Food Notice  
Issued under the Food Act 2014   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Requirements for 
Registered Food Importers 
and Imported Food for Sale  
 
1 June 2022  
 Food Notice : [Title]   
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TITLE  
Food Notice : [Title]   
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Food Notice  comes into force on  date of signing . 
REVOCATION  
This Food Notice revokes and replaces the following parts of the Food Notice: Importing Food, issued on 10 
December 2021 : 
(1) Part 1: General requirements  
(2) Part 2: Registration as an importer ; and  
(3) Part 3: Requirements applying to imported food  
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 , 1 June 2022 . 
 
[signed]  
 
Paul Dansted  
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 : [Title]   
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Contents  Page 
Introduction  3 
Part 1:  General requirements  5 
1.1 Incorporation by reference  5 
1.2 Definitions  5 
Part 2:  Registration as an importer  6 
2.1 Application for registration as a food importer  6 
Part 3:  Duties of a registered 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 clearanc e 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 Compliance to requirements  14 
6.4 Documents required for clearance  14 
Schedule 1: Clearance requirements for High Regulatory Interest food  18 
Schedule 2: Clearance requirements for Increased Regulatory Interest food  21 
 
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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 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 entry 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 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 requires 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 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 import 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 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 offence 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 : [Title]   
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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  
To be determined  All New document  partially replacing the Food Notice: 
Importing Food  
 
