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Exporting - Certification

Sometimes when you export food or food-related products, you need a document certifying that your export consignment meets certain requirements. These export certificates are issued by NZFSA and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.

Export certificates are either:

• mandatory for your products to enter the destination country

• not mandatory, but helpful for border clearance.

Examples of possible statements or declarations on a certificate include:

• the country of origin of the product and its ingredients

• the heat treatment used when manufacturing the product

• the microbiological status of the product

• the national animal health status (whether or not a certain animal disease is present in New Zealand).

Official assurances

Some export certificates are official assurances. An official assurance is a government-to-government assurance confirming that your products meet New Zealand’s and the destination country’s requirements.

Getting an export certificate

To obtain an export certificate, you must comply with relevant regulatory and administrative requirements. There may also be requirements for those involved in the processing, storage and transport of your products.

For the specific requirements you need to meet to get an export certificate, refer to the specific section of this website for your type of food or food-related product.

• Exporting animal products

• Exporting dairy products

• Exporting organic products

• Plant products

• Exporting wine

NZFSA does not automatically issue export certificates for new situations (such as new markets or novel products) on request. NZFSA needs to be satisfied that certification to the market is necessary or beneficial, and that the requested certification will be sufficient to gain or facilitate entry.

Related links

• MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website

Last updated 5 November 2009