Skip to content
Last reviewed:

What our fees cover

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis.

Activities and services we charge for include:

  • import permits
  • border clearance inspections
  • food safety clearance for foods of high or increased regulatory interest
  • inspection and sampling of imported food, associated with obtaining a food safety clearance.

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

Import permit

Some seafood products need a permit before they can be imported into New Zealand. The import health standard (IHS) for your product will tell you if a permit is needed.

Fee typeFee (excl GST)Fee (incl GST)
Application for permit to import animal products, including seafood $191.95* $220.74* 

* If processing your application takes longer than one-and-a-half hours, additional time will be charged at an hourly rate of $102.27 excluding GST or $117.61 including GST.

Border clearance charges

MPI may charge you for costs related to inspecting your seafood products when they arrive in New Zealand.

You may also be charged extra fees if MPI's biosecurity inspector has to:

  • travel to inspect your goods
  • wait before inspection can start
  • be called out after hours.

Charges for MPI inspectors, including travel charges

Fee typeFee (excl GST)Fee (incl GST)
Biosecurity inspector – hourly rate* $102.27 $117.61
Travel charges for MPI inspectors
Travel within zone 1 – up to 4 km from base $34.86 $40.09
Travel within zone 2 – over 4 km and up to 10 km from base $70.75 $81.36
Travel within zone 3 – over 10 km and up to 25 km from base $109.24 $125.63
Travel within zone 4 – over 25 km and up to 50 km from base $149.19 $171.57
Travel more than 50 km from base Hourly rates, plus a mileage charge of $0.67 a kilometre. Other travel-related costs may also apply. Hourly rates, plus a mileage charge of $0.7705 a kilometre. Other travel-related costs may also apply.
*Hourly rate charges also apply to waiting times.

Charges for food safety clearance

Food safety clearance

Some foods are a greater risk to consumers and public health. MPI has categorised them as foods of either High Regulatory Interest or Increased Regulatory Interest. These foods are listed in the Importing Food Notice and you'll need a food safety clearance to import them. Customs or your customs broker will tell you if a food safety clearance is required.

Costs

You’ll be charged a clearance fee of $60.00, excluding GST ($69.00 including GST), plus $120/hour, excluding GST ($138/hour, including GST) when the clearance takes longer than 30 minutes to process.

Other charges for obtaining a food safety clearance

MPI regularly inspects, samples, and tests imported foods to make sure they don't contain known hazards. If your consignment is tested, you'll be required to pay related costs. MPI will charge you for the sampling-officer's time and for delivering the sample to an accredited laboratory of your choice. The laboratory will charge you separately for the testing. Contact them for an estimate.

Costs

There's a minimum charge of $180, excluding GST ($207, including GST) for this activity. Should the process take longer than 1.5 hours, additional time is charged at $120/hour, excluding GST ($138/hour, including GST).

Find out more

Who to contact

If you have questions about MPI’s fees and charges, email info@mpi.govt.nz

MPI business units