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Proposed animal products notices about specified meat for export with official assurance, and official assessors

Update – 11 December 2025

Due to the consultation period being extended, MPI has issued a new version of the 'Animal Products Notice: Production Supply and Processing'. The updated notice includes amendments made as a result of the targeted consultation undertaken in July 2025.

Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing [PDF, 2.5 MB]

Note: between now and 1 October 2026, operators do not need to comply with the presentation requirement in Table 1, Schedule 1A of the PSP (ensuring that the forequarters of ovine and caprine carcasses are free from visible contamination), provided the operator continues to conduct presentation and post-mortem examinations of ovine and caprine animals in accordance with Option 1 or Option 2 as described in the post-mortem examination procedures in the Operational Code for Post-mortem Examinations: Red Meat Code of Practice – Chapters 6, 7, and 8 : Post-mortem examination [PDF, 811 KB]

Update – 5 December 2025

Closing extended 

The consultation period has been extended until 5pm on 23 January 2026.

Why we are consulting

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is reviewing New Zealand’s inspection and examination requirements associated with exported meat from cattle (including bobby calves), sheep (including lambs and adult sheep), goats, and deer. The goal of the revision is to ensure these requirements remain effective while continuing to safeguard food safety and support market access for New Zealand meat exports. To achieve this, New Zealand Food Safety has developed 2 draft notices:

  • Animal Products Notice: Specified Meat for Export with Official Assurance
  • Animal Products Notice: Official Assessors.

We want your feedback about these 2 draft notices.

Amendments made to the Animal Products Notice: Production, Supply and Processing

In July this year, New Zealand Food Safety carried out targeted consultation with representative members of the red meat sector, Deer Industry Association NZ, NZ Pork, NZ Petfood Association and OSPRI on proposed amendments to the Animal Products Notice: Production, Supply and Processing (the PSP notice).

The proposed amendments include requirements that were uplifted from the Operational Code: Red Meat Post-mortem Examination into the PSP notice. Some of these amendments are referenced in the draft Specified Meat for Export with Official Assurance notice. 

Consultation documents

Draft Animal Products Notice: Specified Meat for Export with Official Assurance [PDF, 897 KB]

Draft Animal Products Notice: Official Assessors [PDF, 290 KB]

Discussion paper: further explanation of the key changes proposed under the 2 draft notices [PDF, 317 KB]

Making your submission

Submissions close at 5pm on Tuesday 23 January 2026.

We encourage you to use our online survey form to make your submission. This allows for more effective analysis of feedback.

Online submission form – Survey Monkey

Note that this survey can be completed on mobile devices (for example, a smartphone or tablet).

If you are unable to use the online survey, email us for further assistance at SpecifiedMeatforExportConsultation@mpi.govt.nz

Postal submissions

Send them to:

Consultation submission on proposed animal products notices
New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

What to include

If you are emailing or posting your submission, make sure to include:

  • the name of the consultation document
  • your name and title
  • your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
  • your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).

After the consultation closes

Submissions will be analysed to consider any changes needed to the notices. We'll publish a summary of submissions on this web page when available.

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

MPI business units