Food Notice  
Issued under the Food Act 2014   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Requirements for 
Registered Food Importers 
and Imported Food for Sale  
 
27 November 2023  
 Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  1 of 22 
TITLE  
Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale .  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Food Notice  comes into force on  27 November  2023 . 
REVOCATION  
This Food Notice revokes and replaces the Food Notice Requirements for Registered Importers and Imported 
Food for Sale, issued on 13 December 2022  
ISSUING AUTHORITY  
This Food Notice is issued under  section 405 of the Food Act 2014  for the purpose of section 387  and to 
supplement the Food Regulations 20 15. 
Dated at Wellington, 27 November 2023 . 
 
 
 
Aaron Tangaroa 
Acting Director Food Regulation  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(acting under dele gated authority of the Director -General)  
 
 
Contact for further information : 
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  
New Zealand Food Safety  
Food Regulation  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
 
Email: import.systems@mpi.govt.nz  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  2 of 22 
Contents  Page 
Introduction  3 
Part 1:  General requirements  5 
1.1 Definitions  5 
Part 2:  Regis tration as a food importer  6 
2.1 Application for registration as a food importer  6 
Part 3:  Duties of a registered food importer  7 
3.1 Application  7 
3.2 Assessment and confirmation of the safety and suitability of a food for import into New 
Zealand  7 
3.3 Transport and storage of imported food  8 
3.4 Records that must be kept  9 
Part 4:  Categories of imported food  10 
4.1 High Regulatory Interest food  10 
4.2 Increased Regulatory Interest food that requires clearance for entry  10 
Part 5:  Requirements for High Regulatory Interest food and Increased Regulatory Interest 
food requiring clearance  11 
5.1 Application  11 
5.2 Import conditions and clearance requirements  11 
5.3 Documents required for clearance  11 
Part 6:  Requirements for imported bovine meat and bovine meat products, and food 
containing such products  13 
6.1 Application  13 
6.2 Import requirements  13 
6.3 Documents required for clearance  14 
Schedule 1: Clearance requirements for High Regulatory Interest food  18 
Schedule 2: Clearan ce requirements for Increased Regulatory Interest food  21 
 
 
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  3 of 22 
Introduction  
This introduction is not part of this Food Notice  but is intended to indicate its general effect.  
Purpose  
The purpose of this Notice  is to: 
a) supplement regulations regarding  the duties of a registered importer under  Part 5 of the Food 
Regulations 2015 (the Regulations) ; 
b) specify which imported food s are High Regulatory Interest and which are Increased Regulatory 
Interest  pursuant to regulation 128 of the Regulations;  and 
c) specify the clearance requirements for imported food that require clearance for entr y into New 
Zealand pursuant to regulation 131 of the Regulations.  
Background  
The purpose of the Food Act 2014 ( the Act ) is to ensure  the safety and suitability of food for sale, maintain 
and improve  confidence in New Zealand’s food safety regime and provide for risk -based measures that 
minimise and  manage food safety risks to public health.  
To provide regulatory oversight  over parties importing food into New Zealand and enable MPI to communicate 
with these parties, the Act provides that importers  of food  for sale must be registered and requires that the 
application be made in writing in the form or manner specified by notice.  
The d uties  of a registered food importer are detailed both in the Act and in the Regulations.  The Act provides 
for regulations to be supplemented by notice.  
The Regulations set out the following two categories of imported food:  
a) High Regulatory Interest food, which r equires clearance for entry ; and 
b) Increased Regulatory Interest food, which may require  clearance for entry if specified  by notice.  
Food that is not specified in a notice as being in one of the above categories do es not require clearance under 
the Act.  Categorising  imported food in this manner allows a targeted approach to managing  imported food 
based on food safety risk. 
Who should read this  Food Notice ? 
This Notice  should be read by : 
a) any person who wants to impor t food for sale into New Zeal and;  
b) any person involved in the importation , transport and storage of import ed food for sale ;  
c) laboratories approved for the testing of imported food ; and  
d) verifiers of registered food importers . 
Why is this important?  
Registered food importer s must comply with relevant requirements of this Notice and ensure that food 
imported in to New Zealand  is safe and suitable for human consumption . Operating in a way that is not in 
accordance with this N otice may be an of fence under section 233 of the Food Act 2014 . 
