Guidance Document  
 
A guidance document issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Egg Products  
EGGPRODS.GEN  
26 April 2023  
 Guidance Document : Egg Products  
  26 April 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  1 of 13 
 
 
 Title 
Guidance Document : Egg Products . 
About this document  
This guidance document contains information about acceptable ways of ensuring compliance with the 
requirements in  Import Health Standard : Egg Products . 
Any guidance on how to comply with the applicable requirements may not be the only way to achieve 
compliance. Stakeholders are encouraged to discuss departures from the approaches outlined in this  
guidance document with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to avoid expending resources on the 
development of alternative approaches which may later be considered unsuitable.  
The term “must” is not typically used in guidance. In this particular docu ment if the term “must” is used, it is 
used in the context of quoting or paraphrasing the requirements set out in the related IHS: Egg Products . 
Related requirements  
Import Health Standard: Egg Products  
Document  history  
Refer to Appendix 1.  
Contact Details  
For further information and questions about this guidance document, please contact:  
 
Animal Imports  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
 
Email: animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz  
Disclaimer  
This guidance does not constitute, and should not be regarded as, legal advice . While every effort has been 
made to ensure the information in this guidance is accurate, the Ministry for Primary Industries does not accept 
any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any error of fact, omission, interpretation , or opinion that may be  
present, however it may have occurred.  
Copyright  
Crown copyright ©. This copyright work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand 
licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attrib ute the work to the Ministry for Primary 
Industries and abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/nz/ . 
Please note that no governmental emblem, logo or Coat of Arms may be used in any way which infringes any provision of the Fla gs, 
Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 or would infringe such provision if the relevant use occurred within New Zealand. 
Attribution to the Ministry for Primary Industries should be in written form and not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo  or Coat of 
Arms.  
Guidance Document : Egg Products  
  26 April 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  2 of 13 
 
 
 Contents  Page 
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Definitions  3 
4 Importer responsibilities  3 
5 Guidance  3 
5.1 Equivalence  3 
5.2 Food Act 2014 and Animal Products Act 1999  4 
5.3 Incorporation of material by reference  4 
5.4 Harmonized System (HS) codes  4 
5.5 Exporting country systems and certification  5 
5.6 Inspection and verification  6 
6 Model certificates  7 
6.1 Model official certificate  7 
6.2 Model veterinary certificate  9 
Appendix 1 – Docu ment history  13 
 
  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
  26 April 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  3 of 13 
 
 
 1 Purpose  
(1) This guidance document has been issued to accompany the Import Health Standard  (IHS):  Egg 
Products . This guidance document should be read in conjunction with that standard .  
(2) This document includes:  
a) A model official certificat e 
b) Countries with exporting sy stems recognised by MPI to export egg products  to New Zealand  
c) A model veterinary certificate and l inks to agreed  country -specific veterinary certificates . 
2 Background  
(1) The IHS: Egg Products , which this guidance document accompanies, contains generic impo rt 
requirements. These are the rules to manage the biosecurity risk of importing  egg products  from all 
countries that can meet the requirements of that standard , and in doing so meet New Zealand’s 
appropriate level of protection.  
(2) General information about importing animal products can be found here:  Importing food to New 
Zealand | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz) . 
3 Definitions  
(1) See Schedule 2 of the IHS: Egg Products . 
4 Importer responsibilities  
(1) The costs to MPI in performing functions relating to the importation of  egg products  will be recovered in 
accordance with the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and any regulations made under that Act. Al l costs 
involved with documentation, transport, storage , and obtaining a biosecurity clearance must be 
covered by the importer or agent.  
(2) Consignments that do not comply with the requirements of th e IHS: Egg Products  may be reshipped or 
destroyed using an MPI -approved destruction method .  
5 Guidance  
5.1 Equivalence  
(1) MPI may accept an alternative method, system , or process that can be shown to achieve the 
biosecurity requirements of the IHS: Egg Products  (i.e. equivalence).  
(2) MPI’s preference is that the exporting country’s competent authority makes equivalence requests. 
Equivalence requests can be lodged with animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz . 
(3) An import permit is not required to import  egg products  into New Zealand if the requirements of the 
IHS: Egg Products  are met.  
(4) An import  permit may be required where specific equivalence measures are approved by MPI. A n 
import permit serves as evidence of equivalence decisions and will be written as specific notes in the 
special conditions section of the permit.  
(5) Application forms can be found on the MPI website at: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/3124 -
Permit -to-import -animal -products -, or apply for the import permit at the following weblink when active: 
https://animalp lantimportpermit.mpi.govt.nz/ .  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
  26 April 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  4 of 13 
 
