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Types of vets involved in animal exports

Three types of veterinarians are involved in animal exports:

  • New Zealand-registered vets – they can prepare an animal for export and give them the treatment they need
  • an MPI-approved vet – who can sign and issue export certificates but only for cats and dogs going to Australia
  • vets employed by MPI – they are called 'official vets'.

Official vets:

  • make sure all live animals meet export and animal welfare requirements
  • issue export certificates
  • issue animal welfare export certificates
  • work close to the areas where animals leave New Zealand, like ports and airports.

Export processes

Pet owners or pet exporters follow a process, depending on the type of animal and where it's going. The process for cats and dogs going to Australia has been made easier because New Zealand has an agreement with Australia. The agreement allows for an MPI-approved vet to issue the export certificate and no animal welfare export certificate is needed. 

This web page is for vets wanting information about:

Check the latest OMAR requirements

When you're preparing a pet for export, make sure you read the latest Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMARs). We update them often and requirements can change. Requirements differ depending on the destination country and species of animal.

Search our OMARs

Ordering the rabies vaccine

Vets can order the rabies vaccine by completing the form on AsureQuality's website.

MPI Official Veterinarian certification for Cats and Dogs to Australia

Ordering Imidox/Imidocarb

Use this form to order product. Orders are processed by AsureQuality. 

Where to send blood samples

You can send blood samples to:

Concerns about fitness for travel?

Our official vets can provide guidance if you have any concerns about a cat or dog's fitness for travel.

Approved parasite products for Australia

Parasite treatment must be effective against internal (effective against nematodes and cestodes) and external parasites (that kills ticks and fleas on contact) using drugs registered for that purpose in New Zealand. As a general rule, oral external parasite treatments do not meet Australian import conditions and should not be relied on for exporting dogs and cats to Australia.

The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' website includes a table of acceptable parasite treatments for use in preparing dogs and cats for export to Australia. The list is not exhaustive. But if you want to use an unlisted product, contact the department first to check that it will be appropriate.

Cats and dogs to Australia – Operational Code

MPI-approved vets can sign and issue export certificates for cats and dogs travelling to Australia. All certification must follow the MPI cats and dogs to Australia Operational Code. The Operational Code contains all the requirements that vets and their practices have to meet to be approved to issue export certificates. AsureQuality Limited is the current service provider for this Operational Code.

Always peer review the certificate before issuing

When you have completed a certificate, we encourage you to get it peer reviewed before issuing to the client. This is a useful technique that can often highlight errors at an early stage of the export process. Use our export certificate worksheet for cat and dog exports – it will help you complete an export certificate accurately.

Download the export certificate worksheet [PDF, 171 KB]

Clarifications to the cats and dogs Operational Code [PDF, 81 KB]

Completing the online assessment

MPI-approved veterinarians must complete an online assessment to ensure they're competent to issue export certificates for cats and dogs travelling to Australia. They need to score at least 90%.

The assessment is done using AsureQuality’s training portal. It's usually completed before the veterinarians' practice's audit or before approval of a new veterinarian.

When taking the online assessment, vets should be familiar with the MPI Cats and dogs to Australia Operational Code, and:

  • any clarifications issued
  • the export certificate
  • the Owner Statutory Declaration (OSD) form.

All veterinarians that are approved before 1 July 2019 will receive an access link to the online assessment. They can manage their own accounts after they log in for the first time.

All new applicants applying after 1 July 2019 need to request access. They can email exports@asurequality.com

They should send these details:

  • full name
  • veterinarian registration number
  • practice name and MPI approval number
  • personal email address.

Online assessment guide [PDF, 992 KB]

Video guide – Youtube

Log in to veterinary online assessment – AsureQuality

Who to contact

If you're an approved veterinarians with questions, or have questions on behalf of one, contact AsureQuality on 0508 00 11 22.

If you're not an approved veterinarian and have questions about the information on this page, email animalexports@mpi.govt.nz

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