New Zealand (NZ)

1.1 Establishment registration

Initial listing procedureRequired?
* Export registration will be required if exporters require a health certificate because consignments are intended for re-export from New Zealand.
Export RegistrationNo*
Establishment listing required for New ZealandNo
Exceptions (ships stores)

Export certification is not issued for ships stores as the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 do not apply. Ships stores are milk and milk products on ships or aircraft for the use of passengers and crew or for the service of the ships or aircraft on a voyage from Australia.

1.2 Overseas listing

New Zealand has no known additional overseas listingrequirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

1.3 Prohibited products

There are no known products that are prohibited for export to this market.

1.4 General information

Specific information about importing food to New Zealand is available in the food safety section of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website. The information includes a:

As dairy products are considered to be animal products, additional information about these can be found on the biosecurity section of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA), New Zealand does not require dairy products for human consumption imported from Australia to have an import permit or health certification. This means that these products do not need to comply with requirements of the Export Control Act. Health certificates from the Department may be required if the Ministry for Primary Industries has to provide health certification to re-export these products (or for products manufactured from these) from New Zealand to a third country.

New Zealand's requirements for dairy-based animal products are listed in the import health standards for dairy products from Australia which are found on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website. For further information refer to:

Note
Certificates of Origin which are issued by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Australian Industry Group may be required under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) (PDF 270 KB).
Electronic certification (eCert)

If export certification is required, New Zealand requires electronic certification (eCert) for milk and milk products sourced and exported from Australia. Health certification information (including endorsements) is sent electronically from the Department's certification system, Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC), directly to New Zealand’s import clearance authorities.

The Department does not issue paper health certification for milk and milk products to New Zealand. A commercial extract is provided and includes specific commercial information required to identify the product and shipping details. The extract is not required to facilitate the clearance of consignments. This is done electronically via the eCert. Should an exporter require an extract to satisfy commercial arrangements, an extract of the consignments data can be printed to ensure a Health Certificate number is generated.

With this transition, terminology has also changed as outlined below:

  • Certificate/Certificate template is now known as 'Extract Code'.
  • Endorsements/attestations is now known as 'Endorsement Code'.

2.1 Milk and milk products

Milk and milk products of bovine origin are defined as prescribed goods under the Export Control Act. Production of these products for export is regulated under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products manufactured from non-bovine species, for example buffalo, goat and sheep, may also need to be regulated through the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, though this is only required when export registration and health certification from the department is required by New Zealand.

New Zealand has no known additional requirements for the production and export of non-bovine milk and milk products.

2.2 Compositional requirements

New Zealand has no known additional compositionalrequirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

2.3 Further information

New Zealand has no known additional furtherinformation that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

3.1 Technical grade and pharmaceutical products

New Zealand has no known additional technical grade and pharmaceutical product requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

3.2 Animal feed

New Zealand has no known additional animal feed requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

3.3 Manufacturing grade products

New Zealand has no known additional manufacturing grade product requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

3.4 Processing

New Zealand has no known additional processing requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021. 

3.5 Further information

New Zealand has no known additional further information that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

4.1 Microbial and residue sampling

New Zealand has no known additional Microbial sampling requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

New Zealand residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in New Zealand or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between New Zealand and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

  • These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the New Zealand standards and the Australian standards.
  • Any detection of a residue above the New Zealand MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.
Note
Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

4.2 Operational requirements additional to Australia's export legislation

New Zealand has no known additional operational requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

4.3 Hygiene

New Zealand has no known additional hygiene requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

5.1 Milk and milk products

Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement, health certification is not required for commercial consignments provided the products are in sealed packaging within the original unopened packaging, and either:

  • identifiable as manufactured in Australia (using Australian and/or imported dairy ingredients), or
  • if manufactured in a third country and imported into Australia are accompanied by a declaration from the Australian importer/ exporter identifying the product, the country of origin and the date the product was given quarantine clearance into Australia.

