What you must declare

WARNING: If you do not declare ALL FRUITS, MEAT, PLANTS, ANIMALS or other quarantine items in your possession you may be fined up to $100, 000 or imprisoned up to 5 years.

If you are not sure about it DECLARE IT. Our qualified clearance officers will respond to your enquiries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  For general enquiries phone +64 9 909 8609 or email your enquiries to MAFBNZ Clearance

Additional information is available on the MAFBNZ Clearance Services Facilities page.

What you must declare:

• Plant material
• Food
• Honey
• Animal products
• Straw items
• Wooden items
• Sporting and Camping Equipment
• Live animals
• Endangered species

Additional items may also be classified as Restricted Items.

Plant material

See Restricted Plant Products

Whether fresh or dried, living or dead, large or small, common or rare, all plant material must be declared. Items may require treatment, permits, and some will not be allowed in at all.

Items manufactured from plant products may be carrying either viable seeds or insects. In all cases inspection is required to determine the risk status. Should inspection reveal the presence of seeds or insects treatment will be required, heat treatment for seeds (to destroy viability) and fumigation for insects.

Plant products requiring inspection include dried flowers, straw items, wooden artifacts and carvings, corn souvenirs, Christmas decorations containing pinecones, and items made from cane, bamboo or wickerware.

Seeds

Thousands of seeds can enter New Zealand once they have been positively identified and inspected by MAF. Other seeds must undergo field inspections, testing or treatment before biosecurity clearance is granted. View a flow chart.

Nursery stock

An import permit (obtained from MAF prior to importation) and a Phytosanitary Certificate (obtained from the country of origin) must accompany all nursery stock entering New Zealand. Specific requirements are set out in Import Health Standards. Most nursery stock must undergo a period of quarantine before biosecurity clearance can be granted.

View a flow chart showing the steps to import nursery stock. For full information go to the Commercial Imports section.

New species

If you want to import a plant species which is new to New Zealand you must apply to the Environmental Risk Management Agency (ERMA).

Food

Food should not be brought into New Zealand. If it is, it should be declared. Some items, such as canned baby foods, may be imported, but items such as meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables, and some other food products, pose a threat to our environment. Specific fresh fruit, vegetable and living plant material will require an International Phytosanitary Certificate (IPC) available from relevant Government departments in the country of purchase. Information about private consignments of meat products.

Honey and products containing honey

Bringing honey to New Zealand is prohibited.  It is an unprocessed product and a potential carrier of bee diseases.  New Zealand has a growing and valuable beekeeping industry, which must be protected.  In addition fruit trees, flowers and vegetable crops rely on honeybees for
pollination.

NOTE: Honey may be permitted from certain Pacific Island nations with suitable accompanying documentation (contact MAFBNZ Clearance)

Animal products

Animal products (including sea shells) may be prohibited or restricted because they can harbour a multitude of pests and diseases, and may also be banned because they pose a threat to endangered species and are protected by CITES, an international agreement designed to prevent trade in endangered, threatened or exploited species. Be aware that animal products can be found in some surprising places.  See Restricted Animal Products.

Straw items

Straw can carry cereal pests and diseases, which are not present in New Zealand. Items containing straw are allowed into New Zealand after either heat or chemical treatment. Baskets, woven grass and mats can all bring pests into New Zealand.

Wooden items and curios

Wooden items, especially those made of untreated wood, such as traditional carvings and curios, can harbour wood boring insects and other pests. Many curio items are also made with animal products, which can be a source of pests and diseases.

Sporting and Camping Equipment

See Restricted Goods-Camping and Sporting Equipment

Footwear, outdoor, sporting and agricultural equipment can all carry soil-borne diseases, seeds (which can introduce noxious weeds) and fungal spores. Please clean all of these thoroughly before coming to New Zealand.

These items may be inspected on arrival and should be packed in an easily accessible place. Declare these items on your declaration form.

In terms of camp food, dried fruit and dried vegetables are permitted entry. All heat and eat meals, dehydrated meals, and milk powder must meet the requirements of the appropriate Import Health Standard. Particular attention should be paid to the packaging and country of origin requirements outlined in the standard.

Live animals

Live animals may not enter New Zealand without meeting specific conditions, depending on the type of animal and country of origin. Entry conditions are described within Import Health Standards. A Permit to Import may be required and animals may have to undergo Post Entry Quarantine at a MAF approved facility. Some animals may be prohibited due to their protected status. For common Import Health Standards relating to cats and dogs :

• Australia - Cats and Dogs
• United Kingdom - Cats and Dogs
• United States of America - Cats and Dogs
• South Africa - Cats and Dogs
• Dogs and Cats on YACHTS
• Other countries and animals

Endangered species

New Zealand is party to CITES, a world-wide agreement designed to prevent trade in endangered, threatened or exploited species. It covers items such as ivory, turtle shell artefacts, clam shells, coral and products made from snakeskin or whalebone. Plants, animals or products covered by the agreement can no longer be brought into New Zealand, except with a special permit issued by the Department of Conservation. Many endangered species are being driven to extinction to make exotic souvenirs. By supporting the CITES agreement and deciding not to buy goods made from endangered species, you can help save these rare plants and animals.