Comply with New Zealand legislation and food standards

You need to meet all relevant food standards and regulations. Legal requirements are set out in the:

• Animal Products Act 1999
• Food Act 2014
• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

 Find links to legislation and the Code

Operating requirements

Your operating requirements vary depending on whether you are a primary or secondary processor, and whether your products need official assurances for export.

Primary processors

If you are a primary processor (who harvests, candles, grades, and packs whole-shell eggs) you must operate under a risk management programme (RMP) under the Animal Products Act 1999, regardless of whether your destination country needs an official assurance.

Find out more about risk management programmes for eggs

Secondary processors

If you are a secondary processor (who breaks eggs and makes egg products) you may operate under one of the following:

• a risk management programme (you must choose this option if you export to countries that require official assurances) – refer to Step 2, or
• a food control plan under the Food Act 2014 (only choose this option if you export to countries that do not require official assurances).

Find out more about food control plans

Exporting organic products

If you're exporting organic eggs or egg products, you need to know about the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP). This programme is designed to make it easier to export organic products to specific countries.

Find out more about exporting organic products and the OOAP

Storage and transport requirements

Make sure other operators in your supply chain, like transport companies, wharf operators, and storage providers are meeting their requirements.

Find out more about other export clearance requirements

Legislation and standards

• Animal Products Act 1999 – NZ Legislation
• Food Act 2014 – NZ Legislation
• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Food Standards

Find out more

Learn about the Food Act 2014 and what it means for businesses

The other 4 steps to exporting eggs or egg products