Personal consignments of milk and milk products (including products containing dairy ingredients) must fulfil the following requirements:

  • be commercially prepared and packaged
  • in original sealed packaging on arrival
  • the country of origin must be identifiable from the packaging
  • the total weight of the consignment must be 20 kilograms or less.

If these products are shelf stable, they must be commercially prepared and packaged and in its original sealed packaging on arrival. There is no limit to the weight of these consignments.

Provided the products are intended for human consumption, health certification is not required if the dairy products or products containing dairy ingredients meet the requirements above and contain refined tallow (such as margarine, shortening, tallow stearine) or gelatine.

Milk and milk products that are prescribed under Australia's export rules
  1. are milk or milk products derived from a bovine animal, and
  2. are intended to be exported as food.
Milk and milk products that are not prescribed under Australia's export rules

Milk and milk products which do not meet the criteria under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 are classified by Australia as non-prescribed goods. It is the responsibility of the exporter to confirm with the importing country if there are any specific requirements for the import of these products. Typically, non-prescribed goods include ice-cream, non-bovine milk products, colostrum and products with a minor component of dairy.

Further information on exporting non-prescribed goods from Australia is available on the Department's website.

In some cases, an importing country requires specific health certification and government oversight for what would typically be non-prescribed milk and milk products. When required, these products become prescribed under export legislation and must meet all export and importing country requirements. This includes the products being manufactured and stored at an export registered establishment and must have a valid export permit and health certificate for each consignment. Guidance on export registration can be found at Dairy export registered establishments.

Health certification for milk and milk products

For milk and milk products produced for human consumption (including milk and milk products classified as a prescribed good by an importing Country), use health certificate template.

NZEXD2 contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

  1. In sound condition.
  2. Fit for human consumption.
  3. Of Australian origin.
Endorsement 447 – DAIRY – NEW ZEALAND heat-treatment and foot-and-mouth statement

The dairy products listed above have been heat treated for a time and at a temperature recognised as effective for destroying pathogenic organisms, either:

  1. 63 – 66 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, or
  2. 72 degrees Celsius for at least 15 seconds, or
  3. Ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 132 degrees Celsius for not less than 1 second (for UHT milk products), or
  4. Ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 133 degrees Celsius (for UHT cream products), or
  5. An equivalent time/ temperature combination that causes, immediately after it has been applied, a negative reaction to the phosphatase test.

Foot-and-mouth disease has not occurred in Australia during the twelve (12) months prior to the manufacture of the above mentioned product.

NZEXD2 can also be used with optional endorsements 300, 356 or 463.

Optional endorsement 300 – DAIRY – NEW ZEALAND radioactivity statement

The goods described in this certificate have not been contaminated by radioactive elements from nuclear fallout. Analyses of representative samples of similar product have shown that the radioactivity level does not exceed 50Bq/kg.

Optional endorsement 356 – DAIRY – NEW ZEALAND radioactivity and animal health statement

The goods described in this certificate have not been contaminated by radioactive elements from nuclear fallout. Analyses of representative samples of similar product have shown that the radioactivity level does not exceed 50Bq/kg. Animals from which these products were taken were clinically free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, foot-and-mouth disease, Rinderpest, vesicular stomatitis, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, bluetongue, lumpy skin disease, peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever and live in areas free from these diseases. I further certify that foot-and-mouth disease, Rinderpest and bovine spongiform encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.

Optional endorsement 356 – DAIRY – NEW ZEALAND animal health statement

Animals from which these products were taken were clinically free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, foot-and-mouth disease, Rinderpest, vesicular stomatitis, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, bluetongue, lumpy skin disease, peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever and live in areas free from these diseases. I further certify that foot-and-mouth disease, Rinderpest and bovine spongiform encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.

