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Market-specific export requirements for animal products

There are a number of requirements which you must comply with before you can export your animal products to your chosen market. You must meet the premises requirements and the requirements outlined in export requirements for animal products.

Refer to the section on premises requirements in ‘Sourcing animal products for export’.

Sourcing animal products for export

Export requirements for animal products

Now you need to meet the market-specific requirements – OMARs, OMAR notifications, and FYIs.

Overseas market access requirements (OMARs)

Overseas market access requirements (OMARs) outline additional legal (regulatory) export requirements that you must meet for your consignment of animal products to be exported from New Zealand to specific overseas markets (countries).

OMARs cover those requirements that the New Zealand government has undertaken to provide a specific assurance on to the government of the destination country. They do not normally cover other product compliance aspects which are usually directly enforced on importers, such as labelling and additive compliance. Nor do they cover those requirements imposed commercially by importers.

You are responsible for routinely checking for any changes to regulatory or commercial requirements with your distributor or importing agent, and ensuring your exports comply.

The term OMAR is the generic term now used to describe the market-specific legal export requirements for all animal products, including dairy.

Find OMARs on the NZFSA website

OMARs are usually the outcomes of negotiated agreements between NZFSA and individual overseas countries. To protect the confidentiality of these agreements, you need a password to access the OMARs.

Apply for a password to view OMARs

Once you have a password, you can find market access requirements on the NZFSA website.

OMARs - for animal products excluding dairy

OMARs- for dairy products

Ensure you check the OMAR notifications too

Whenever market access requirements change, exporters need to know immediately. NZFSA issues any changes or additional requirements in the form of OMAR notifications on the NZFSA website. These notifications are incorporated into the OMARs at the next review. Notifications have the same legal status as an OMAR.

OMAR notifications – for animal products excluding diary

OMAR notifications – for dairy products

If there are no OMAR requirements, but under ‘OMAR notifications and relevant technical directives’ there is a reference to a requirement for export certification, this may mean an official assurance is required.

If there is no OMAR, and no other OMAR notification, but there is a reference to a particular certificate number, then you only need to meet the New Zealand legal requirements (including general export requirements) under the Animal Products Act. There are no additional requirements that must be met to export to that country.

OMAR notifications and relevant technical directives - Export Certification to Specified Markets

If you cannot find an OMAR for your product

OMARs are set in one of two ways. Either:

• NZFSA negotiates with each country to agree upon their requirements, or

• NZFSA sets requirements to meet the regulations of the importing country.

If there is no OMAR for your product, it means that either:

• there is no known trade restriction, or

• NZFSA has not negotiated access arrangements.

So the country you wish to export to may still have import requirements that you must meet. You are responsible for ensuring you comply with their requirements.

In the first instance, check the import requirements with your distributor or agent. If an official assurance is required you will need an official confirmation of the requirements. This could be an import licence or a letter from the government of the importing country.

Contact NZFSA

Exporters – help NZFSA keep the OMARs current

NZFSA strongly advises all exporters to keep NZFSA informed if they receive information about new requirements, or the way in which countries administer their requirements. This helps ensure that the OMARs are consistently valid and as up-to-date as possible. It may also provide a basis for negotiations to amend an existing OMAR or establish a new OMAR.

Get help with OMARs

To confirm your understanding of the OMARs is correct, or to ask any other questions:

Contact NZFSA

‘For your information’ - FYIs

An FYI is intended as information only, on issues that may be important to you as an exporter. FYIs are not intended to be definitive or exhaustive.

FYI information is not a legal requirement established by NZFSA. However, you should review FYIs as they may contain relevant information for your product in your intended market.

FYIs - for animal products excluding dairy

FYIs - for dairy

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