Export Prohibitions and restrictions

Some exports are prohibited for a range of concerns, including:

• endangered species
• animal welfare
• survival of marine mammals
• a determination to rid the world of:
  • anti-personnel mines
  • chemical weapons
  • ozone-depleting chemicals.

Other items are on the prohibited list to help protect New Zealand’s trade, cultural riches, and agricultural economy.

Animal products

Products produced by the agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries are critical to the New Zealand economy. Agricultural and horticultural products in particular need to maintain high levels of quality to continue to be successful and competitive in international markets. Customs has an important role in ensuring that our primary products are exported according to regulations which are designed to maintain marketability and quality control.

Meat

Exporters of meat must be registered with both:

• Ministry for Primary Industries
• Meat New Zealand.

Legislation: Meat Board Act 2004.

Animal welfare

For reasons of animal welfare there are controls on the export of:

• Live animals (unless exempted)
• Cattle, deer, goats and sheep being exported for slaughter.

Legislation: Customs Export Prohibition (Livestock for Slaughter) 2010, Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Authority: Ministry for Primary Industries.

Antarctic toothfish and Patagonian toothfish

New Zealand is a signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions which are aimed at conserving animals. The export of the Antarctic toothfish and Patagonian toothfish from New Zealand is prohibited under Customs Export Prohibition (Toothfish) Order 2009 unless the exporter has a valid catch document.

Authority: Ministry for Primary Industries.

Birds – other than domestic birds – and other wildlife

To conserve animal species there are controls on the export of birds – other than domestic birds – and other wildlife from New Zealand. Their export is prohibited under the Wildlife Act 1953 unless the exporter has a permit to export from the Department of Conservation.

Chemical weapons and chemicals that may be used in the manufacture of weapons

New Zealand is signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions, aimed at protecting the environment. This includes controlling the export from New Zealand of chemical weapons and chemicals that may be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons. Approval is required from the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, under the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1996, to export chemical weapons and some chemicals.  For further information see chemicals that require approval to import and export (DOC 483 KB).

Cloned or hybrid human embryos

One of the purposes of the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004 is to ban the export of cloned or hybrid human embryos helps to prevent the growth of unacceptable human cloning for reproductive purposes. Customs may detain cloned or hybrid human embryos and their containers, and transfer them to the Ministry of Health.

Controlled drugs

The export of controlled drugs is prohibited under the  Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, unless you have a licence to export from the Ministry of Health, or are covered by the exemption for private persons.

If you are departing New Zealand and are carrying controlled drugs, such as methadone, on your person or in your accompanying luggage, you may be able to export it provided that you declare the drugs to Customs.

You must be able to prove to us that the drug:

• is required for treating your medical condition 
• has been lawfully supplied to you in New Zealand – a letter from your doctor or a valid label on the container with your name and the quantity and strength of the drugs would be sufficient
• have not more than one month's supply of a controlled drug with you. If you have more than one month's supply a license to export from the Ministry of Health will be required. 

Dairy products

All exporters of dairy products must be registered with the Ministry for Primary Industries. Only an approved exporter may export to:

• Japan – all prepared edible fats
• The Dominican Republic – all milk powder
• The EU – butter, cheddar cheese, and cheese for processing to be imported into the EU under New Zealand’s current access quota
• The USA – all cheddar, low fat, NSPF, and American-type cheeses.

Legislation: Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, Animal Products Act 1999.

Hazardous chemicals and pesticides

New Zealand is signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions aimed at protecting the environment. This includes controlling the export of hazardous chemicals and pesticides from New Zealand, such as, 2.4.5-T, Crocidolite and Lindane.

Approval from the Environmental Protection Authority is required to export these chemicals and pesticides under the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No. 2) 2004.

Hazardous waste

New Zealand is signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions aimed at protecting the environment. This includes controlling the export of hazardous wastes covered by the Basel Convention: for example, used automotive batteries, (this includes e-waste and old electrical equipment such as computers, printers and TVs).

Approval is required from the Environmental Protection Authority to export hazardous waste under Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No. 2) 2004.

Horticultural products

Exporters of apricots, avocados, blackcurrants, boysenberries, cherries (sweet), chestnuts, kiwifruit to Australia, nectarines, peaches, persimmons, plums, squash, tamarillos, and truffles must have approval to export from the New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority (HEA).

