What animal material depots do
Animal material depots temporarily hold fish material (other than bivalve molluscan shellfish) before it's transferred to a seafood processor or retailer.
An animal material depot holding fish may:
- hold
- chill
- refrigerate
- sedate (using a registered veterinary medicine)
- apply protective coverings.
But animal material depots can't process any fish.
Requirements for animal material depots holding fish and seafood
If you operate an animal material depot that holds fish and seafood, there are food safety requirements you must meet. These include:
- describing how you manage the risks of contamination
- showing that you operate within your capability and capacity
- ensuring your premises are suitably constructed.
You're not required to have a risk management programme (RMP). The requirements for animal material depots that hold fish and seafood are listed in:
- Parts 7 and 10 of the Animal Product Regulations 2021, and
- Part H1 of the Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing [PDF, 1.9 MB]
Different requirements for bivalve molluscan shellfish animal depots
If your animal material depot holds bivalve molluscan shellfish, there are different requirements you need to meet as set out in the animal products notice.
Animal Products Notice: Regulated Control Scheme – Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish for Human Consumption [PDF, 903 KB]
Find out more about bivalve molluscan shellfish
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) post-harvest operators
To operate you must be verified and listed
Before you can operate an animal material depot, you must:
- be verified by a recognised agency, and
- apply to be listed with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
How to get verified
Contact an agency recognised by MPI and ask them to:
- check that your depot meets the relevant requirements
- complete an initial verification report.
Find a recognised verification agency
How to apply to be listed as an animal material depot
Use form AP19 to apply to be listed as an animal material depot, or to renew your listing.
Application form AP19 – Animal material depot listing [PDF, 583 KB]
You also need to:
- send your initial verification report with the completed form, and
- pay the listing fee shown on the form.
If your application is accepted you'll appear on our public list of all animal material depots. You need to apply to be re-listed every 5 years.
Public list of animal material depots
Ongoing verification requirements
Once your animal material depot is listed with MPI, you must have regular verification carried out by a recognised agency. Table 21 and 22 of the Production, Supply and Processing Notice tells you how often this needs to happen.
Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing [PDF, 1.9 MB]
Export requirements for animal material depots
If your depot holds fish for human consumption that will be exported after processing, you'll need to meet additional requirements.
Find out about the requirements for exporting seafood
Find out about storing animal products for export
Who to contact
If you have questions about animal material depots, email info@mpi.govt.nz