 
 5.2 Food Act 2014 and Animal Products Act 1999  
(1) Consignments of food imported into New Zealand for sale for human consumption must comply with 
relevant requirements of  the Food Act 2014 , the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code , and t he 
Animal Products Act 1999 . 
(2) Importers of food intended for sale for human consumption must be registered with MPI. These 
requirements are independent of the  requirements  in the standard . Importers are advised to consult 
MPI’s website:  http://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing . 
(3) Some hig h-risk foods, known as regulatory interest foods , require food safety clearance on arrival. 
These foods include some meat, fish, seafood , and cheese. A full list can be found in the schedules to 
the food notice  Importing Food . Food safety clearance will include a documentation check and may 
include inspecti on, sampling , and testing at the importer ’s cost.   
(4) Importers of egg products must ensure that consignments of egg products imported into New Zealand 
comply with the microbiological limit for Salmonella  in processed egg products, specified in the 
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code . 
(5) The importation of the following animal material or product must comply with the requirements issued 
in Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMAR) 01/172  under the Animal Products Act 1999:  
a) Imported animal material or product that is of New Zealand origin and is intended for re -export to 
a countr y where official assurance is required ; and  
b) Imported animal material or product of foreign origin intended for export or further processing for 
export where official assurance is required.  
(6) To arrange for inspection of any animal material or animal product , contact your primary verifier or 
local MPI Verification Services office.  
5.3 Incorporation of material by reference  
(1) Incorporation by reference means that standards, guidelines , or lists are incorporated into the 
standard,  and they form part of the requiremen ts. This is done because technical documents are too 
large or impractical to include in the standard . 
(2) When  the standard  states that section 142O(1) of the Act does not apply, this means that importers 
need to refer to the most recent version of any standar ds, guidelines or lists that are incorporated by 
reference in the standard . 
5.4 Harmoni zed System (HS) codes  
(1) The Harmoni zed System is an international product numbering classification developed by the World 
Customs Organization (WCO). Harmoni zed System  codes  are here: Harmonized System | WCO Trade 
Tools . 
(2) Animal products imported using the IHS: Egg Products  will be under one of the following HS codes:  
 
HS code Commodity description  
0407.90.00  Birds’ eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved , or cooked ( for the purposes of th at import health 
standard , fresh (table) eggs and embryonated eggs are excluded)  
0408  Birds’ eggs, not in shell, and egg yolks, fresh, dried, cooked by steaming or by boiling 
in water, moulded, frozen , or otherwise preserved, whether or not containing added 
sugar or other sweeten ing matter  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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 5.5 Exporting country systems and certification  
5.5.1 Official certificate  
(1) An official certificate contains information that MPI needs  to accompany specified shelf -stable egg 
products imported under clause 2.1 of the of the IHS: Egg Products . A model certificate is provided in 
this guidance document and can be used by the exporting country. An official certificate does not need 
to be neg otiated with MPI before trade commences . 
5.5.2 Recognition of  exporting systems  
(1) Countries intending to export egg products  to New Zealand  under clause 2.3 ( other products 
containing up to 100% egg ), clause 2.4 (egg powder or liquid egg ), or Part 3  should  have an exporting 
and certification system that meets clause 1.5 of the  IHS: Egg Products .  
(2) Competent authorities who want  their exporting systems recognised should see MPI’s Guidance 
Document: Export Controls and Certificate Systems for Animals and Animal Products . This document 
can help the competent authority  prepare information  for MPI regarding the capabilities and 
preferences of the competent authority .  
(3) MPI prioritises recognition of exporting systems according to MPI resources available at the time the 
exporting countries  apply for recognition . 
(4) The table below lists  exporting countries that meet the requirements in the IHS: Egg Products . 
 
