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What our fees cover

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis. Activities and services we charge for include:

  • processing your exporter registration application
  • developing overseas market access and export standards
  • registering or amending a risk management programme (RMP)
  • accessing the electronic certification (E-cert) system.

Not all the fees on this page may apply to you, and there could be other charges not listed here – like storage and transport costs.

Exporter registration fee

Activity type Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST)
Annual exporter registration fee  $135 $155.25 

Levies for dairy exporters

MPI charges dairy exporters an annual levy to cover work we do:

  • developing and maintaining overseas market access standards
  • developing standards for export products.
Annual levies for dairy exporters  Due date Levy (excl GST) Levy (incl GST) 
Annual levy for small dairy exporters (businesses that exported less than or equal to 466,000 kg of dairy products in the previous financial year)  30 September  $200 $230
Annual levy for large dairy exporters (businesses that exported more than 466,000 kg of dairy products in the previous financial year) Payable in equal quarterly instalments 

Amount varies. It's calculated each year using a formula based on how much you exported in the previous year, and the overall amount of exports by large dairy exporters in that same year. 

See formula in Animal Products (Dairy Industry Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2015

If you are a new small dairy exporter, the levy you pay will be adjusted based on when we approve your application to register. Charges change at the start of each quarter.

Adjusted levies for new small dairy exporters

Month application to register is approved  Levy (excl GST) Levy (incl GST) 
July to September $200 $230
October to December $150 $172.50
January to March $100 $115
April to June $50 $57.50

Fees for exporters of infant formula

If you're exporting infant formula to a country that doesn't need official assurances – you'll need an export declaration for each consignment.

Fees for each export declaration are payable monthly.

The fee payable for each declaration is $33.75, plus $135 an hour after the first quarter of an hour (excluding GST).

E-cert system charges

MPI uses an online web application called E-cert to issue official assurances and approve consignments for export. E-cert tracks products from the time they're produced until they're exported.

Exporters are charged to use E-cert.

Use of E-cert system  Charge type  Charge
Use of electronic certification system  Charge for each unit of activity  See formula in the Animal Products (Dairy Industry Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2015 – NZ Legislation

Official assurance charges

If there is an overseas market access requirement for the country you're exporting to, you'll likely need an official assurance, or export certificate, before you can send your product.

Activity type Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST)
Issue of an official assurance  $33.75, plus an hourly rate of $135 after the first 15 minutes $38.81, plus an hourly rate of $155.25 after the first 15 minutes 
Reissue of an official assurance if replacement demanded by an importing country  $405, plus an hourly rate of $135 after 3 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost $465.75, plus an hourly rate of $155.25 after 3 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost
Application for re-establishment of export eligibility for product $135, plus an hourly rate of $135 after the first hour $155.25, plus an hourly rate of $155.25 after the first hour

Risk management programme charges

Products for export must be produced under a registered risk management programme (RMP). You'll need to pay MPI to register or amend your RMP.

Activity type  Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST) 
Application for registration of a template RMP* $270 plus
$135 per hour after the first 3 hours		 $310.50 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 3 hours
Application for registration of a customised RMP* $405 plus
$135 per hour after the first 4 hours		 $465.75 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 4 hours
Application for limited exemption from requirement to have an RMP* $135 plus
$135 per hour after the first hour		 $155.25 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first hour
Significant amendment to a template RMP* $202.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 2.5 hours		 $232.88 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 2.5 hours
Significant amendment to a customised RMP* $337.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 3.5 hours		 $388.13 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 3.5 hours
Minor technical amendment to an RMP* $135 plus
$135 per hour after the first 2 hours		 $155.25 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 2 hours
Minor administrative amendment to an RMP* $67.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 1.5 hours		 $77.63 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 1.5 hours
Application for re-establishment of export eligibitlity where this has been lost $135 plus
$135 per hour after the first hour		 $155.25 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first hour
Application for renewal of an expired beekeeper listing for export purposes  $67.50 plus
$135 per hour after the first 30 minutes		 $77.63 plus
$155.25 per hour after the first 30 minutes
* The charge listed covers the time a standard application is expected to take.

Verification services charges for RMPs

You'll have to pay MPI or another verification provider for services, including inspecting and auditing your risk management programme, each year.

Market access work fees and charges

MPI will charge you for any work it does on your behalf relating to market access functions.

Activity type  Fee (excl GST) Fee (incl GST) 
Application for market access functions (each application) $135 (includes first hour) $155.25
Each complete hour of work (after first hour) $135 $155.25
Each 15-minute block in final hour of work $33.75 $38.81

Charge to issue a statement of a New Zealand standard

MPI can provide a statement confirming your product has met relevant requirements under the Animal Products Act. We will charge you for this service.

Activity type Charge (excl GST) Charge (incl GST)
Issue of statement of a New Zealand standard $32 $36.80

Free sale certificates and free sale statement costs

Some countries may not require an official assurance for food products. They may instead seek a free sale certificate (FSC) or free sale statement (FSS) to confirm your products comply with New Zealand standards.

MPI will charge you $50 excluding GST ($57.50 including GST) for each FSC, and $32 excluding GST ($36.80 including GST) for each FSS.

Find out more about FSCs and FSASs

Disbursements charged for the work we do

MPI will charge you for reasonable costs that we incur during the work we do for you. This includes costs like photocopying, printing, or courier costs.

Find out more

Find fees and charges for dairy processors

Latest changes and information about fees and charges

Animal Products (Dairy Industry Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2015 – New Zealand Legislation

Who to contact

If you have questions about fees and charges for exporting dairy products, email food.assurance@mpi.govt.nz

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