Kiwifruit

Exporters of kiwifruit to all destinations other than Australia must have approval to export from Kiwifruit New Zealand. Exporters of kiwifruit to Australia require approval to export from the  New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority.

Legislation: New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Act 1987.

Human Remains

When human remains (for interment) are to be sent from New Zealand, the freight forwarder or airline will usually complete the required Customs formalities. An export entry is not required.

Indigenous timber

To conserve plant species the export of the following indigenous timber is prohibited under the Forests Act 1949 unless the exporter has a permit to export from the Ministry for Primary Industries:

• Logs
• Rough sawn and dressed timber including mouldings, panelling, furniture blanks*, joinery blanks*, and similar products
• Woodchips
• Stumps and roots, salvaged stumps and roots, tree fern trunks or tree fern fibre.

* Furniture blanks, joinery blanks, etc, are lengths of timber cut to a specified size and shape from which a finished article is made. Until such time as the blanks are processed into furniture or other articles it is sawn indigenous timber and requires approval to export.

Live green-lipped mussels with a shell size of less than 50mm in length

To conserve our mussel species the export of live green-lipped mussels with a shell size of less than 50mm in length (includes life stage known as “spat”) is prohibited under the Customs Export Prohibition Order 2014 unless the exporter has a consent to export from the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Living Modified Organisms

New Zealand is signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions aimed at protecting the environment. This includes controlling the export of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) from New Zealand. Approval from the Ministry for the Environment is required under the Imports and Exports (Living Modified Organisms) Prohibition Order 2005 to export LMOs.

Marine mammals such as seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises

To conserve animal species the export of marine mammals such as seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises, and parts of marine mammals is prohibited under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, unless the exporter has a permit to export from the Department of Conservation.

Ozone layer protection

New Zealand is signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions aimed at protecting the environment. This includes controlling the export of CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide, HCFCs and HBFCs from New Zealand.

Approval from the  Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is required under the Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996 to export these goods.

Persistent Organic Pollutants

New Zealand is signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions aimed at protecting the environment. This includes controlling the export of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), for example, Aldrin, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, PCBs that are covered by the Stockholm Convention.

Approval is required from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to export POPs covered by the Stockholm Convention.

Pounamu (New Zealand Greenstone)

As a conservation measure, approval is required to export pounamu (New Zealand greenstone). However, this prohibition does not apply to:

• Items made from pounamu – for example, jewellery, pendants or sculpture containing pounamu.
• Consignments that are being exported by a single exporter, and in which the total weight of pounamu does not exceed 5 kilograms.

The view of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Mawhera Incorporation needs to be sought. The legislation for pounamu is Customs Export Prohibition Order 2014, and requires the approval of the Minister of Customs.

Authority: Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.

Protected New Zealand objects

Some objects of significant importance to New Zealand's culture and sense of identity need to be protected.

Approval from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage is required under the Protected Objects Act 1975 to export protected New Zealand objects – previously known as antiquities – that have significant importance in terms of the country’s culture and sense of identity. Objects include:

• Māori artefacts over 50 years old
• Bones, feathers, or other parts of the moa or other extinct New Zealand species
• Goods over 50 years old which have national, scientific, or artistic importance such as:
• books, letters and other documents 
• parts of ships and aircraft 
• photographs and films 
• stamps and coins 
• traction engines 
• veteran and vintage motor vehicles
• works of art.

Radioactive materials

New Zealand is signatory to a number of international protocols and conventions aimed at protecting the environment. This includes controlling the export of radioactive materials from New Zealand.

Legislation: Approval is required from the  National Radiation Laboratory – a Division of the Ministry of Health – under the Radiation Protection Act 1965 to export radioactive material.

Toheroa

For the purposes of conserving animal species the export of toheroa is prohibited under the Customs Export Prohibition Order 2011, unless the exporter has a consent to export from the Ministry for Primary Industries.

UN sanctions

The New Zealand Government has imposed export sanctions against a number of countries, under the United Nations Act 1946, in response to resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council.

The goods covered by the sanctions may not be exported from or imported into New Zealand, other than rough diamonds (see below), except with the consent of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Rough diamonds

United Nations sanctions also include controls on the import and export of rough diamonds. The United Nations Sanctions (Kimberley Process) Regulations 2004 prohibit the exportation of rough diamonds unless:

• the shipment is from a country which is a participant in the Kimberley Process
• the importer holds a Kimberley Process Certificate from the country of export
• the original copy of the approval is produced to Customs
• the rough diamonds are imported in a tamper resistant container.