Exporter declarations

Whenever export documentation is obtained, the exporter must provide a declaration stating that all the information provided in the permit is true and complete. They must also state that they are in possession of a declaration of compliance that:

  1. applies to the milk and milk products
  2. complies with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
Further information

For information on New Zealand's Import Health Standards of milk and milk products for human consumption from Australia refer to:

Updates to this standard can be found on the MPI database.

5.2 Manufacturing grade products

These products must fulfil the following requirements:

  • be commercially prepared and packaged
  • in original sealed packaging on arrival
  • identifiable as milk and milk products originating from Australia, and
  • accompanied by certification, such as the NZEXD1 with endorsement 2090.
Certificate as to condition for manufacturing grade products

The NZEXD1 certificate as to condition contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

  1. In sound condition
  2. Of Australian Origin
Endorsement 2090 - Dairy New Zealand inedible (manufacturing grade, stockfood powder and stockfood liquid)

The product described above does not contain any form of animal protein other than dairy ingredients. The dairy ingredients originate from Australia. The dairy products have been heat treated (pasteurised) for a time and at a temperature recognised as effective for destroying pathogenic organisms, either:

  1. 63 to 66 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, or
  2. 72 degrees Celsius for at least 15 seconds, or
  3. Ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 132 degrees Celsius for not less than 1 second (for UHT milk products), or
  4. Ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 133 degrees Celsius (for UHT cream products), or
  5. an equivalent time/temperature combination that causes, immediately after it has been applied, a negative reaction to the phosphatase test.
Further information

For information on New Zealand’s Import Health Standard for milk and milk products NOT for human consumption refer to:

Updates to this standard can be found on the MPI database.

5.3 Technical grade and pharmaceutical products

Milk and milk products that are intended for use in technical products and pharmaceutical material must fulfil the following requirements:

  • be commercially prepared and packaged
  • in original sealed packaging on arrival
  • identifiable as milk and milk products originating from Australia, and
  • accompanied by certification, such as NZEXD4 with endorsement 2090.
Certificate as to condition for technical products and pharmaceutical material

NZEXD4 contains the following attestations:

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information on this form is true and correct in every particular details and that the product described above is of Australian origin and is acceptable for sale in Australia.

Endorsement 2090

The product described above does not contain any form of animal protein other than dairy ingredients. The dairy ingredients originate from Australia. The dairy products have been heat treated (pasteurised) for a time and at a temperature recognised as effective for destroying pathogenic organisms, either:

  1. 63 – 66 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, or
  2. 72 degrees Celsius for at least 15 seconds, or
  3. ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 132 degrees Celsius for not less than 1 second (for UHT milk products), or
  4. ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 133 degrees Celsius (for UHT cream products), or
  5. an equivalent time/ temperature combination that causes, immediately after it has been applied, a negative reaction to the phosphatase test.
Samples of technical products and pharmaceutical material

Samples of these products that contain milk and milk products do not need certification if they fulfil all of the following requirements:

  • are in sealed tamper-proof packaging with the country of origin clearly stated on the packaging or documentation accompanying the sample(s)
  • weigh no more than 50kgs.
Technical products and pharmaceutical material containing dairy and other animal product ingredients

In addition to a NZEXD4 with 2090 endorsement, products containing tallow or emu oil must also be accompanied by health certification that meets New Zealand's requirements for these animal products.

Products that contain dairy-based ingredients and the following animal products only need to be accompanied by a NZEXD4 with 2090 endorsement:

  • commercially manufactured food cultures, enzymes or starters derived from or consisting of micro-organisms (for example, yoghurt, cheese starters, enzymes or cultures)
  • commercially manufactured rennet
  • commercially manufactured antibiotics, medicines and vaccines intended for human use
  • brewers yeast, bakers yeast or any other yeast products used in the food industry
  • chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate, glucosamine sulphate, heparin and heparanoid
  • nisaplin manufactured by Danisco, Beaminister, United Kingdom
  • fertosan compost starter
  • enzymes papain (plant origin), bromelain (plant origin), pectinase (fungal origin), pancreatin (porcine origin) and pepsin (porcine origin)
  • commercially packaged and highly processed inedible collagen/ protein products
  • gelatine
  • animal skin/ hide glue or size.
Further information

For information on New Zealand’s Import Health Standard for milk and milk products NOT for human consumption refer to:

Updates to these standards can be found on the MPIdatabase.

