Fees and charges for dairy exports
You'll be charged for services provided by MPI and other service providers when you're exporting dairy products.
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.
Registering as an exporter
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual exporter registration fee | $232.50, plus an hourly rate of $155 after the first hour and a half | $267.38, plus an hourly rate of $178.25 after the first hour and a half |
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 636,000 kg of dairy products in the previous financial year) | 30 September | $310 | $356.50 |
| Annual levy for large dairy exporters (businesses that exported more than 636,000 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. |
|
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) |
|---|---|---|
| October to December | $310 | $356.50 |
| January to March | $232.50 | $267.38 |
| April to June | $155 | $178.25 |
| June to September | $77.50 | $89.13 |
Fee 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 varies. It's calculated each year based on how many declarations exporters made in the previous year, and the total approval cost to MPI of approving export declarations. The formula used to make the calculation is set out in Part 1 of the Schedule of the Animal Products Dairy Industry Fees, Charges, and Levies Regulations 2015.
The fee payable, calculated per the regulations, is $23 excluding GST per declaration.
Official assurance
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 | $32, plus an hourly rate of $155 after the first 15 minutes | $36.80, plus an hourly rate of $178.25 after the first 15 minutes |
| Reissue of an official assurance if replacement demanded by an importing country | $465, plus an hourly rate of $155 after 3 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost | $534.75, plus an hourly rate of $178.25 after 3 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost |
Access to the E-cert system
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 (Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2007 – NZ Legislation website |
Risk management programme charges
Dairy 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 an RMP | $310. If your application takes longer than 2 hours to process, you'll be charged at a rate of $155 an hour | $356.50. If your application takes longer than 2 hours to process, you'll be charged at a rate of $178.25 an hour |
| Minor amendment to an RMP | $77.50, plus $155 an hour after the first 30 minutes | $89.13, plus $178.25 an hour after the first 30 minutes |
| Major amendment to an RMP | $232.50, plus an hourly rate of $155 after the first hour and a half | $267.38, plus an hourly rate of $178.25 after the first hour and a half |
Verification services
You'll have to pay MPI or another verification provider for services, including inspecting and auditing your risk management programme, each year.
More information about these verification charges is on the New Zealand Legislation website.
Other charges
Market access work
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) | $155 (includes first hour) | $178.25 (includes first hour) |
| Each complete hour of work (after first hour) | $155 | $178.25 |
| Each 15-minute block in final hour of work | $38.75 | $44.56 |
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 dairy 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.
Disbursements
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
- Read about changes to fees and charges introduced on 1 July
- Animal Products (Dairy Industry Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2015
Who to contact
If you have questions about fees and charges for exporting dairy products, email food.assurance@mpi.govt.nz.