Follow the steps
What you need to know
An overview of exporting organics from start to finish.
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) administers an Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP) that covers exports of organic products to:
- the European Union (EU)
- Japan
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- USA.
These steps cover exports under the OOAP. For all markets not covered by the OOAP, you need to find out the exporting requirements for your organic product. We suggest you contact the Organic Exporters Association for support.
Organic Exporters Association website
Organic products covered under the OOAP
Organic products that are usually covered by the OOAP include:
- processed plant and animal products for human or animal consumption (for example, dairy products, wine, and fruit juices)
- unprocessed plant products, animal products, and animals (for example, fruit and vegetables, seeds, and unprocessed raw wool).
Not all organic products are covered for all countries under the OOAP.
Exporting organic products, or supplying them for export, under the OOAP
To export organic products, or supply them for export, under the OOAP you must:
- comply with all regular exporting requirements for your product
- register as an organic operator with an agency recognised by MPI for the OOAP (RA)
- understand the OOAP requirements, and your destination markets' requirements
- develop an organic management plan, have it verified by your RA, and follow it
- ensure all operators involved in producing your product are certified to MPI organic requirement OER: OPR Part 1 and Part 2
- register with MPI as an organic exporter or use a registered organic exporter
- apply to MPI for an official organic assurance for your consignments (organic exporters only). This means:
- have your consignment verified as eligible by your RA (all markets)
- have your consignment registered with MPI (all markets)
- get a certificate issued by MPI (all markets except the USA)
- pay any fees for registration and participation in the programme.
Organic operators
These are defined as those responsible for the day-to-day management of producing, processing, and handling organic products.
Organic exporters
Exporters are a type of organic operator under the OOAP. They must meet the same requirements as operators, as well as some additional export requirements.
Exports to Australia
Australia and New Zealand operate under a Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement. This usually means that goods that can be legally sold in New Zealand as organic, can also be sold in Australia as organic.
Exports to the European Union, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Switzerland
Consignments exported to the EU, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Switzerland must comply with relevant Organic Export Requirement: Overseas Market Access Requirements (OER: OMAR) as follows:
- for exporting to the EU, Northern Ireland, or Norway: OER: European Union OMAR [PDF, 337 KB]
- for exporting to Switzerland: OER: Switzerland OMAR [PDF, 282 KB]
Consignments that are eligible for an official organic assurance must have a Certificate of Inspection issued by MPI.
- Exporters must ensure the official organic assurance (Certificate of Inspection) has been issued before the consignment leaves New Zealand.
- This certificate must be generated through the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES-NT).
- From 20 June 2022, MPI will issue this certificate digitally within TRACES-NT. MPI will no longer generate a paper certificate.
Exports to Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and Gibraltar)
Consignments must comply with OER: Great Britain OMAR [PDF, 317 KB]
- Consignments exported to Great Britain require a manually generated COI issued by MPI.
- Exporters must ensure the official organic assurance (Certificate of Inspection) has been issued before the consignment leaves New Zealand.
- MPI will generate the PDF copy of the original paper certificate and email this to the Exporter. Your importer (in Great Britain) may be able to use an emailed PDF copy of the original paper certificate for pre-notification.
- MPI will courier the original paper certificate to the Exporter, or let the Exporter know when it is ready to be collected. The Exporter must keep the original paper certificate safe; if a replacement is required, the original must be returned to MPI).
Exports to Japan
If you are exporting plant products or processed products of plant origin to Japan, you may choose to export under the OOAP, but you do have other options.
Read more about exporting organic products to Japan
If you are exporting other product types to Japan, you will need to select one of the other options described on the page:
Exporting organic products to Japan
If you choose to use the OOAP pathway (option 1), consignments must comply with OER: Japan OMAR
- Consignments that are eligible for an official organic assurance must be accompanied by a certificate issued by MPI.
- MPI recommends that organic exporters obtain an official organic assurance (organic export certificate) before products leave New Zealand.
- MPI may continue to issue official organic assurances (organic export certificates) provided the consignment has not arrived in Japan, or (as relevant) the container seal that was applied in New Zealand remains intact.
Exports to Taiwan
Consignments must comply with OER: Taiwan OMAR [PDF, 320 KB]
- Consignments that are eligible for an official organic assurance must be accompanied by a certificate issued by MPI.
- MPI recommends that organic exporters obtain an official organic assurance (organic export certificate) before products leave New Zealand.
- MPI may continue to issue official organic assurances (organic export certificates) provided the consignment has not arrived in Taiwan, or (as relevant) the container seal that was applied in New Zealand remains intact.
Exports to the USA
Consignments must comply with OER: USA OMAR [PDF, 272 KB]
- MPI recommends that organic exporters complete the official organic assurance process before products leave New Zealand.
