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, the plant products sector in March 2026. The animal product sector will move to the new system in August 2026.
So far, MPI Trade Certification has replaced Wine E-cert, ePhyto and Tahora (for the exchange of electronic import certificates). MPI Trade Certification functionality to replace 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 products that have been exported with certification.
When will my business move to MPI Trade Certification?
The animal products sector will be the final group to transition to MPI Trade Certification as part of the Future of Certification Programme. The functionality to replace AP E-cert is being delivered in 2 stages.
The main go-live date for animal products functionality will be on Monday 17 August 2026, with a follow-up release scheduled for Monday 14 September 2026.
From 17 August, MPI Trade Certification will deliver all core animal products functionality required to manage transfers and obtain export certificates for consignments being exported. Note that this does not include non-consignment certificates (for example, product and premises registrations), which will continue to be requested in AP E-cert until the follow-up release on 14 September.
Find out more about the animal products' transition to MPI Trade Certification
March 2026 industry webinar slides [PDF, 964 KB]
Timelines for the Future of Certification Programme
MPI Future of Certification timeline [PDF, 158 KB]
MPI Future of Certification timeline – Release 5 [PDF, 160 KB]