Failure to meet  the requirements of Parts 5 and 6 of this Notice may result in:  
a) a consignment of food not being granted clearance for entry into New Zealand;  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  4 of 22 
b) re-shipment  or destruction of the imported food  at the importer’s cost ; or  
c) suspension of  an importer’s registration . 
Document history  
Version Date  Section Changed  Change(s) Description  
13 December 2022  NA New notice  
27 November 2023  Section 6, Table 1  For Australia, “or New Zealand” added to corresponding 
entries in columns B and D.  
 
For Chinese Taipei, additional entry in column B for 
“cooked bovine meat products only”.  
Schedule 1, Column B  For Dairy:  Fresh cheese, curd cheese and soft cheese 
(pasteurised), add ed Switzerland  
 
Other information  
In addition to meeting import requirements under the Food Act 2014, a ll importers of food into New Zealand  
must also comply with import requirements under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Customs and Excise Act 
2018 . 
The list of laboratories ap proved for testing of imported food  can be found in the Food Notice:  Laboratories 
Approved for Testing Imported Food . 
Further information on importing food into New Zealand is available from MPI’s webpage on Importing Food . Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Part 1:  General  requirements  
1.1 Definitions  
(1) In this Notice:  
bovine , in relation to the human health risk associate d with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 
(BSE) , means  a bovid of the species Bos taurus  and Bos indicus  (cattle) . 
canned food  means commercially sterile food in hermetically sealed containers.   
commercially sterile  means the condition achieved by application of heat, sufficient, alone or in 
combination with other appropriate treatments, to render the food free from microorganism s capable of 
growing in the food at normal non -refrigerated conditions at which the food is likely to be held during 
distribution and storage.  
fresh meat  means meat that has not undergone any preserving process other than chilling or freezing , 
and includes  meat that is vacuum -wrapped or wrapped in controlled atmosphere.  
lot or batch  means a quantity of a food produced essentially under the same conditions.  
meat means all  parts of an animal, excluding milk, that are intended for, or have been judged as safe 
and suitable for, human consumption.  
meat product s means product s resulting from the processing of fresh meat or from the processing of 
such processed products, so that the product no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat.  
MPI means the Ministry for Primary Industries which is the Ministry responsible for adminis tering the 
Food Act 2014 . 
New Zealand Importer Assurance (NZIA) means  a written statement provided by MPI confirming a 
satisfactory check of a registered food importer’s business  in relation to the safety and suitability of 
food to which the NZIA applies.  
official certificate  means a certificate issued by, or under the control of the exporting country’s 
competent authority, includi ng by a certifying body recognis ed by the competent authority to issue such 
certificates .  
paperless ex change of official certificates  means the act of competent authorities or certifying 
bodies providing, receiving and archiving the identified information and relevant attestations required 
by the importing country in electronic form.  
registered food import er has the same meaning as “registered importer ” in the Food Act 2014.  
Regulations means the Food Regulations 2015.  
tallow  means f at derived from rendering bovine meat and intended for human consumption.  
(2) All terms used in this Notice and that are defined i n the Food Act 2014 (the Act) or Food Regulations 
2015, but not defined in this Notice, have the same meaning as in that Act or Regulations.  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Part 2:  Registration as a  food  importer  
2.1 Application for registration as a food importer   
(1) A person applying to be a registered food importer must request to be a food importer using  the Joint 
Border Management System.  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Part 3:  Duties  of a registered food importer   
3.1 Application  
(1) This part applies to all registered importers  of food for sale , regardless of  the category of the food for 
import  into New Zealand and whether the food requires clearance for entry  or not.  
3.2 Assessment and confirmation of the safety  and suitability of a 
food  for import into  New Zealand  
(1) For the purpose  of Regulation 122 (a), an assessment of  the safety and suitability of a food for import  
into New Zealand , must take into consideration all of the following:   
a) the nature  of the food,  including : 
i) the composition  of the food;  
ii) any important  characteristic  of the food (for example,  pH, moisture  content  or water  
activity ) or processing  treatment  necessary  to ensure  control  of food safety  hazards  in the 
food; 
iii) the manner  and conditions  under  which  the food is produced , processed  and handled ;  
iv) the packaging  of the food; 
v) the label  information  on or attached  to the food; and 
vi) the shelf -life of the food and required  transport  and storage  conditions,  such  as 
refrigeration  or humidity  control ;  
b) the intended  use and consumer  of the food;  
c) the food safety  hazards  that could  potentially  occur  in the food and are necessary  to be 
controlled  prior to importation , considering : 
i) the conditions  that the food could  be exposed  to during  its subsequent  transport  and 
storage ; 
ii) any further  processing  the food will undergo  after importation ; and 
iii) the intended  use of the food;  
d) whether  the food fits within  a category  of imported  food that requires  clearance  for entry , as 
specified  in Part 4 of this Notice;  
e) the food safety  compliance  background  of the overseas  supplier  or manufacturer .  