- MPI will email you when your consignment has been verified as eligible for export as organic or will let you know via email if there is a problem. No MPI certificate will be issued.
What you need to do
The tasks you need to complete.
Comply with regular export requirements
Make sure you comply with the export requirements for your product type. For example, if you export organic wine, you also need to meet all requirements for conventional wine, whether New Zealand grape wine or fruit wine. Check the requirements page for your product type.
Find exporting requirements for your product type
Register as an organic operator
Under the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP) all operators involved in the production, processing, and export of your product must be certified as an organic operator with an agency recognised by MPI for the OOAP (RA):
You will be charged for services by these agents.
Understand the OOAP requirements
You must be familiar with the MPI organic export requirements and the relevant organic overseas market access requirements (OMARs).
Under the OOAP, organic OMARs outline the requirements of your destination market.
Find organics requirements and OMARs
Have a registered and verified organic management plan
Organic operators producing products for export under the OOAP must have an organic management plan that is registered and verified by an agency recognised by MPI for the OOAP (RA). This plan describes everything about your organic operation and activities, including:
- conversion from conventional to organic production
- production
- processing
- transport
- storage
- traceability
- recall.
Organic exporters need an organic management plan that focuses on handling and traceability.
You need this plan to show how you will meet the OOAP requirements and OMARs, and ensure products are eligible for export under the OOAP. Your RA will evaluate the plan and your operations during regular on-site audits.
Follow your organic management plan
After your RA certifies your operation, you must follow your organic management plan. If you want to make any changes to your plan, or do something differently, you must first discuss this with your RA.
Report regularly to your RA
You must report regularly to your RA on your OOAP activities, including any non-conformances. Non-conformances include failing to meet requirements of:
- your organic management plan
- relevant OMARs.
If you don't conform, you can't export under the OOAP.
Register as an organic exporter or use a registered organic exporter
If you're exporting commercially, you must register as an organic exporter with MPI or use the services of a registered organic exporter. You can register as an exporter online or by completing a form.
Find out how to register as an exporter
To designate a registered exporter to apply for official organic assurances, use this form:
Download the designated operator and authorised persons for the OOAP form [DOCX, 81 KB]
Contact us if you have questions, or to let us know if your key people or contact details change, by emailing:
- approvals@mpi.govt.nz – for self-registration
- organic.certification@mpi.govt.nz – for designated organic exporters.
Non-commercial exporters don't usually have to register
If the purpose of your export is non-commercial, you don't have to register as an exporter or use the services of a registered exporter unless your shipper (airline or shipping company) asks you to.
Get an official organic assurance for your consignments
For exports to the EU, Great Britain, Japan, Northern Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA, you must complete an official organic assurance application form for each organic product consignment. Instructions are on the form.
Download the official organic assurance application form [XLSX, 127 KB]
For exports to the EU, Northern Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland you must also complete a Certificate of Inspection template in the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES-NT).
Important reminder: For exports to the EU, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Switzerland, exporters must ensure that official organic assurances (Certificates of Inspection) are issued before the consignment leaves New Zealand.
The information you put on the application form will be verified by your RA.
If eligible, MPI will issue an official organic assurance. This means:
- for exports to the EU, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Switzerland, MPI will issue a certificate digitally in TRACES-NT
- for exports to Great Britain, Japan, or Taiwan, MPI will issue a manually generated certificate and courier the certificate to you, or email you to let you know the certificate is available for collection (if this is how you want to receive the certificate)
- for exports to Great Britain, MPI will also email a PDF copy of the certificate
- for exports to the USA, MPI will email you to let you know that your consignment has been verified eligible for export to the USA as organic.
How you know you're ready to export
Getting your export documentation.
Your organic products will be eligible for export when an agency recognised by MPI for the OOAP (RA) has certified your operation as conforming to OOAP standards and relevant OMARs.
Your consignment is ready to export when you:
- are registered as an organic exporter with MPI
- have met all of the other regular export requirements for your product type
- have an official organic assurance (organic export certificate) for each consignment, meaning:
- your RA has verified your consignment as eligible for an official organic assurance, and
- your Certificate of Inspection has been issued digitally in TRACES-NT (if exporting to the EU, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Switzerland)
- you have received a PDF copy of your certificate via email from MPI (if exporting to Great Britain)
- you have received a (paper) certificate issued by MPI for exports to Great Britain, Japan, or Taiwan (if relevant)
- you have received an email from MPI advising that your consignment is eligible for export to the USA as organic (if exporting to the USA).
Note: It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that consignments exported to the EU, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland do not leave New Zealand before the Certificate of Inspection has been issued.
You may have to meet other non-MPI requirements. These might be commercial requirements or set by other government agencies such as the New Zealand Customs Service. It will also pay to check with the importing agent in your destination country.
Refer to the NZ Customs website for information about export clearance
