Replacing our trade certification systems

What is MPI Trade Certification?

The new Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Trade Certification system will replace many of MPI's existing certification systems for exports and imports.

It is a single, integrated, and digital trade certification system, that is more flexible than current systems.

MPI Trade Certification will enable $33b of export trade each year and help protect New Zealand from harmful pests and diseases.

Industry groups started using the new system in late 2024. They are moving to MPI Trade Certification in different stages, by sector group. The wine sector moved to the system in 2024. Plant and animal product sectors will move to the new system in 2026.

So far, MPI Trade Certification has replaced Wine E-cert and Tahora (for the exchange of electronic import certificates). MPI Trade Certification functionality to replace ePhyto and AP E-cert is currently being developed. See the following sections for more details.

Why our certification systems need replacing

Our current systems are a combination of digital systems and paper processes. These were developed independently of each other and at different times.

In addition, the current systems require significant investment just to maintain, and this situation will get worse as the technology ages further.

By instead investing in a new modernised trade certification infrastructure, we can protect New Zealand’s export industry and its ability to trade now and into the future with a secure, resilient system.

We are building a system that is flexible and responsive, enabling industry to quickly meet ever-shifting global certificate standards with confidence and to respond better to global events.

MPI Trade Certification will allow us to extend our secure government-to-government (G2G) interactions, enabling more paperless exchange, thereby increasing assurance integrity, efficiency of problem resolution and reducing fraud.

Increased G2G capabilities protect current agreements with important global partners and open the doors to new opportunities.

Extended paperless exchange ensures more effective and efficient border clearances while also reducing the biosecurity risk of products coming into New Zealand.

Who will use MPI Trade Certification?

Businesses handling goods for export, exporters, verifiers, and MPI staff will all use MPI Trade Certification.

For many users, you will enter your certificate information directly into the new online system.

If you use XML uploads, or business-to-government integration systems, the new system will offer these options.

Businesses handling goods for export and exporters will use MPI Trade Certification for:

raising requests for export certificates
creating records of products in the system and manage details about products such as confirming processes applied and eligibility for market.

Verifiers will use MPI Trade Certification for verifying the information provided in transfer and certificate requests to confirm product and consignment eligibility.

MPI staff will use MPI Trade Certification for:

reviewing, approving (or declining) requests for export certificates
issuing certificates and official assurance
managing master data and certification tasks
audit purposes
tracing product that has been exported with certification.

When will my business move to MPI Trade Certification?

We are planning for ePhyto users to start using MPI Trade Certification on Monday, 2 March 2026.

The programme governance group agreed in early December 2025, to include additional ‘must have’ functionality in the initial animal products release into MPI Trade Certification, rather than include it in subsequent releases.

This means that the animal products users will not move from AP E-cert to MPI Trade Certification before the end of June 2026. This is a change to what has been previously communicated.

We will update the animal products sector as soon as key dates are confirmed, including the go-live date, which will be communicated well in advance.

These timelines show the overall Future of Certification Programme plan.

The plans for Release 4 (plant products) have not changed and the timeline remains current for this group.

The Animal Products timelines are no longer current. We’ll update the timelines as key industry dates are confirmed in 2026.

MPI Future of Certification timeline [PDF, 69 KB]

MPI Future of Certification timeline – Releases 4 and 5 [PDF, 120 KB]

MPI Trade Certification release schedule

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Release 1 – Small set of manual certificates

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Release 1 was successfully rolled out in early 2024. MPI staff manually entered information into MPI Trade Certification to generate export certificates and official assurances in paper format.

Release 1 involved only a small set of certificates:

organic products to Great Britain, Japan, and Taiwan
horses to Australia
free sale certificates
free sale statements.

Release 2 – Import certificates

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Release 2 was successfully rolled out in July 2024. MPI staff started using MPI Trade Certification to view import certificates collected:

from the IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) Hub
directly from a handful of overseas government agencies.

The IPPC Hub is effectively a centralised mailbox where countries post and collect electronic certificates using data exchange.

Release 3 – Wine products, organic products to Great Britain and free sale certificates

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MPI Trade Certification Release 3 was successfully rolled out in November 2024. Industry users are now able to use the ‘digital front end’ of MPI Trade Certification. Launching the digital front end represents a significant milestone in the development of MPI Trade Certification.

Wine businesses can manage their wine batches (products) in MPI Trade Certification and apply for export eligibility statements and official assurances for export of those wines.

Managing wine products includes actions such as sensory testing, applying packaging and managing Wine Standards Management Plan confirmations.

Release 3 also enables businesses to apply for:

Official Organic Assurances to Great Britain
free sale certificates.

To log on to MPI Trade Certification, go to How to use MPI Trade Certification.

MyMPI Portal

The MyMPI portal also successfully launched in November 2024. This secure online tool enables people to request access to MPI online services, including MPI Trade Certification, using a RealMe login.

Over time, MyMPI will become the point of entry to access all digital services provided by MPI.

To log on to the MyMPI Portal, go to How to use MPI Trade Certification.

Learning resources

MPI Trade Certification Release 3 user guides are located on this MPI webpage:

How to use MPI Trade Certification.

Release 4 – plant products

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Businesses exporting plant products will move to MPI Trade Certification on Monday 2 March 2026.

Exporters will be able to request plant product export certificates through either:

the MPI Trade Certification digital front end, or
via a business-to-government (B2G) exchange.

B2G is an electronic exchange of information between a business and a government system.