(2) For the purpose  of making  an assessment  in accordance  with clause  3.2(1) , different  foods with similar 
product and process characteristics  may be grouped  together  provided:  
a) the different food s are produced by the same manufacturer or processor, and  
b) any variation s between the different foods, such as variations in ingredients  or packaging size, do 
not result in different food safety hazards potentially occurring  in the different  foods. 
(3) For the purpo se of making an assessment in accordance with clause 3.2(1), a ny information used in 
an assessment of a food for import into New Zealand must be all of the following : 
a) up-to-date;  
b) applicable  to the specific  food being  assessed ; and 
c) applicable  to the specific  batch  or lot of food being  imported , where  the nature  of the information  
is such  that its relevance  is limited  to a specific  batch  or lot of food (for example,  certificates  of 
analysis ). 
(4) For the purpose  of Regulation  122(b),  confirmation  of the safety  and suitability  of a food for import  into 
New Zealand,  as a result  of the assessment  of the food,  must  confirm  all of the following:   
a) that the food, when  sold in New Zealand,  will be able to meet  the:  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  8 of 22 
i) relevant  standards  of the Australia  New Zealand  Food  Standards  Code ; and 
ii) relevant  New Zealand  domestic  food standards;   
b) if the  food fits within a category of imported food specified in Part 4, that the food will meet the 
relevant clearance requirements specified in Parts 5 and 6 of this Notice; and 
c) that the food arriving in New Zealand is:  
i) accompanied by or bears information necessary for the identification and traceability of the 
food; and  
ii) transported and stored enroute to New Zea land under hygienic conditions and in a manner 
that protects the product from contamination and deterioration, including the application of 
proper temperature control, where necessary.  
3.3 Transport and storage of imported food   
(1) For the purpose of Regulation 123, a registered importer must ensure that imported food is transport ed 
and stored in a manner that meets all of the following : 
a) protects the food from : 
i) chemical, microbiological  or physical  contamination from pests , waste, deteriorated or 
contam inated food , and other sources ; 
ii) exposure to adverse environmental conditions ; and 
iii) damage ; 
b) maintains the integrity of the packaging  of the food , including any label or identification marks on 
or attached to products ; and  
c) continuously maintains the food under appropriate environmental conditions, including where 
necessary,  temperature  and relative humidity  control , so as to prevent  microbiological growth and 
toxin formation  in the food , and minimise its deterioration.  
(2) The place where im ported food is stored  must  meet all of the following : 
a) have adequate space for holding  the amount  of food to be stored ; 
b) be kept clean and in a tidy condition ;  
c) be kept in a good state of repair and condition ; 
d) have suitable facilities for controlling temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions , 
as appropriate  and when necessary to maintain the safety and suitability of the food ; and have 
suitable  equipment for monitoring the effectiveness of such contro ls; 
e) have a dequate natural or artificial  lighting to enable proper handling of food and maintenance of 
hygienic  conditions ; and 
f) provide access to consignments requiring inspection  in way that:  
i) allows the entire consignment to be inspected ; and 
ii) does not compromise the safety and suitability of the food .  
(3) A registered  food importer must ensure that the safety and suitability of imported food during storage is 
not compromised by : 
a) other activities that occur in the  place of storage  or its surrounding areas ; or 
b) by the actions or behaviour of staff and visitors who enter the place .  
