FAQs related to Animals & Animal Products

Can I bring in food and animal products that have been processed?

Because there are so many different types of food and animals products please contact MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Clearance Service directly.

Why am I not allowed to bring meat into New Zealand?

The greatest risk to New Zealand's economy is foot and mouth disease. This virus is prevalent in many overseas countries and can survive for long periods in meat products. An outbreak would immediately halt our valuable exports of meat and animal products.

Is the public aware they cannot import untreated bee products into New Zealand?

New Zealand’s border controls are the tightest in the world, including passenger declaration forms, signs, 100% baggage x-raying, the detector dog system and questioning by biosecurity inspectors at the border, and the system for notifying commercial importers of the current import health standards. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand already invests heavily in publicity about the risks of bringing in personal consignments of honey and communicating with commercial importers. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is confident that these systems will continue to manage the risks posed by illegal importation of honey by the general public and by commercial importers.

Commercial importers and the public already attempt to illegally import honey into New Zealand, and the MAFBNZ Clearance Service seizes significant volumes of honey at the border. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand assumes that this will still be the case when Australian honey can be imported into New Zealand.

Australia imports Chinese honey. Could this get passed off to New Zealand as Australian honey?

No, any imported honey would require certification from the Australian government stating that the honey was a product of Australia, from hives inspected by an Australian government official.