Exemptions from Requirement for Animal Welfare Export Certification

Animals may be exempted from the need to obtain an animal welfare export certificate (AWEC) where the risk to their welfare is considered to be low. The exemption applies:

  • to certain species, where the travel time from the New Zealand port of departure to the port of arrival in the country of destination does not exceed 6 hours; or
  • to several classes of animals irrespective of their destination.

Flights longer than 6 hours and sea transport are not exempt from the requirement for an AWEC because the welfare of animals during longer travel is at greater risk from environmental factors such as temperature and physiological changes such as dehydration. An exception to this policy has been made for dogs and cats travelling to Australia, where no AWEC is required.

The following animals are exempted from the requirement for an animal welfare export certificate at the time of export from New Zealand.

NB: Even if exempted, animals being exported by air must be transported under conditions that are consistent with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations (offsite link to www.iata.org). Airlines operating out of New Zealand are aware of these specifications and can advise exporters of requirements specific to each animal.

Complete exemption

  • Cats and dogs exported to Australia;
  • Pet animals departing on any ship;
  • Crab, crayfish, fish, lobster, octopus, squid;
  • Poultry hatching eggs (being avian pre-hatched young in the last half period of development).

Exemption for exported animals travelling for less than 6 hours

  • Birds not subject to the Wildlife Act 1953 or the Trade in Endangered Species Act 1989
  • Camelids
  • Cats
  • Cattle
  • Deer
  • Dogs
  • Ferrets
  • Goats
  • Guinea pigs
  • Hamsters
  • Hares
  • Hedgehogs
  • Horses
  • Pigs
  • Possums
  • Rabbits
  • Ratites
  • Rodents
  • Sheep
  • Wallabies

and any other animal determined from time to time by the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Page last updated: 28 October 2008