(4) A registered food importer must ensure  that any imported food under the importer’s responsibility that 
is suspected or confirmed to be unsafe or unsuitable for human consumption is  clearly identified , 
isolated  from all other food and held secure during transport and storage so that they:  
a) are not mistakenly released for sale or distribution for human consumption ; or 
b) do not adversely affect  any other food. Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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3.4 Records that m ust be kept  
(1) For the purpose of Regulations 124 and 126, r ecords  of information kept or provided by a registered  
food importer  must  meet all of the following :  
a) be legible ; 
b) be dated and signed by the person who made the record , or contain unique identifiers that 
provide for the identification and traceability of each record ; and 
c) be stored  in a location and in a manner that:  
i) prevents the loss , deterioration  or damage  of records ; and  
ii) enables  records  to be readily retrievable by the registered food importer.   
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Part 4:  Categories of imported food  
4.1 High Regulatory Interest food  
(1) The following foods imported from any country , other than Australia , are High Regulatory Interest food:  
a) all food listed in column A of S chedule 1  of this Notice ; and   
b) bovine meat and bovine meat products , and food containing such  products,  as specified  in 
clause 6.1 . 
(2) The following food s imported from Australia are High Regulatory Interest food:  
a) bivalve molluscan shellfish and products containing bivalve moll uscan shellfish, as listed in 
Schedule 1 of this Notice ; and  
b) bovine meat and bovine meat products, and food containing such  products , as specified in 
clause 6.1 .  
4.2 Increased Regulatory Interest food that requires clearance for 
entry  
(1) The following  foods imported from any country, other than Australia, are Increased Regulatory Interest  
food and require clearance for entry : 
a) all food listed in column A of Schedule 2 of this Notice.  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Part 5:  Requirements  for High Regulatory Interest food and 
Increased Regulatory Interest food requir ing 
clearance  
5.1 Application  
(1) This part applies to : 
a) all High Regulatory Interest food specified in clause 4.1  (other than bovine meat  and bovine meat 
products , and food containing such products) ; and 
b) all Increased Regulatory Interest food that require clearance for entry specified in clause  4.2.  
(2) The r equirements set in this part  are in addition to the requirements  of Part 3 of this Notice . 
5.2 Import conditions and c learance requirements  
(1) A registered food importer : 
a) may only import a food listed in column A of Schedule 1  or 2 of this Notice from a country or 
geographic region listed  in column B of the relevant  schedule ; and  
b) must ensure for each consignment of a food that one of  the following  clearance requirement s is 
met:  
i) a clearance requirement  listed in column C of the relevant schedule  for the particular food 
from a specific country or geographic region ; or 
ii) evidence of a valid New Zealand Importer Assurance (NZ IA). 
(2) For the purpose of clause 5.2 (1)(b)(i), where two or more clearance requirement options are indicated 
in column C of Schedule 1 or 2  for a particular food from a specific country or geog raphic region, at 
least one of the clearance requirement options must be met.  
(3) Where testing of a consignment of food is indicated  as a clearance requirement in column C  of 
Schedule 1 or 2, and for the purpose of Regulation 134 : 
a) samples taken from a consignment of  the food must be  tested for the organism or substance 
listed in column D  of the relevant schedule; and  
b) the test results  must meet the acceptance criteria  specified in column D of the relevant schedule.  
5.3 Document s required for clearance  
5.3.1 All documents  
(1) Any document  or written evidence required for clearance , as indicated in column C of Schedule 1 or 2,  
must  be in English or have an English translation that is clear and legible . 
5.3.2 Official certificate  
(1) Where an official certificate is required for clearance of a consignment of food, as indicated in column 
C of Schedule 1 or 2,  the official certificate provided must give assurance  that the safety of the food 
has been effectively managed . 
(2) An official cert ificate  must be provided : 
a) as an original signed paper certificate ; or  
b) in an electronic form using an electronic system for paperless exchange of official certificates  
agreed to between the exporting country’s Competent Authority and MPI . Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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5.3.3 Manufacturer’s d eclaration  
(1) Where an overseas manuf acturer’s declaration or New Zealand manufacturer’s declaration is required 
for clearance of a consignment of food,  as indicated in column C of Schedule 1 or 2,  the registered 
food importer must ensure that the manufacturer’s declaration provided contain s all of the following  
information :  
a) the date of issue;  
b) the name, job title, signature and contact details of the authorising person;  
c) in the case of : 
i) an overseas manufacturer’s declaration, the name and ad dress of the person or business 
supplying the product to the registered food  importer, if different to the manufacturer;  
ii) a New Zealand manufacturer’s declaration, the name and address of the registered food 
importer supplying the imported food to the manu facturer , if different to the manufacturer ; 
d) the description of the product  that the manufacturer’s declaration applies to , including  the brand, 
product name , unit size, and lot or batch identification  that match with any official and commercial 
documents that apply to the consignment ; and  
e) the required declaration statement s, as indicated  in column C  of Schedule 1 or 2 . 