Countries with 
recognised  exporting 
systems  Egg powder or crystal  Liqui d egg Other products containing 
up to  100% egg  
Australia  ✓ ✓ ✓ 
Canada  ✓   
European Union  ✓   
Denmark  ✓   
France  ✓ ✓ ✓ 
Latvia   ✓  
Lithuania  ✓ ✓ ✓ 
The Netherlands  ✓ ✓ ✓ 
United States of 
America  ✓   
Japan  ✓    
5.5.3 Agreed country -specific veterinary certificates  
(1) Once MPI is satisfied that the exporting country meets the requirements in clause 1.5 of the IHS: Egg 
Products , MPI and the exporting country’s competent authority can negotiate veterinary certification for 
the export  of egg products  to New Zealand .   
(2) A model veterinary certificate is provided in this guidance document and can be used by the competent 
authority as a reference for country -specific veterinary certificate negotiation.  
(3) Country -specific veterinary certificates with equivalent meas ures will be recorded with a number 
relevant to a chief technical officer (CTO) direction under section 27(1)d(iii) of the Act to enable border 
staff to clear the goods and record the number in the MPI database.  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
  26 April 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  6 of 13 
 
 
 (4) When a newly negotiated country -specific veterinary certificate replaces one that is currently in use, 
the application of new import conditions will apply according to the dates listed in the table. At that 
time, previous veterinary certificates for that country can no longer be used . 
(5) All country -specific veterinary certificates agreed between an exporting country’s competent authority 
and MPI are included in the table below . 
 
Country  Link to certificate  S27 CTO direction 
# Date agreed  Date applicable 
for use  
Australia  Egg Products from 
Australia  2018 044  18 October 
2018  18 October 
2018  
France    Egg Products from 
France  NA 11 June 2021  11 June 2021  
Latvia  Egg Products from 
Latvia  NA 29 April 2022  29 April 2022  
Lithuania   
  Egg Products Vet Cert 
and Manufacturers 
Declaration Lithuania  2019 038  22 August 2019
  22 August 2019  
The Netherlands  Egg Products from the 
Netherlands  2021 029  11 May 2021  11 May 2021  
5.6 Inspection and verification  
(1) On arrival, all documentation accompanying the consignment will be verified by an inspector. The 
inspector may also inspect the consignment, or a sample of the consignment on arrival.  
(2) Inspectors are able to inspect and verify due to their authorised powers under the Act.  
(3) These requirements are independent of the requirements  in the import health standard . 
  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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 6 Model certificate s 
6.1 Model official certificate  
(1) Below is a model official certificate for specified shelf -stable egg products in clause 2.1  of the IHS: Egg 
Products .  
(2) This model official certificate is approved to accompany imports of specified shelf -stable egg products 
in clause 2.1  of the IHS: Egg Products  when appropriately completed by an Official or Official 
Veterinarian of the exporting country ’s competent authority . 
 
