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Bringing food in and taking it out of New Zealand
Restrictions apply to some foods you may want to bring in or take out of New Zealand. This includes food for personal or commercial use. These restrictions apply for both food you travel with and food delivered by postal or courier service.
We set policies, criteria and procedures to monitor the safety of imported food into New Zealand for human consumption.
Bringing food into New Zealand – for personal use or as a gift
Food may come into New Zealand using a variety of transport options and include those ordered over the internet or via the postal system.
We don’t regulate food brought into New Zealand for personal use. However, weight, volume and biosecurity restrictions do apply. You need to contact Biosecurity New Zealand before bringing in any food, even if it is for personal use or as a gift.
Biosecurity New Zealand lists the following food items as ‘risk goods’ for which restrictions apply:
• Meat and meat products
• Eggs and egg products
• Fresh produce
• Fresh fruit
• Dairy products
• Honey and bee products
• Seeds and plants or plant material
• Animal remedies
• Some Chinese medicines
Biosecurity New Zealand’s list of restricted items [Biosecurity New Zealand]
We regulate all food entering New Zealand for commercial purposes, regardless of the quantity imported. We also regulate all food entering New Zealand where food for personal use exceeds the permitted weight or volume restrictions.
The weight or volume of food you can bring into New Zealand for personal use:
• liquid food – up to 10 litres
• concentrated liquid food (not usually consumed as is) – up to 2 litres
• non-liquid food – up to 10 kilograms
• moisture reduced foods (not usually consumed as is) – up to 2 kilograms
• spices – up to 1 kilogram.
Importing foods for personal consumption or as gifts into New Zealand
List of prohibited or restricted import items [New Zealand Customs Service]
Taking food between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands – legal requirements and safety tips
Biosecurity restrictions for foods coming into New Zealand
Biosecurity New Zealand prohibits or restricts the entry of some food products because they can bring in pests and diseases. Pests and diseases brought into New Zealand deliberately or accidentally, could seriously damage our natural resources, threaten our economy, and undermine our way of life.
These restrictions and prohibitions apply to food for both personal and commercial use.
Certain foods may be allowed entry if they have met the requirements of the Import Health Standard (IHS) and have appropriate certificates.
When you arrive in New Zealand, you will be asked to declare any food you are bringing in and show it to biosecurity quarantine inspectors.
What travellers should be aware of when bringing things into New Zealand [Biosecurity New Zealand]
What to declare and do when sending mail to New Zealand [Biosecurity New Zealand]
Overview about importing products into New Zealand [Biosecurity New Zealand]
Import health standards (IHSs) – the requirements for importing risk goods into New Zealand [Biosecurity New Zealand]
Bringing food into New Zealand – for commercial purposes
We place import requirements on food brought into New Zealand and intended for sale here. These requirements also apply to imported food ingredients that are re-processed here and sold in New Zealand or exported to overseas markets.
Minimum requirements apply to all foods and food related products imported into New Zealand for sale. Some specific products with greater potential to impact on human health have additional requirements.
Bringing food into New Zealand to sell
Imported Food Requirements (IFRs) for some specific foods
The new Imported Food Programme for regulating food imports
More detailed information about how we manage food imports
Taking food out of New Zealand – for personal use or as a gift
The country you are travelling to will have its own food safety and biosecurity requirements. These requirements will apply to food you take abroad as well as food you post overseas. It is up to you to find out what the requirements are for the country or countries you are travelling to or posting food to.
The importing requirements for some countries are listed below. For further information please contact the agency that manages imports for the country you are intending to import food to.
Guidance when taking New Zealand honey overseas
US legislation on food items sent to the USA
Imports of meat and dairy products for personal use, into the European Union
Animal material or products – requirements for travellers going abroad
Overseas market access requirements (OMAR) for animal products
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501
Contact this person