(2) An overseas manufacturer’s declaration or New Zealand manufacturer’s declaration must  be issued on 
compa ny letterheaded paper by a person authorised to act on behalf of the manufacturing company . 
5.3.4 Documented evidence  (other than an official certificate or manufacturer’s declaration)  
(1) Where documented evidence (other than an official certificate or manufacturer ’s declaration) is 
required for clearance of a consignment of food, as indicated in column C of Schedule 1 or 2, the 
registered food importer must ensure that any documented evidence provided includes  all of  the 
following information : 
a) product and consignment details  that allow the document or information provided to be matched 
to the particular consignment that it applies to;  
b) declaration or information that confirms that the consignment of food meets  the relevant 
requirement specified in Schedule 1 or 2;   
c) details about the identity of the person or entity responsible for providing the evidence , such as 
name and address ; and  
d) the date when the evidence is issued or provided.  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Part 6:  Requirements for imported bovine meat and bovine 
meat products, and food containing such products  
6.1 Application  
(1) Part 6 applies to the following products imported from any country : 
a) bovine meat;  
b) bovine meat products; and  
c) food containing bovine meat and bovine meat products.  
(2) Part 6 do es not apply to t he following products  imported from any country :  
a) collagen ; 
b) gelatine ; 
c) tallow with a maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% in weight , and der ivatives made 
from this tallow ; 
d) skin and skin products ; 
e) dicalcium phosphate ; 
f) rennet derived from cattle ;  
g) food containing less than 5% bovine meat and /or bovine meat products ; 
h) bakery products that contain tallow  and do not contain any bovine meat or other  bovine meat 
product ; 
i) food, other than bovine meat products, fried in tallow  (for example, potato chips and other 
snack s);  
j) the following food in which the only meat product is flavouring or extracts derived from bovine 
meat , or tallow :  
i) flavouring and seas oning preparations  (for example, flavouring sauces, stock powder, 
bouillon cubes, dry mixes of sauces and g ravies, hotpot soup base) ;  
ii) instant foods  (for example , instant noodles, instant rice, instant soup) ; and   
iii) salad dressings and dips ; and  
k) dietary supplements containing bovine meat products  (for example, dietary supplements 
containing bile extract powder or bone powder) . 
6.2 Import r equirement s 
(1) Bovine meat and bovine meat products, and food containing such products, must only be imported 
from: 
a) Australia ; or 
b) specified countries  and geographic regions  that have  an official certificate , agreed between the 
exporting country’s Competent Authority and MPI , for the export of specific bovine meat and 
bovine meat product s to New Zealand , and that are listed in Table 1  of this Notice . 
(2) A registered food importer must : 
a) import from a specific country or geographic region only those  products  that are listed in column 
B and meet the import conditions specified in column C of Table 1 ; and 
b) meet the corresp onding clearance requirements specified in Column D of Table 1.  
(3) For the purpose of 6.2(1) (b), the official certifi cate must provide assurance  that the b ovine meat and 
bovine meat products, including where such products are a component of a food, have met a ll of the 
following:  
a) been derived from carcasses or other parts:  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  14 of 22 
i) obtained from animals that have been subjected to ante-mortem inspection  and passed for 
slaughter,  and  
ii) that have been subjected to post -mortem inspection  and deemed fit for human 
consumption ; 
b) been processed in processing premises that operate under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) 
and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based programmes, and that are 
approved by the exporting country’s Competent Author ity;  
c) met bovine spongiform encep halopathy (BSE)  measures :  
i) in accordance with Chapter 11.4 of the World Organisation for Animal  Health (WOAH) 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code , as appropriate  to the type of product for import into New 
Zealand and the exporting country’s BSE risk status  as determined by the WOAH ; or 
ii) that are  based on a risk assessment agreed between the exporting country’s Competent 
Authority and MPI; and  
d) met any country -specifi c import conditions  agreed between the exporting country’s Competent 
Authority and MPI . 