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 an d Customs and Excise Act 2018 . 
The list of laboratories approved for testing of imported food  can be found in the Food Notice:  Laboratories 
Approved for Testing Imported Food 2022  (currently under consultation) . 
Further information on importing food into New Zealand is available from MPI’s webpage on Food Importing 
Requirements .  Food Notice : [Title]   
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Part 1:  General  requirements  
1.1 Incorporation by reference  
(1) The followi ng international standard  is incorporated by reference in this Notice under section 444 of the 
Act: 
a) The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, available at the website of the OIE (World Organisation 
for Animal Health ). 
(2) The following material is incorporated by reference in this Notice under  section 44 4 of the Act:  
a) OIE list of Member Countries with a B ovine Spongiform Encepathalopathy (BSE)  Risk Status .  
1.2 Definitions  
(1) In this Notice:  
bovine , in relation to the human health ris k associated 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 microorganisms  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 administering the 
Food Act 2014 . 
official certificate  means a certificate issued by, or under the control of t he exporting country’s 
competent authority, includi ng by a certifying body recognis ed by the competent authority to issue such 
certificates .  
paperless exchange 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.  
Regulations means the Food Regulations 2015.  
tallow  means f at derived from rendering bovine meat and intended for human cons umption.  
(2) All terms used in this Notice and that are defined in 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 : [Title]   
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Part 2:  Registration as an 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 : [Title]   
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Part 3:  Duties  of a registered 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 , for example , 
whether  the company  or manufacturing  facility: 
i) is officially  registere d with, or licensed  by, the exporting  country’s  food regulator , and  
ii) implem ents any mandatory  or voluntary  food safety  programmes  (for example,  Good 
Manufacturing  Practice  (GMP)  and Hazard  Analysis  and Critical  Control  Point  (HACCP) );  
(2) For the purpose  of making  an assessment  in accordance  with clause  3.2 (1), different  food with similar 
product and process characteristics  may be grouped  together  provided:  
a) the different food are produced by the same manufacturer or processor, and  
b) any variation s between the different food, such as variations in ingredients  or packaging size, do 
not result in different food safety hazards potentially occurring  in the different  food. 
(3) For the purpose 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 Food Notice : [Title]   
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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, such  as 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 meets  the following:  
i) relevant  standards  of the Australia  New Zealand  Food  Standards  Code;  
ii) relevant  New Zealand  domestic  food standards;  and 
iii) in the case  of food that fits within  a category  of imported  food specified  in part 4, relevant  
clearance  requirements  specified  in parts  5 and 6 of this Notice;  and 
b) that the fo od 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 Zealand under hygienic conditions and in a manner 
that protects the product from con tamination 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) contamination by pests , or by chemical, physical or microbiological contaminants  and other 
objectionable substances;  
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 imported 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, free of waste and in a tidy condition ;  
c) be kept in a good state of repair and condition to prevent  the e xposure  of the food to : 
i) adverse environmental conditions ;  
ii) environmental contaminants, such as dirt , dust, fumes , smoke  and toxic substances ; and  
iii) pests ; 
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 controls ; 
e) have a dequate natural or artificial  lighting to enable proper handling of food and maintenance of 
hygienic  conditio ns; and 
f) provide safe access to consignments requiring inspection .  
(3) A registered 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 surroundi ng areas ; or Food Notice : [Title]   
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b) by the actions or behaviour of staff and visitors who enter the place .  
(4) A registered 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. 
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 
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 importer.   
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Part 4:  Categories of imported food  
4.1 High Regulatory Interest food  
(1) The following food imported from any country , other than Australia , are High Regulatory Interest food:  
a) all food listed in column A of Schedule 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 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  food import ed 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 : [Title]   
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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 importer may only import a food listed in column A of Schedule s 1 or 2 of this Notice from 
a country or geographic region listed  in column B of the relevant  schedule . 
(2) For a consignment of food  to be given clearance for entry, the applicable clearance requirement s listed 
in column C of Schedules 1 or 2  must be met.   
(3) Any document required for clearance of a consignment of food, as indicated in column C of Schedules 
1 or 2, must  meet the relevant requirements of clause 5.3 . 
(4) Where testing of a consignment of food is required for clearance, as indicated in column C  of 
Schedules 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) for the consignment of food to be given clearance for entry, 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 registered importer must ensure that the official certificate for the 
consignment of food is made available to the food safety officer at the time the consignment arrives in 
New Zealand . 
(2) An official certificate  must : 
a) be a paper certificate ; or  
b) be in an electronic form transmitted directly from the exporting country’s Competent Authority to 
MPI using an electronic system for paperless exchange of official certificates  agreed to between 
the exporting country’s Competent Authority and MPI . Food Notice : [Title]   
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5.3.3 Manufacturer’s d eclaration  
(1) Where an overseas manuf acturer’s declaration or New Zealand manufa cturer’s declaration is required 
for clearance of a consignment of food,  as indicated in column C of Schedule 1 or 2,  the registered 
importer must ensure the manufacturer’s declaration for the consignment of food is made available  to 
the food safety  officer at the time the consignment  arrives in New Zealand .  
(2) An overseas manufacturer’s declaration or New Zealand manufacturer’s declaration must  be issued on 
company letterheaded paper by a person authorised to act on behalf of the manufacturing company . 
(3) An overseas manufacturer’s declaration or New Zealand manufacturer’s declaration must contain  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 address of the the person or 
business supplying the product to the New Zealand importer, if different to the 
manufacturer;  
ii) a New Zealand manufacturer’s declaration, the name and address of the importer 
supplying the imported food to the manufacturer , if different to the manufacturer ; 
d) the description of the product  that the manufacturer’s declaration applies to , including  the b rand, 
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 . 
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 importer must ensure that the documented evidence for the consignment of food is made 
available  to the food safety officer at the time the consignment arrives in New Zealand . 
(2) For the purpose of clause 5.3.4  (1), a documented evidence must  include all of the following 
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 
requirement specified in Schedules 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 : [Title]   
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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 derivatives 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 containing tallow, not including products with a bovine meat or bovine meat 
product topping or filling  (for example, pas tries, cookies, breads) ; 
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 seasoning 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 s upplements containing bovine meat products  (for example, dietary supplements 
containing bile extract powder or bone powder) . 