Consignor ( exporter):  
Name:  
Address:  
 Certificate reference number:  
 
Competent authority:  
 
Consignee ( importer):  
Name:  
Address:  
 
 
Country of origin *:  
 
Country of destination: NEW ZEALAND  
 
Place of origin *: 
Name:  
Address:  
Place of shipment *: Date of departure:  
Means of transport *: 
 
    Plane           Ship  
 
Identification:  
 Commodity intended for use:  
 Human consumption  
 
Description of commodity:  
 Temperature of commodities for transport:  
   Ambient           Chilled           Frozen  
Total number of packages:  Type of packaging:  
Net weight (kg):  Identification of container/se al number:  
 
Country:  Certificate reference number:  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  8 of 13 
 
 
 I, the undersigned Official or Official Veterinarian , certify that the product described above satisfies the following 
requirements:   
Specified shelf -stable egg products  
(1) The product:  
(a) does not require refrigeration before the package is opened ;  
(b) has been  commercially manufac tured and packaged  into retail packaging; and  
(c) has met  the additional requirements set out in the individual product clause below  (Delete clauses not 
applicable to the product for export) : 
(i) Alkalised duck or chicken eggs (also known as ‘pidan’, ‘ century  eggs ’, ‘preserved egg s’, ‘100 -year-
old eggs’, ‘thousand -year egg s’, or ‘millennium egg s’) have been  transformed in an alkaline salt to a 
pH of 10 or higher in the final preserved egg product . 
(ii) Salted cooked duck or chicken eggs have been  heat treated  to an F 0 value of 3 or more . 
Note: Government official’s signature and stamp to be applied to all pages.  
*Optional  
Official or official veterinarian  
Name:  
Address:  
Email:  
  
Signature:   
Date:  
 
  
Official or official veterinarian 
signature, official stamp , and date  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  9 of 13 
 
 
 6.2 Model veterinary certificate  
(1) Below is a model veterinary certificate for  other products containing up to 100% egg (in clause 2.3 ), 
egg powder , or liquid egg of the IHS: Egg Products . 
(2) This model meets the requirements of the IHS: Egg Products  and can be used by the exporting 
country’s competent authority as a reference for country -specific veterinary certificate negotiation .  
(3) Bilaterally agreed country -specific veterinary certificates w ill be recorded  in the table under clause 
5.5.3 of this g uidance document and on the MPI website .  
 
1. Consignor (exporter) : 
Name:  
Address:  
 
 2. Certificate reference number:  
 
 
3. Competent authority:  
 
 
4. Consignee (importer) : 
Name:  
Address:  
 
 5. Country of origin:  
ISO code*:  
 
 
6. Country of destination: NEW ZEALAND  
ISO code*:  
 
7. Zone or country o f origin†:  
 8. Country, zone , or compartment of manufacture†: 
 
9. Place of origin†: 
Name:  
Address:  
 
 10. Means of transport *: 
 
   Plane           Ship 
11. Date of departure *:  12. Place of shipment *: 
 
13. Identification of container/seal number:  
 
 14. Description of commodity:  
15. Total number of packages : 
 16. Type of packaging : 
 
 
17. Net weight (kg) : 
 18. Country of transit/transhipment†: 
19. Commodity intended for use:  
 
 Human consumption  
 Animal feed  
 Technical use 
 
*Optional  
† If referenced in certificate below   
  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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 Exporting country:  Certificate reference number : 
 