6.3 Documents r equired for clearance  
6.3.1 All documents  
(1) Any document  or written evidence required for clearance,  as indicated in column D of Table 1, must  be 
in English or have an English translation that is clear and legible . 
6.3.2 Official certificate  
(1) Where an official certificate is required for clearance of a consignment of food, as indicated in column 
D of Table 1, the official certificate must  be provided : 
a) as an original signed  paper certificate; or  
b) in an electronic form using an electronic system for paperless exchange of official certificates 
agreed to between the exporting country’s  Competent Authority and MPI . 
6.3.3 Documented evidence  (other than an official certificate)  
(1) Where documented evidence (other than an official certificate) is required for clearance of a 
consignment of food, as indicated in column D of Table 1, the registered food importer must ensure 
that any documented evidence  provided  includes  all of the follow ing information:  
a) product and consignment details  that allows the document or information provided to be matched 
to the particular consignment that it applies to;  
b) declaration or information that confirms that the consignment of food meets  the relevant 
requi rement specified in Table 1 ;  
c) details about the identity of the person or entity responsible for providing the evidence , such as 
name and address ; and  
d) the date when the evidence is issued or provided.  
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Table 1 . Import conditions and clearance requirements  for bovine meat and bovine meat products  (including  food containing such products ) 
Column A:  
Country  or 
geographic region  
of export  Column B:  
Products  permitted  to be imported   Column C:  
Import conditions  Column D:  
Clearance requirement  
Australia  Any b ovine meat or bovine meat 
product processed or manufactured in 
Australia  or New Zealand  None  Documented evidence  
confirming  that the product 
was manufactured in Australia  
or New Zealand   
Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  imported into Australia , and 
then exported to New Zealand without 
any processing or manufacturing taking 
place in Australia  None  Documented  evidence  
confirming  the date the 
product  was given clearance  
for entry into Australia  by 
Australia’s quarantine agency   
Brazil  Any bovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) be derived from cattle born, reared and slaughtered in Brazil ; and  
(b) be processed or manufactured in Brazil . Official certificate  
Canada  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) be derived from cattle born, reared and slaughtered in Canada or the 
United States ; and 
(b) be processed or manufactured in Canada  or the United States.  Official certificate  
Chinese Taipei  Canned bovine meat products only  Product must:  
(a) be made using only bovine meat that originates  from Australia, Canada, 
the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand  or the United States; and  
(b) be manufactured in Chinese Taipei.  Official certificate  
Cooked bovine meat products only  Product must:  
(a) be made using only bovine meat that originates  from Australia, Canada, 
the Netherlands, Sweden, Lithuania, Japan, New Zealand  or the United 
States; and  
(b) be manufactured in Chinese Taipei.  Official certificate  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
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Column A:  
Country  or 
geographic region  
of export  Column B:  
Products  permitted  to be imported   Column C:  
Import conditions  Column D:  
Clearance requirement  
European Union  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) comply with the relevant European Union standards and requirements 
which have been recognised as equivalent to the New Zealand standards 
and requirements as prescribed in the European Union/New Zealand 
Agreement on Sanitary Measures  Applicable to Trade in Live Animals and  
Animal Products ; and  
(b) be eligible for intra -community trade without restrictions; and  
(c) comply with the special conditions for BSE set out in Chapter 28 of 
Section 5 of Annex V of the European Union/New Zealand Agreement on 
Sanitary Measures.  Official certif icate  
Fiji Canned bovine meat products  only Product must:  
(a) be made using only bovine meat that originates from New Zealand or 
Australia; and  
(b) be manufactured in Fiji in accordance with procedures agreed between 
the Competent Authority of Fiji and MPI that prevents the contamination or 
substitution of the product with meat that does not  originate from New 
Zealand or Australia.   Official certificat e 
Japan  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product   Product must:  
(a) be derived from cattle born, reared and slaughtered in Japan; and  
(b) be processed or manufactured in Japan.  Official certificate  
Switzerland   Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) comply  with the relevant Swiss standards and requirements that have 
been recognised as equivalent to the New Zealand standards and 
requirements as prescribed in the Switzerland /New Zealand Agreement 
on Sanitary Measures  Applicable to Trade in  Live Animals and Animal 