We are planning several activities to help you prepare for the move to MPI Trade Certification, including industry webinars with demonstrations, training sessions, and clear guidance on transitioning to the new system.

MyMPI registration

For ePhyto users, registering with MyMPI is the essential first step to access the new MPI Trade Certification system when it launches on Monday 2 March 2026.

Register now

Registrations are open and by registering now, we can seamlessly migrate your existing ePhyto roles and permissions to the MPI Trade Certification system when the time comes. This will help ensure a smooth and efficient transition for you in 2026.

See the MyMPI registration quick reference guide for step-by-step instructions, including how to check your contact details in ePhyto.

MyMPI registration quick reference guide for AP E-cert and ePhyto users [PDF, 393 KB]

Note: After registering, there’s nothing more you need to do in MyMPI for now. We’ll handle the migration of your roles and permissions from ePhyto to MPI Trade Certification in 2026. Continue using ePhyto as usual for your phytosanitary requests.

Already using MPI Trade Certification?

If you use MPI Trade Certification for wine certificates, official organic assurances to Great Britain, or free sale certificates, you do not need to register again.

Instead, request access to plant products functionality by emailing us at futurecertification@mpi.govt.nz

MyMPI registration closing date

We strongly encourage you to register as soon as possible. Early registration allows us to address any needed clarifications and means your roles and permissions will be migrated smoothly to the new system.

The deadline for MyMPI registrations will be set for early next year. We will provide plenty of notice and reminders ahead of the closing date.

If you do not register before the deadline, we will not be able to transfer your existing roles and permissions. You will need to apply as a new user when the plant products functionality goes live, which may result in processing delays due to high demand.

Register to use our practice environment

You must register separately by 23 January 2026

A practice environment for MPI Trade Certification has been developed for Release 4 (plant products) users. The practice environment looks and functions exactly the same as the real system but has a banner up the top indicating it is a practice environment. The environment has been built especially to provide users with a safe place to practise how to raise phytosanitary certificates without affecting anything in the live system.

Before you can use the practice environment, you must register. This practice version of MyMPI does not recognise existing RealMe accounts used for ePhyto or any new MyMPI registrations. You'll need to create a separate RealMe login specifically for the practice environment. When you go to the practice environment for the first time, select the "Create a RealMe login" button.

MyMPI practice environment

Registrations for the practice environment close on Friday 23 January 2026.

Once you have registered, we will let you know when the practice environment is ready to use.

Step-by-step instructions

Quick reference guide on how to register to use the MyMPI practice environment [PDF, 590 KB]

Need support?

If you need help registering for the MyMPI portal or have any questions about the process, contact us at futurecertification@mpi.govt.nz

Release 5 – animal products

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Businesses exporting animal products will move to MPI Trade Certification in Release 5 in 2026.

Exporters will be able to request animal product export certificates through either:

the MPI Trade Certification digital front end, or
via a business-to-government (B2G) exchange.

B2G is an electronic exchange of information between a business and a government system.

MyMPI registration

For AP E-cert users, registering with MyMPI is the essential first step to access the new MPI Trade Certification system when animal products functionality is launched in 2026.

Register now

Registrations are open and by registering now, we can seamlessly migrate your existing AP E-cert roles and permissions to the MPI Trade Certification system when the time comes. This will help ensure a smooth and efficient transition for you in 2026.

See the MyMPI registration quick reference guide for step-by-step instructions, including how to check your contact details in AP E-cert.

MyMPI registration quick reference guide for AP E-cert and ePhyto users [PDF, 393 KB]

Note: After registering, there’s nothing more you need to do in MyMPI for now. We’ll handle the migration of your roles and permissions from AP E-cert to MPI Trade Certification in 2026. Continue using AP E-cert as usual for your certificate requests and transfer documents.

Already using MPI Trade Certification?

If you use MPI Trade Certification for wine certificates, official organic assurances to Great Britain, or free sale certificates, you do not need to register again.

MyMPI registration closing date

The deadline for MyMPI registrations will be set for early next year. We will provide plenty of notice and reminders ahead of the closing date.

If you do not register before the deadline, we will not be able to transfer your existing roles and permissions. You will need to apply as a new user when the animal products functionality goes live, which may result in processing delays due to high demand.

Need support?

If you need help registering for the MyMPI portal or have any questions about the process, contact us at futurecertification@mpi.govt.nz

How will MPI help me prepare for the new system?

MPI will offer a series of activities to help you prepare for moving to MPI Trade Certification.

We will hold industry webinars to keep you up to date with:

what’s happening with the build of MPI Trade Certification
what the Future of Certification Programme team are working on
what’s coming up next.

We will provide training opportunities and learning materials as we move closer to go-live for your industry sector.

We will send specific communications as we approach the go-live so you have the latest timing, can learn about key preparatory actions you need to take, and where to get further support after the go-live.

If you need help or support, contact us at futurecertification@mpi.govt.nz

Training webinars

We’ll be running training webinars to help you learn how to use MPI Trade Certification. These webinars will be held online via Microsoft Teams. There will be multiple sessions, so you can choose a date and time that suits.

We will be running training webinars in the 2 to 3 weeks before the go-live date.

We’ll send an invitation to register for the webinars to the relevant industry sectors from our email futurecertification@mpi.govt.nz

Learning resources

As each release goes live, MPI Trade Certification step-by-step user guides will be published for each industry sector, as required. These will be published on the MPI website. A series of short how-to training videos will be created after the go-live. We’ll also email links to learning resources to industry and sector groups.