 
I, the undersigned Official or Official Veterinarian , certify that the product described above satisfies the following 
requirements:  
Commodity eligibility  
(1) The commodity for export contains one or more of the following egg products derived from chicken ( Gallus gallus ) 
eggs  (Delete products below as applicable) . 
(a) Other products containing up to 100% egg (clause 2.3 of the IHS: Egg Products ) 
(b) Egg powder or liquid egg   
Processing requirements  
(2) The egg powder  or liquid egg : 
(a) Was prepared from intact, clean eggs  visibly free from dirt, blood, f aecal contamination, and other foreign 
matter ; and 
(b) Contain s less than 100  mg/kg of eggshell remains, egg membrane , and other particles ; and 
(c) Was processed as described below for the specified commodity ; and  
(d) Meet s the relevant national standards of the exporting country for hygienic processing of egg products.  
Packaging and transport requirements  
(3) The egg products for export to New Zealand were  packaged and sealed in tamper -proof  and leak -proof 
packaging at the time  of manufacture  and ha ve remained separated from non -processed product that is not of 
equivalent health status . 
(4) The egg produc ts have been stored and subsequently transported in a hygienic manner.  
(5) Packaging containing the egg products is clean , secure , and  free of any organic contaminants . 
(6) Consignments of egg products are clearly identified , and the identifier is stated on the veterinary certificate.  
Third country processing  
(Delete this section if not applicable)  
(7) This consignment contains egg products  that originates from <insert name of country of origin  different from the 
country of export >, and the consignment : 
(a) is eligible for export directly from the country of origin to New Zealand , and has been processed to  meet 
New Zealand’s import requirements  for the specified egg product ; and  
(b) was processed and stored separately from all other products not eligible for export to New Zealand . 
Other products containing up to 100%  egg 
(8) Other product s containing  up to 100 % egg has been heat treated to a core temperature of at least:  
(a) 60°C for at least 3.5 minutes; or  
(b) 64°C for at least 2. 7 minutes; or  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  11 of 13 
 
 
 Exporting country:  Certificate reference number : 
 
(c) 70°C for at least 2 minutes . 
Egg powder or liquid egg  
(9) The product is a shelf -stable spray dried whole egg powder , and the product has been heat treated to a core 
temperature of at least : 
(a) 60°C for no less than 9.1 minutes; or  
(b) 61°C for no less than 6.7 minutes; or  
(c) 62°C for no less than 5 minutes; or  
(d) 63°C for no less than 3.7 minutes; or  
(e) 64°C for no less than 2.7 minutes.  
(10) The product is a shelf -stable spray dried egg yolk powder , and  the product has been heat  treated  to a core 
temperature of at least 60°C for no less than 4.8 minutes .  
(11) The product is a shelf -stable spray dried egg albumen powder , and the product has been heat treated to a core 
temperature of at least 54.4°C for no less than 7 days .  
(12) The product is liquid egg (with and without additives) , and the product  has been heat treated to one of the 
following parameters in the table below . 
 
Liquid egg product  Retention temperature to be 
no less than ( °C) Minimum holding time 
requirements in minutes  
Albumen  55 
56 
57 37.9 
19.2 
16.4 
Whole egg  60 
61 
62 
63 
64 9.1 
6.7 
5 
3.7 
2.7 
Whole egg blends with less than 2% 
added non -egg ingredients  60 
61.1 6.2 
3.5 
Fortified whole egg blends (24 –38% 
solids, 2 -12% added non -egg ingredients)  61.1 
62.2 6.2 
3.5 
Salted whole egg with 2% or more salt 
added  62.2 
63.3 6.2 
3.5 
Sugared whole egg with 2–12% sugar  
added  60 
61.1 6.2 
3.5 
Plain or pure egg yolk  60 
61.1 6.02 
3.5 
Salted yolk with 2–12% salt  added  
 62.2 
63.3 7 
6.09 Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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 Exporting country:  Certificate reference number : 
 
Sugared yolk with 2% or more sugar  62.2 
63.3 7.7 
7 
For import conditions different to the above for egg powder or liquid egg  originating from an exporting country 
where the disease status for high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI)  virus  and Newcastle disease (ND)  has 
been assessed by MPI,  please see Part 3  of the IHS: Egg Products .    
Note: Each page of the certificate must be signed, stamped, dated, and identified with a unique reference number.  
  
 
 
 
Official or official veterinarian  
Name:  
Address:  
Email:  
  
Signature:  
Date:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Official  or official  veterinarian 
signature, official stamp , and date  Guidance Document : Egg Products  
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  13 of 13 
 
 
 Appendix 1 – Document history  
Date first issued  Title Shortcode  
26 April 2023  Guidance Document:  Egg Products  EGGPRODS.GEN  
Date of issued amendments  Title Shortcode