- Print Friendly - Help

Export requirements for animal products

NZFSA administers the legal requirements for animal products in New Zealand, including their export. The requirements are dependent on the particular product or products for export and the market or markets that they are exported to. These requirements and when they apply are covered below.

Exporter registration

Exporters must be registered with NZFSA.

There are exceptions to exporter registration:

• you are exporting animal products not for human or animal consumption (for example, hides, skins and feather) without an official assurance

• you are exempt as outlined in clauses 15 -17 of the exemptions and inclusions order.

Animal Products (Exemptions and Inclusions) Order 2000 [PDF 100 KB]

List of New Zealand’s registered exporters

Apply to become a registered exporter

Once you are export registered you can apply to view overseas market access requirements (OMARs) on the NZFSA website.

Application to view protected documents

General requirements for export (GREX)

GREX are put in place to safeguard assurances provided by NZFSA for export of animal products. They outline general requirements for animal products to be eligible for export. For example, there are GREX for:

• packaging, labelling and branding

• seals on cartons and containers

• transport, equipment and storage (for example, temperature control for road and rail transport, and at wharves)

• verification

You must review the complete list of GREX and ensure you comply with all requirements relevant to your animal material or product. (Note: Under the Meat Act – prior to the Animal Products Act – what are today issued as GREX were issued as OMARs and Technical Directives.)

GREX list

Official assurances – getting export certificates

Most countries require an official assurance (OA), usually in the form of an export certificate, to accompany consignments of animal materials or animal products.

An official assurance is a government-to-government certificate, confirming that your products meet the importing country’s requirements (as notified in OMARs). Examples of possible requirements include: animal health status, country of origin, heat treatment, microbiological status. NZFSA issues these certificates on behalf of the New Zealand government.

The need for an official assurance will increase the cost to export. This is because an official assurance requires the exporter and processor to meet additional criteria, such as: 

• demonstrating how export requirements are managed

• having additional traceability systems

• being verified more frequently

• applying and paying for certificates.

Market-specific export requirements for animal products - including OMARs

How to tell whether you need an official assurance

To find official assurance requirements, you need to refer to the overseas market access requirements (OMARs). See the section on OMARs in the link below.

Market-specific export requirements

If there is an OMAR that covers your product in your export market, you must use the export certificate associated with that OMAR.

If there is no OMAR, for animal products excluding dairy, check with your importer. If they confirm an official assurance is required, look for an appropriate generic New Zealand certificate.

List of export certificates for animal products excluding dairy

If there is no generic New Zealand certificate that meets your official assurance requirements, you will need to go through an approval process to get a new certificate set up. To initiate this process you will need official confirmation of the import requirements. This could be an import licence or a letter from the government of the importing country.

Contact NZFSA

The official assurance programme (OAP)

If you need an official assurance (export certificate) to accompany your animal products consignment, you must follow the procedures in NZFSA’s official assurance programme (OAP).

The official assurance programme ensures that only animal products which meet the importing country’s requirements (as notified in OMARs) are exported to those markets. It covers specific elements of production and verification, including traceability, generic eligibility requirements, and procedures for issuing official assurances.

Official assurance programme - for animal products excluding dairy

Official assurance specifications - for dairy products

Get advice on official assurances (export certificates)

For clarification on official assurances, contact NZFSA. You need to tell us your product and intended destination or destinations.

Contact NZFSA

E-cert – apply online for your export certificate

The majority of official assurances are issued as export certificates through the online electronic certification system, E-cert. You apply to NZFSA to be set up in the E-cert system, where you can apply for and receive export certificates for each consignment you want to export.

NZFSA Verification Agency offices around New Zealand or the Dairy Cert Unit in Auckland sign and issue nearly all official assurances issued under the Animal Products Act.

Learn more and apply to use E-cert

Get further help and answers to your E-cert questions

Market-specific export requirements

You have decided what you want to export (your product) and where you want to export it to (your target market). The next step is to understand and comply with the specific export requirements for your chosen product and market.

Market-specific export requirements

Contact

Please include your geographical region so we can direct your enquiry to the correct person.

export.animalproducts@nzfsa.govt.nz

Last updated 13 May 2009