Update: 8 September 2026
Revised rules and analysis of submissions published
MPI has now published the revised Organic Export Requirements: Recognised Agencies and Persons (OER: RAP) [PDF, 502 KB]
Following this consultation, we made these changes to the previous OER: RAP:
- minor editorial changes made for readability and clarity
- terminology updated through the documents (supports readability and clarity)
- several section headings renamed
- some requirement clauses moved into guidance boxes
- definitions updated: new terms added; terms not used in the document removed; definitions of some existing terms amended to align as far as practicable with definitions for identical terms in the OPPA 2023 or OPP Regulations 2025
- clarification that recognised persons may only perform tasks within the scope of their recognition
- new requirement for recognised agencies to work with exporters to ensure importers are informed of exported non-compliant products (formalising an existing practice)
- clarification that monitoring programmes operate on a calendar-year basis
- ad-hoc reporting requirements amended, to align as far as practicable with those in Organic Products and Production Regulations 2025 regulations 75 and 76
- quarterly and annual reporting requirements amended to align with existing practices
- relocated requirement for OMP evaluators to validate the integrity of overseas organic certificates (relocated from OER: OMARs)
- requirements for suspending agencies and persons separated into two new subsections: one for agencies and one for persons
- requirements for voluntarily surrendering recognition of a person clarified
- requirements for agencies and persons seeking a review of MPI decisions amended, to align as far as practicable with those in OPPA 2023 sections 154 and 155
- contract for services amended; health and safety schedule updated; Privacy Act 2020 schedule added.
The revised requirements took full effect on 8 September 2026.
We also released a summary of submissions from this consultation.
Summary of submissions [PDF, 186 KB]
If you have any questions, email organics@mpi.govt.nz
Consultation background
New Zealand Food Safety consulted on changes to the Organic Export Requirement: Recognised Agencies and Persons (OER: RAP). The OER: RAP forms part of the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP).
The OER: RAP was last updated in March 2023. Since then, we identified areas where further changes are needed to foster continuous improvement on the requirements for agencies and persons.
The proposed updates aimed to improve definitions, recognition criteria, and suspension rules.
This consultation was separate to the development of the new Organic Products and Production Act 2023, proposed new regulations, and the national standard for organic food, beverages, and plant and animal products.
The consultation closed on 11 June 2025.
What was proposed
The proposed changes included amendments to:
- definitions
- requirements for recognition of agencies and persons
- requirements for suspension of recognition
- contract for services as a recognised agency for OOAP, including the addition of a schedule to the contract for health and safety.
All proposed additions in the draft OER: RAP were highlighted in yellow. Text that we proposed to delete from the existing OER: RAP was not shown.
Consultation documents
Draft OER: RAP for consultation [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Summary of proposed changes to the OER: RAP [PDF, 200 KB]
Related document
Existing Organic Export Requirement: Recognised Agencies and Persons [PDF, 502 KB]