Bringing alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, drugs, and medicines to NZ

You can bring alcohol if it is clean and free of biosecurity contamination like bugs, soil, or disease.

Note that:

• if it contains chicken egg yolk it must also be commercially manufactured and packaged, in its original unopened packaging, at least 14% alcohol, and must not require refrigeration.
• if it contains bee products it must also be commercially manufactured and packaged, be honey mead or labelled at least 20% alcohol, and the total quantity of the consignment must be 3 bottles or fewer.

Check Customs restrictions and charges

Check duty-free limits – NZ Customs Service

Check allowances and charges – NZ Customs Service

Check CITES

Some alcohol items are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), like alcohol containing snake. They may require CITES documentation to be imported or may be prohibited.

Find out about CITES – Department of Conservation

Products like cigarettes, tobacco packets, and e-cigarettes are allowed if they are clean and free of biosecurity contamination like bugs, soil, or disease.

Check Customs restrictions and charges

Check duty-free limits – NZ Customs Service

Check allowances and charges – NZ Customs Service

These products are allowed if they are commercially manufactured and packaged, in their original packaging, and if they are clean and free of biosecurity contamination like bugs, soil, or disease.

Note that if any product contains honey it must also be in its original unopened packaging, and either:

• not require refrigeration, or
• the packaging clearly states the amount of honey is less than 2% of the product's weight.

Check Customs and Health Ministry advice

Travelling to NZ with medicines – NZ Customs Service

Bringing medicines into NZ – The Ministry of Health

Personal importation of medicines – The Ministry of Health

Check CITES

Some medication and drugs are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), like products containing American Ginseng, Costus root, or Dendrobium. They may require CITES documentation to be imported or may be prohibited.

Find out about CITES – Department of Conservation 

These products are allowed if:

• they are accompanying the animal/owner/agent travelling with the animal.
• you have a copy of the overseas veterinarian's prescription.
• you have a ACVM21 declaration [DOCX, 296 KB]

You can bring up to 3 months' supply.

Check CITES

Some traditional medicine items are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). They may require CITES documentation to be imported or may be prohibited.

Find out about CITES – Department of Conservation

Find out more

Steps to importing veterinary medicines