What our fees cover
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis. Activities and services we charge for include:
- registering as an exporter
- unit fee charges for animals exported
- Animal Welfare Export Certificates (AWEC)
- official assurances (export certificates)
- hourly rate and mileage charges for MPI employees.
Not all charges on this page may apply to you, and there may be other charges not listed here.
Registering as an exporter
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual exporter registration fee | $135 | $155.25 |
Unit fee charges
The live animal export system requires constant review and maintenance to ensure that certification issued for the export of live animals is accepted by the importing country. The unit fee helps you to continue to export smoothly.
For live animals, a unit is usually an animal.
Unit charges for live animals
| Charge | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Cats and dogs – each animal | $114.44 | $131.61 |
| Birds (excludes budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, finches, and rosellas) – each bird | $17.89, with a maximum charge of $536.70 for each consignment | $20.57, with a maximum charge of $617.21 for each consignment |
| Budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, finches, and rosellas – each bird | $0.27 | $0.31 |
| Other animals and germplasm not specified above – each consignment | $114.44 | $131.61 |
Hourly rate charges
You'll be charged the hourly rate for MPI employees doing specialist activities on your behalf. These services include:
- specialist functions and activities needed to export live animals
- negotiating alternative measures for meeting access requirements with importing countries
- negotiating new access requirements for overseas markets (exporters of cats and dogs are not charged for this type of work).
| Charge type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| MPI employee – hourly rate (except final part hour) | $186.30, with a minimum charge of $93.15 | $214.25, with a minimum charge of $107.12 |
| MPI employee – charge for each 15-minute block in a part hour | $46.58 | $53.57 |
Call-out charges
You'll have to pay extra charges if MPI employees doing specialist activities are called out outside of their normal hours of work.
| Call-out charges for MPI employees | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Time-and-a-half rate | $252.17 | $290 |
| Double-time rate | $318.04 | $365.75 |
| Public holiday rate | $845.13, plus $211.28 an hour | $971.90, plus $242.97 an hour |
Other fees
MPI may charge you for assessment work we do on your behalf. This includes the time of MPI employees, or anyone else we ask to do this work.
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment work – hourly rate (except final part hour) | $186.30 | $214.25 |
| Charge for each 15-minute block in the final part hour | $46.58 | $53.57 |
Mileage rate charges
| Charge type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Mileage charge, for each kilometre travelled | $0.67 | $0.7705 |
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 live animals.
| Activity type | Charge (excl GST) | Charge (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Issue of an official assurance | $46.58, plus an hourly rate of $186.30 after the first 15 minutes | $53.57, plus an hourly rate of $214.25 after the first 15 minutes |
| Reissue of an official assurance if replacement assurance demanded by an importing country | $405, plus an hourly rate of $186.30 after 2.5 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost | $465.75, plus an hourly rate of $214.25 after 2.5 hours of assessment, plus disbursements at cost |
Example of how fees are calculated
An example of the estimated MPI fees (GST included) that would apply for exporting a dog to Singapore.
| Unit charge | $131.61 |
| Issue of an official assurance |
$53.57 plus an hourly rate of $214.25 after the first 15 minutes |
| Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC) | Refer to AWEC fees and charges |
Note, the actual fees charged will depend on the time required to issue the documentation. MPI recommends that you contact a registered pet exporter for an estimate or quote for all the costs involved.
Charges for market access work
MPI will charge you for market access work that is not covered by unit fees. The market access decision tree shows you when you may be charged for this work. Exporters of cats and dogs are not charged for negotiating new access requirements for overseas markets.
You'll need to give MPI your formal written agreement before we start market access work on your behalf.
Download the form to request services from the animal exports team [PDF, 312 KB]
Download the market access decision tree for fees and charges [PDF, 58 KB]
Fee waivers
If you wish to apply for a waiver for the export of live animals, email animalexports@mpi.govt.nz
Set out your details, the proposed export(s), fees, purpose for export, and your reasons for seeking a waiver. Make your application at least 20 working days before the fees will be incurred.
Find out more
- Animal Products (Fees, Charges, and Levies) Regulations 2007
- Updated fees and charges
- Download MPI's complaints and appeals procedure
- Download MPI's conflict of interest policy
Who to contact
If you have any questions about MPI's fees and charges for exporting live animals, email animalexports@mpi.govt.nz