5.4 Animal feed

Milk and milk products that are intended for use in animal food must fulfil the following requirements:

  • be commercially prepared and packaged
  • in original sealed packaging on arrival
  • identifiable as milk and milk products originating from Australia, and
  • accompanied by certification, such as the NZEXD3 with endorsement 2090.
Certificate as to condition for animal stockfood

NZEXD3 contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

  1. In sound condition
  2. Of Australian Origin
Endorsement 2090 – Dairy New Zealand inedible (manufacturing grade, stockfood powder and stockfood liquid)

The product described above does not contain any form of animal protein other than dairy ingredients. The dairy ingredients originate from Australia. The dairy products have been heat treated (pasteurised) for a time and at a temperature recognised as effective for destroying pathogenic organisms, either:

  1. 63 – 66 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, or
  2. 72 degrees Celsius for at least 15 seconds, or
  3. Ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 132 degrees Celsius for not less than 1 second (for UHT milk products), or
  4. Ultra high temperature (UHT) treatment of 133 degrees Celsius (for UHT cream products), or
  5. an equivalent time/temperature combination that causes, immediately after it has been applied, a negative reaction to the phosphatase test.
Pet milk and pet food containing dairy ingredients

Certificates are not required for shelf-stable pet milk and pet food containing dairy ingredients that does not contain any animal products other than dairy ingredients.

These products must also be:

  • commercially prepared, packaged, and labelled as pet food
  • in its original sealed packaging on arrival.

If the pet milk is intended for export from New Zealand, it can be exported on NZEXD3 with endorsement 20190.

Further information

For information on New Zealand’s Import Health Standard for the importation of dairy products NOT for human consumption refer to:

Updates to these standards can be found on the MPI database.

5.5 Consignments under 10 kilograms and trade samples

New Zealand has no known additional Consignments under 10kg and trade samples requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

5.6 Additional certification/letters

New Zealand has no known additional certification/letters requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

6.1 Import permit

The Ministry for Primary Industries  New Zealand has undertaken an imported food review (PDF 55 KB) and decided that commercial consignments of milk and milk products imported from Australia do not require an MPI (food safety) permit even if they are classified as high risk foods. The only foods from Australia that require an MPI (food safety) permit are those that contain bivalve molluscan shellfish, and bovine meat and bovine meat products.

Commercial consignments of milk and milk products imported from Australia also do not require a MPI (biosecurity) permit.

No MPI permit is required for personal consignments of milk and milk products imported from Australia.


6.2 Port-of-entry inspection and testing

New Zealand has no known additional Portof entry inspection and testing requirements that differto those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.1 Packaging

New Zealand has no known additional packing requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.2 Labelling

New Zealand has no known additional labelling requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.3 Shelf life

New Zealand has no known additional shelf life requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.4 Shipping marks

New Zealand has no known additional shipping mark requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

7.5 Further information

New Zealand has no known further information that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

New Zealand has no known specific requirements for shipping and airfreight. Milk and milk products must be transported to ensure their condition and integrity is maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

8.1 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout

New Zealand has no known additional refrigeration, transfer and load out requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

New Zealand has no known additional documentation requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

New Zealand has no known additional definition requirements that differ to those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

03/08/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 4.1).
10/06/2022 - Updated electronic certification information (section 1.4).
20/02/2022 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Dairy headings.
03/02/2022 - Removal and replacement of Dairy by Definition wording.
03/06/2021 - References to export legislation have been updated.
07/10/2020 - Changes to using eCert