6.2 Import r equirement s 
(1) All bovine meat and bovine meat products  for import into New Zealand , including where such products 
are a component  of a food, must  meet all of the following : 
a) be derived from animal s that ha ve been subjected to  ante-mortem and post -mortem inspection s 
under official veterinary  supervision and deemed  fit for human consumption ;  
b) be processed in processing premises that operate under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) 
and a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)  programme;   
c) meet  bovine spongiform encepatholopathy (BSE)  measures :  
i) in accordance with Chapter 11.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code , as appropriate  
to the type of product for import into New Zealand and the BSE risk status  of the specific 
exporting country ( as indicated in  the OIE list of Member Countries with a BSE Risk 
Status ); or 
ii) alternative measures , based on a risk assessment , agreed between the exporting 
country’s  Competent Authority and MPI. 
d) meet any country -specific import conditions specified in Table 1.  Food Notice : [Title]   
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(2) Bovine meat and bovine meat products, and food containing such  products, are permitted to be 
imported only from: 
a) Australia ; or 
b) a country with a country -specific official certificate  agreed between the exporting country’s 
Competent Authority and MPI that provides assurance that  products for export to  New Zealand  
meet the requirements specified in clause  6.2 (1) . 
6.3 Compliance to requirements  
(1) To comp ly with the requirements of clause 6.2 , a registered importer of bovine meat and bovine meat 
products , and food containing such products must: 
a) only import from countries listed in column A of Table 1 of this Notice , and  
b) only import those products that are listed in column B and meet the conditions specified  in 
column C.  
(2) For a consignment to be given clearance for entry, the applicable clearance requir ements specified in 
Column D of Table 1  must be met.  
6.4 Documents r equired for clearance  
6.4.1 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 . 
6.4.2 Official certificate  
(1) Where an official certificate is required for cleara nce of a consignment of food, as indicated in column 
D of Table 1, the registered importer must ensure that the official certificate for the consignment of  food 
is made available to the food safety officer at the time the consignment arrives in New Zealand . 
(2) An official certificate must:  
a) be a paper certificate; or  
b) be in an electronic form transmitted directly from the exporting country’s Competent Authority to 
MPI using an electronic system for paperless exchange of official certificates agreed to between 
MPI and the Competent Authority of the exporting country.  
6.4.3 Documented evidence  (other than an official certificate or manufacturer’s declaration)  
(1) Where documented evidence (other than an official certificate) is required for clearance of a food, as 
indicated  in column D of Table 1, the registered importer must ensure that the documented evidence  
for the consignment  of food is made available  to the food safety officer at the time the consignment 
arrives in New Zealand.  
(2) For the purpose of clause 6. 4.3 (1), a documented evidence must include all of the following 
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 conf irms that the consignment of food meets  the relevant 
requirement specified in Schedules 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.  
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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:  
Exporting country  Column B:  
Products  permitte d to be imported  
from the exporting country  Column C:  
Import conditions  Column D:  
Clearance requirement  
Australia  Any b ovine meat or bovine meat 
product processed or manufactured in 
Australia  None  Documented evidence  confirming  
that the product was manufactured 
in Australia  (for example, a 
manufacturer’s declaration  or 
commercial invoice )  
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   
European Union  Any bovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) comply with the relevant European Union standards and 
requirements which have been recogni sed as equivalent to the 
New Zealand standards and requirements as prescribed in the 
European Union/New Zealand Agreement on Sanitary Measures; 
and 
(b) be eligible for in tra-community trade without restrictions; and  
(c) comply with the special condition s for BSE set out  in Chapter 28 
of Section 5 of Annex V of the European Union/New Zealand 
Agreement on Sanitary Measures . Official certificate  
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  Food Notice : [Title]   
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Column A:  
Exporting country  Column B:  
Products  permitte d to be imported  
from the exporting country  Column C:  
Import conditions  Column D:  
Clearance requirement  
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 certificate  
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 in  establishments listed to the European Union or 
United States ; and 
(c) meet  the hygiene and sanitary requirements for export to the 
European Union or United States.   Official certificate  
Chinese Taipei  Canned bovine meat products only  Product must:  
(a) be made using only bovine meat that originates  from Austra lia, 
Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand  or the 
United States ; and 
(b) be manufactured in Chinese Taipei.  Official certificate  
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 substitution of the product with 
meat that does not orig inate from New Zealand . Official ce rtificate  
United Kingdom  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) compl y 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 Official certificate  Food Notice : [Title]   
 Draft for Consultation  1 June 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  17 of 21 
Column A:  
Exporting country  Column B:  
Products  permitte d to be imported  
from the exporting country  Column C:  
Import conditions  Column D:  
Clearance requirement  
United Kingdom /New Zealand Agreement on Sanitary 
Measures ; 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 .  
United States  Any b ovine meat and bovine meat 
product  Product must:  
(a) be derived from cattle born, raised and 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.  Official certificate  
 Food Notice : [Title]   
 Draft for Consultation  1 June 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  18 of 21 
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  
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  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 : [Title]   
 Draft for Consultation  1 June 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  19 of 21 
Column A : 
HRI food  Column B:  
Permitted country or geographic 
region of export  Column C:  
Clearance requirement  Column D:  
Testing requirement  
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  
Shellfish:  
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  China  Testing of consignment  Food Notice : [Title]   
 Draft for Consultation  1 June 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  20 of 21 
Column A : 
HRI food  Column B:  
Permitted country or geographic 
region of export  Column C:  
Clearance requirement  Column D:  
Testing requirement  
 
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  
United States  Documented evidence confirming that the 
consignment does not contain BMS from 
the Gulf States of the United States  Not applicable  
Shellfish:  
Scallops ( whole adductor muscle 
only) All countries  Documented evidence  confirming that 
scallops consist of whole adductor muscle 
only, with the viscera and roe completely 
removed  Not applicable  
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  
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  
c = the number of sample units allowed to exceed m   
m = the acceptable microbiological limit   
M = the limit which must not be exceeded  Food Notice : [Title]   
 Draft for Consultation  1 June 2022  
Ministry for Primary Industries  Page  21 of 21 
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  Column D:   
Testing requirement  
(a) Frozen berries other than 
(b) and (c)  All countries  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: 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: Testing of consignment  E. coli  
n = 5, c = 2, m = 10 MPN/g, M = 100 MPN/g  
Option 3: 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  
(c) Frozen berries that will be 
heat treated in New 
Zealand  All countries  Option 1: Official certificate  Not applicable  
Option 2: 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 treatme nt Not applicable  
 
1 Where:  
n = the number of sample units  
c = the number of sample units allowed to exceed  “m”  
m = the acceptable microbiological limit   
M = the limit which must not be exceeded