About unregistered ACVM products (including ACVMs exempt from registration)
Some ACVM products are exempt from registration because they pose little risk when they are imported, manufactured, sold, and used properly. But they must still meet the conditions in the ACVM (Exemptions and Prohibited Substances) Regulations 2011 to minimise these risks.
Exemptions apply to a product type or group, not individual compounds or products. A complete list of exempt product types and groups, and the conditions that apply, is in the regulations.
ACVM (Exemptions and Prohibited Substances) Regulations 2011, Schedule 2 – New Zealand Legislation
Find out more about ACVMs exempt from registration
Examples of non-compliant unregistered ACVM products
An unregistered ACVM product may be considered non-compliant if:
- it is not registered when it should be. For example:
- a fungicide, pesticide, or herbicide used on food or feed crops
- a product for animals that makes drug-like (pharmacological) claims and therapeutic (able to treat disease) claims. For example, any product that makes claims to treat, prevent, or manage parasites, conditions, or diseases characterised by pain and distress in animals are considered veterinary medicines that require registration.
- it could be considered exempt from registration but does not comply with all the applicable exemption regulations. For example:
- a pet food label does not have directions for use (it does not comply with regulation 12(2e))
- a fertiliser label does not list the active ingredients (it does does not comply with regulation 12(2d)).
Search our ACVM register to check if a product is registered before making a complaint before reporting a product you think requires registration:
Search the ACVM register – veterinary medicines, agricultural chemicals, and vertebrate toxic agents
Report a suspected non-compliant unregistered ACVM product or activity
Use this form to report an ACVM product or activity that:
- is not registered when it should be, or
- appears to not comply with the ACVM exemption regulations.
Report a suspected non-compliant ACVM product or activity [DOCX, 476 KB]
Include as much information as possible so we can investigate your report.
Note: if you have used a product and something has gone wrong, this may be considered an adverse event (AER).
All reports of suspected non-compliance are prioritised for action based on risk. Risk is based on the potential (or actual) harm to people, animals, the environment, and trade.
Read more about how we look into reports about non-compliant unregistered ACVM products
Report a non-conformance with your exempt or unregistered ACVM product or activity (product owners, importers, sellers, or manufacturers only)
If you become aware of a product or batches that have been released to the New Zealand market and are non-compliant, you must notify MPI as soon as you become aware of the problem.
- If the non-conformance could pose a serious risk, the non-conformance should be reported to MPI immediately within 1 working day after becoming aware of an issue.
- All other non-conformances should be reported to MPI within 3 working days after becoming aware of an issue.
Some examples of non-conforming exempt ACVM products that need to be reported include:
- products labelled with insufficient or incorrect information
- contamination with unintended ingredients
- products not fit for their intended purpose.
We have guidance to help you provide the information we need to do our risk assessment and review of the non-conformance. Use our form to submit your report (including risk assessment):
Non-Conformance Report: Notification of your non-conforming exempt or unregistered ACVM product on the market ACVM 75 [DOCX, 379 KB]
Guideline for reporting your non-conforming exempt or unregistered ACVM product on the market [PDF, 465 KB]
Email the form to ACVM-recallsandcompliance@mpi.govt.nz
Provide as much information as possible. If all information cannot be submitted right away, tell us when to expect further information.
We will review and consider the non-conformance, proposed actions and associated risks. If we do not have enough information (such as details of a thorough risk assessment) or the actions taken or proposed do not mitigate the risks, we may take regulatory action such as a directed recall.
Who to contact
If you have questions about ACVM non-compliance, email ACVM-recallsandcompliance@mpi.govt.nz