Products ; and  
(b) comply with the special conditions for BSE set out in Chapter 28 of 
Section 5 of Annex V of the Switzerland/New Zealand Agreem ent on 
Sanitary Measures .  Official certificate  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  17 of 22 
Column A:  
Country  or 
geographic region  
of export  Column B:  
Products  permitted  to be imported   Column C:  
Import conditions  Column D:  
Clearance requirement  
Thailand  Canned b ovine meat products  only Product must:  
(a) be made using only bovine meat that originates from New Zealand ; and  
(b) be manufactured in Thailand in accordance with procedures agreed 
between the Competent Authority of Thailand  and MPI that prevents the 
contamination or substit ution of the product with meat that does not 
originate from New Zealand . Official certificate  
United Kingdom  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) comply  with the relevant United Kingdom standards and requirements 
that have been recogni sed as equivalent to the New Zealand standards 
and requirements as prescribed in the United Kingdom/New Zealand 
Agreement on Sanitary Measures  Applicable to Trade in Live An imals 
and Animal Products ; and  
(b) be eligible for intra -community trade without restriction; and  
(c) comply with the special conditions for BSE set out  in Chapter 28 of 
Section 5 of Annex V to Council Decision 97/132/EC .  Official certificate  
United States  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) be derived from cattle slaughtered in the United States , Canada or other 
country that is permitted to export bovine meat  to New Zealand ; and  
(b) be processed  or manufactured in the U nited States  or Canada in federally 
registered and inspected establishments.  Official certificate  
Uruguay  Bovine casings only  Product must:  
(a) be derived from cattle born, reared and slaughtered in Uruguay; and  
(b) be processed or manufactured in Uruguay.  Official certificate  
Vanuatu  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product   Product must:  
(a) be derived from cattle born, reared and slaughtered in Vanuatu ; and   
(b) be processed or manufactured in Vanuatu ; and  
(c) comply with specific conditions for BSE agreed between the Competent 
Authority of Vanuatu and MPI . Official certificate  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  18 of 22 
Schedule 1: Clearance r equirements for High Regulatory Interest  food  
 
Column A : 
HRI food  Column B:  
Permitted country or geographic 
region of export  Column C:  
Clearance requirement  Column D:  
Testing requirement  1 
Dairy:  
Raw milk products  • European Union  
• United Kingdom  
• Switzerland  Official certificate  Not applicable  
Dairy:  
Fresh cheese, curd cheese and soft 
cheese (pasteurised)  • European Union  
• United Kingdom  
• Norway  
• Switzerland  Option 1:  Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Testing of consignment  Listeria monocytogenes  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  
All other countries  Testing of consignment  
Fish:  
Histamine susceptible fish and fish 
products   • Canada  
• European Union  
• United Kingdom  
• Norway  
• Thailand  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Testing of consignment  Histamine ≤ 200 mg/kg  
All other countries  Testing of consignment  
Fish:  
Puffer fish  Korea (Republic of)  Official certificate  Not applicable  
Fish:  
Chilled ready -to-eat smoked fish 
and smoke flavoured fish   • Canada  
• European Union  
• United Kingdom  
• Thailand  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Testing of consignment  Salt (NaCl) content  
> 3.4% (aqueous phase basis)  
Aerobic plate count  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 50,000 cfu/g, M = 500,000 cfu/g  
Listeria monocytogenes  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  All other countries  Testing of consignment  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  19 of 22 
Column A : 
HRI food  Column B:  
Permitted country or geographic 
region of export  Column C:  
Clearance requirement  Column D:  
Testing requirement  1 
Meat:   
Fermented meat products, meat 
paste and pâté  • European Union  
• United Kingdom  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Testing of consignment  Listeria monocytogenes  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  
Salmonella  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  
Coagulase positive Staphylococci  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 100 cfu/g , M = 1000 cfu/g  All other countries  Testing of consignment  
Nuts and seeds:  
Peanuts  and pistachio nuts , and 
food that contain s such products  
(including peanut butter)  • China  
• United States  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Testing of consignment  Total aflatoxin (sum of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2)  
≤ 0.015 mg/kg  
All other countries  Testing of consignment  
Nuts and seeds:  
Tahini and other crushed sesame 
seed  products , and food that 
contains  such products  All countries  Testing of consignment  Salmonella  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  
Seafood : 
Ready -to-eat crustaceans , 
