FAQs related to Importing Animals and Animal Products

Most internationally recognised microchips are acceptable for importation purposes. However, they may not be compatible with the mandatory microchip requirements for all newly registered dogs in New Zealand. Please contact the city or district council for the area in which your dog will live for more information about dog registration and microchip requirements.You can also visit the Department of Internal Affairs website Microchipping Regulations .

No, the quarantine must be completed in one of the MAF approved quarantine facilities. The facilities and their contact details are included in the application for an import permit.

The quarantine is 30 days for animals from the USA and other specified countries.

It is not possible to import pet birds, reptiles or rodents into New Zealand as we do not have import health standards for these companion animals. Rabbits may imported but only from Australia.

Yes, if your vet is registered within the country of export and able to complete export certification. If she is unsure, she will need to contact the Government Veterinary Authorities in the country of export for clarification.

An official veterinarian means a veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Administration in the country of export to perform certain designated official tasks associated with animal health and/or public health and inspections of commodities.

No. This information is held by the veterinary authorities in the exporting country, not by MAFBNZ.

Import permits for dogs and cats are valid for one month from the scheduled date of departure. You will need a new permit if you can’t import the animal before the permit’s expiry date.

You will need to request an amended permit in writing. Included in this request must be the original permit number, confirmation that the quarantine facility can accept the dog/cat at the later date, payment details for the NZ$105 amendment fee and confirmation as to which address the new permit should be sent.

You need to allow at least 3 weeks for the permit to be processed and returned to you by airmail. Permits will not be issued until all of the necessary documentation has been provided to the Animal Imports team.

No. Import permits are not required for dogs and cats being imported from the UK, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Hawaii, Norway, Sweden and Australia.

No, not if they are traveling at the same time. If for some reason they are not traveling and arriving in New Zealand together then separate permits will be required.

The only direct costs to MAFBNZ are the costs of the import permit and clearance fee on arrival. You also need to factor in transportation, veterinary and quarantine costs. All of which are over and above the direct costs to MAFBNZ.

There is no post arrival quarantine for dogs/cats coming to New Zealand from the UK, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Hawaii, Norway, Sweden and Australia.

Yes, but you will need to arrange this directly with the quarantine facility.

Yes, your dog/cat must have a microchip inserted prior to starting any of the vaccination and/or testing requirements for importation (except for dogs/cats from Australia).

All dogs newly registered in New Zealand are required to be microchipped.

No. Assistance dogs must comply with all of the testing and treatment requirements for dogs and cats from the country of origin but may not have to complete post arrival quarantine:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/dogbliic.all.htm

The dog must have been resident in the UK for the 6 months before the scheduled date of departure. France is a rabies controlled country while the UK is rabies free. Importation under the UK requirements is not possible if the animal has spent any time in France during the required 6 month residence period. The dog must follow the requirements in the import health standard for dogs and cats from specified countries:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/domaniic.spe.htm

The importation of dogs and cats directly from China is not possible. You can import your animal via a third country from which we do allow importation ie, Singapore. The animal would have to reside in that third country for at least 6 months and then comply with the import health standard for that country.

We have specific requirements for dogs and cats traveling to New Zealand on yachts:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/domyacic.spe.htm
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/domyacic.aus.htm

You will not be able to travel around New Zealand with your cat unless she meets our requirements including post arrival quarantine.

No. The Babesia gibsoni testing is mandatory for dogs from all countries unless the country of export can prepare a case that confirms the country is free from the disease. Any such case must be prepared and submitted directly for assessment to the Animal Imports Team, Border Standards Directorate, MAFBNZ by the Government Veterinary Authorities in the country of export.

Yes.

Two, one at least 6 months and no greater than 12 months prior to the scheduled date of departure and another within 30 days of the scheduled date of departure. Please refer to the import health standard for clarification.

Yes. Our import requirements are based on the disease status of the country of export so all dogs and cats coming from that country must comply.

No. The blood for the first rabies blood test must be drawn no more than 12 months before the scheduled date of departure.

No, the scheduled date of departure from the country of export must be at least 6 and no greater than 12 months after the blood was drawn for the initial rabies antibody titration test.

The Australian Government has been requesting access for its honey since the late 1980s, so this is not a new request. New Zealand is a signatory to trade agreements which say we cannot prohibit imports unless there is a valid biosecurity reason for preventing them We expect other countries to accept our exports on the same terms.

Bee products eligible for import from Australia under the new IHS are: foundation beeswax; honey; raw beeswax; pollen in bulk form; raw propolis and royal jelly in bulk form. These products must be certified by the Australian government as having met specified sanitary requirements. Highly processed bee products from Australia are covered in an existing import health standard for bee products.

Biosecurity New Zealand is very aware of the seriousness of European Foulbrood and other bee diseases not present in New Zealand, and the potential impact on our beekeeping industry if they became established here. Biosecurity New Zealand has analysed the risks associated with honey imports using the same robust, internationally recognised process it uses for any other category of biosecurity risk goods. This risk analysis, which was peer-reviewed by international experts in bee diseases, concluded that risks could be effectively managed.

The risk analysis process has extended over five years. Evidence was collated from:

• peer-reviewed journals and other respected publications
• consulting with experts both locally and internationally
• new cutting-edge research.

Issues raised by stakeholders and any new information is considered on an on-going basis.

Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) originates from Africa and has in the past seven years become established in the southern region of the United States, Egypt and in three Australian states. It is not present in New Zealand. Rather than causing larval disease, small hive beetle larvae cause significant damage to honey bee colonies, stored combs and apiary products. In some locations, small hive beetle has been reported to cause deaths of bee colonies.

Until recently Nosemosis (or Nosema disease) was thought to be caused only by Nosema apis, a spore-forming parasite that invades the intestinal tract of adult bees and is widespread in beekeeping countries throughout the world including New Zealand. Nosema is spread mainly by the movement of beekeeping equipment and by bees moving between colonies, but also by bee products. Nosema is normally only a problem during cold weather when infected bees develop dysentery. A related Nosema species from Asia, Nosema ceranae, has recently been identified as causing Nosema disease in European honey bees. Nosema ceranae has not been identified in New Zealand.