourly rates where staff need to work unsociable hours (for example, very early morning).
|
Call-out charges |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Biosecurity and general inspectors – at time-and-a-half |
$164.66 per hour |
$189.36 per hour |
|
Biosecurity and general inspectors – at double time |
$192.34 per hour |
$221.19 per hour |
|
Biosecurity and general inspectors – on a public holiday or a Ministry holiday |
$442.90 per day plus $136.98 per hour |
$509.34 per day plus $157.53 per hour |
|
Veterinary inspector – at time-and-a-half |
$198.89 per hour |
$228.72 per hour |
|
Veterinary inspector – at double time |
$236.67 per hour |
$272.17 per hour |
|
Veterinary inspector – on a public holiday or a Ministry holiday |
$604.44per day plus $161.11 per hour |
$695.11 per day plus $185.28 per hour |
|
Overtime rates |
||
|
Veterinary inspector – at time-and-a-half |
$236.67 per hour |
$272.17 per hour |
|
Veterinary inspector – at double time |
$287.04 per hour |
$330.10 per hour |
|
Penal rates |
||
|
Veterinary inspector – at penal 0.5 |
$50.37 per hour |
$57.93 per hour |
|
Veterinary inspector – at penal 1.0 |
$100.74 per hour |
$115.85 per hour |
|
Veterinary inspector – at penal 2.0 |
$201.48 per hour |
$231.70 per hour |
Other fees
MPI may charge you for assessment work we do on your behalf. This includes the time of MPI employees, or anyone else we ask to do this work.
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment work – hourly rate (except final part hour) | $186.30 | $214.25 |
| Charge for each 15-minute block in the final part hour | $46.575 | $53.56 |
Failing to cancel an unneeded booking
MPI encourages you to cancel a booking if it turns out that it will not be needed. MPI may charge $46.575 if you do not cancel a booking you have with a veterinary inspector if it is no longer needed.
Mileage rate charges
| Charge type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Mileage charge, for each kilometre travelled | $0.67 | $0.7705 |
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 live animals.
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Issue of an official assurance | $46.575, plus an hourly rate of $186.30 after the first 15 minutes | $53.56, plus an hourly rate of $214.25 after the first 15 minutes |
| Reissue of an official assurance if replacement assurance demanded by an importing country | $405, plus an hourly rate of $186.30 after 2.5 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost | $465.75, plus an hourly rate of $214.25 after 2.5 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost |
Example of how fees are calculated
An example of the estimated MPI fees (GST included) that would apply for exporting a dog to Singapore.
| Unit charge | $131.61 |
| Issue of an official assurance |
$53.56 plus an hourly rate of $214.25 after the first 15 minutes |
| Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC) | Refer to AWEC fees and charges |
Note, the actual fees charged will depend on the time required to issue the documentation. MPI recommends that you contact a registered pet exporter for an estimate or quote for all the costs involved.
Charges for market access work
MPI will charge you for market access work that is not covered by unit fees. The market access decision tree shows you when you may be charged for this work. Exporters of cats and dogs are not charged for negotiating new access requirements for overseas markets.
You'll need to give MPI your formal written agreement before we start market access work on your behalf.
Download the form to request services from the animal exports team [PDF, 284 KB]
Download the market access decision tree for fees and charges [PDF, 58 KB]
Fee waivers
If you wish to apply for a waiver for the export of live animals, email animalexports@mpi.govt.nz
Set out your details, the proposed export(s), fees, purpose for export, and your reasons for seeking a waiver. Make your application at least 20 working days before the fees will be incurred.
Find out more
- Animal Products (Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2007
- Updated fees and charges
- Download MPI's complaints and appeals procedure
- Download MPI's conflict of interest policy
Who to contact
If you have any questions about MPI's fees and charges for exporting live animals, email animalexports@mpi.govt.nz