including shrimps, prawns,  
lobsters, crabs  and Moreton Bay 
bugs, and food that contains such 
products  • Malaysia  
• Thailand  
• European Union  
• United Kingdom  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Testing of consignment  Listeria monocytogenes  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  
Salmonella  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  All other countries  Testing of consignment  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  20 of 22 
Column A : 
HRI food  Column B:  
Permitted country or geographic 
region of export  Column C:  
Clearance requirement  Column D:  
Testing requirement  1 
Seafood : 
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) 
(except  scallops that are adductor 
muscle only) , and food  that 
contains  BMS  • Australia  
• Canada  
• Chile  
• European Union  
• United Kingdom  
• Japan  
• Korea  (Republic of)  
• Peru  
• Thailand  
• Viet Nam Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Testing of consignment  All BMS  
E. coli   
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g  
All BMS  
Marine biotoxins  
• Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg  
• Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg  
• Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg  
• Brevetoxin -2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg  
• Azaspiracid  equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg  
Ready -to-eat BMS only  
Listeria monocytogenes  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  
Oysters only  
Norovirus not detected in 300 g  China  Testing of consignment  
United States  Documented evidence confirming that the 
consignment does not contain BMS from 
the Gulf States of the United States  Not applicable  
Seafood : 
Scallops ( whole adductor muscle 
only) All countries  Documented evidence  confirming that the 
scallops consist of whole adductor muscle 
only, with the viscera and roe completely 
removed  Not applicable  
Spices:  
Pepper, chilli and paprika  All countries  Testing of consignment  Salmonella  
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g  
1 Where:  
n = the number of sample units     m = the acceptable microbiological limit  
c = the number of sample units allowed to exceed “ m”   M = the limit which must not be exceeded  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  21 of 22 
Schedule 2 : Clearance requirements for Increased Regulatory Interest  food  
Column A:  
IRI food Column B:  
Permitted country or 
geographic region of export  Column C:  
Clearance requirement  1 Column D:   
Testing requirement  1 
(a) Frozen berries other than 
(b) and (c)   All countries  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Documented evidence (laboratory test result) 
issued by a n overseas  laboratory accredited to 
ISO/IEC 17025 confirming that the consignment meets 
the following criteria : 
E. coli  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 10 MPN/g, M = 100 MPN/g  Not applicable  
Option 3: Testing of consignment  E. coli  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 10 MPN/g, M = 100 MPN/g  
(b) Frozen berries that have 
been heat treated   All countries  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Documented evidence (laboratory test result) 
issued by a n overseas  laboratory accredited to 
ISO/IEC 17025 confirming that the consignment meets 
the following criteria : 
E. coli  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 10 MPN/g, M = 100 MPN/g  Not applicable  
Option 3: Testing of consignment  E. coli  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 10 MPN/g, M = 100 MPN/g  
Option 4: Overseas manufacturer’s declaration  
confirming that the specific lots of berries contained in 
the consignment have been heated to a core 
temperature of 85°C for 1 minute or an alternative 
temperature/time that delivers an equivalent  heat 
treatment  Not applicable  Food Notice : Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale   
  27 November 2023  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  22 of 22 
Column A:  
IRI food Column B:  
Permitted country or 
geographic region of export  Column C:  
Clearance requirement  1 Column D:   
Testing requirement  1 
(c) Frozen berries that will be 
heat treated in New 
Zealand  All countries  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: Documented evidence (laboratory test result) 
issued by a n overseas  laboratory accredited to 
ISO/IEC 17025 confirming that the consignment meets 
the following criteria :  
E. coli  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 10 MPN/g, M = 100 MPN/g  Not applicable  
Option 3: Testing of consignment  E. coli  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 10 MPN/g, M = 100 MPN/g  
Option 4: New Zealand manufacturer’s declaration 
confirming that the specific lots of berries contained in 
the consignment will be heated to a core temperature 
of 85°C for 1 minute or an alternative temperature/time 
that delivers an equivalent heat treatment  Not a pplicable  
1 Where:  
n = the number of sample units     m = the acceptable microbiological limit  
c = the number of sample units allowed to exceed  “m”   M = the limit which must not be exceeded