Russia sanctions

In addition to UN sanctions, New Zealand has also imposed sanctions on Russia and any countries that support their war in Ukraine via the Russia Sanctions Act and Regulations.

The sanctions register contains a list of prohibited exports to Russia, which include items of strategic importance (i.e., those with the potential for dual use in military applications), oil exploration and oil production products, and luxury goods like wine and seafood. A range of strategically important items are also banned for export to Belarus.

A full list of all prohibited exports is available in the Russia sanctions register. All the HS Tariff classifications subject to the export ban can be found on the Trade Measures tab. The register is regularly updated as new sanctions are imposed, so please check it often. To receive email alerts about Russia sanctions including when the sanctions register is updated, sign up here.

There are also some exceptions to the export prohibitions, for example, personal or household effects or humanitarian purposes, so check if any of these apply to you and your situation. If not, and you still want to export a prohibited good, you can seek an exemption from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 Dual use items include:

• electronic devices and equipment including computers and telecommunications equipment
• processing and manufacturing equipment
• certain types of chemicals and minerals
• marine or terrestrial acoustic equipment
• optical sensors, lasers, radar systems
• certain cameras and photography equipment
• certain types of textiles and fabrics
• certain motors and engines
• certain types of appliances
• heavy machinery
• printing machinery
• smartphones
• medical, surgical, dental or veterinary furniture.

Oil exploration and oil production goods include:

• iron or steel tubes, pipes etc
• pipes used for oil or gas pipelines
• casing used in drilling
• certain kinds of drilling tools
• certain types of pumps.

Luxury goods (to Russia only) including:

• certain types of seafood including lobster
• wine
• perfumes and cosmetics
• garments, clothing, shoes
• coins and banknotes (not being legal tender)
• precious stones and jewellery
• certain types of vehicles
• certain types of sport equipment
• works of art.

Weapons

New Zealand participates in a number of non-proliferation arrangements and agreements, which seek to limit the spread of chemical and biological weapons, weapons of mass destruction and their missile delivery systems, and the transfer of conventional weapons and dual-use technologies.

Export controls

The export of the following types of goods is prohibited unless an exporter has approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

• Firearms and ammunitions (exemptions for export of firearms by private persons)
• "Specially dangerous airguns" require an export permit issued by the Ministry of Foreign affairs and Trade.

ML905. Specially dangerous Airguns

• The airguns known as the Larc International Model 19A and the Larc International Model M19-AMP 
• Pre-charged pneumatic air rifles
• Note: Airguns include any air pistol or air rifle; Pre-charged pneumatic air rifles means pre-charged pneumatic air rifles that are not for use in airsoft or paintball sports; ML905 does not include air gun accessories, air gun pellets or other air gun projectiles
• Military goods and technologies (includes these goods being exported by private persons)
• Goods and technologies that can be used in the production, development or delivery of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons
• Conventional weapons 
• Dual-use goods that have or may have a military use, such as computers, navigation and marine equipment
• Aircraft and vessels that have or may have a military use
• Chemicals, biological agents, substances and plant pathogens that may be used to manufacture chemical, nuclear and biological weapons
• Anti-personnel mines 
• Cluster munitions
• Chemical weapons and a range of chemicals that may be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons (see below for link to list of these chemicals)
• Arms and related materials of all types (in support of UN sanctions) including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and parts for all of these goods for exportation to:
  • Al Qaida and Taliban 
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) 
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Eritrea
  • Iraq
  • Iran
  • Lebanon 
  • Liberia
  • Libya 
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia 
  • Sudan
• Goods to Iran that could contribute to her enrichment-related, or reprocessing, or heavy water related activities, or to the development of nuclear weapons delivery systems 
• Controlled items listed on the New Zealand Strategic Goods List, on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade website.

End-use (catch-all) controls

The end-use controls (also known as catch-all controls) cover the export of goods, software and technologies which are not listed on the New Zealand Strategic Goods List, but which may be intended for use relating to:

• The development, production or deployment of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or their means of delivery in any country
• A military end-use in a country subject to a United Nations Security Council arms embargo
• Use as parts or components of military items listed on the New Zealand Strategic Goods List (categories ML1- ML22) which have been unlawfully exported from New Zealand.

End-use controls focus on the intended end-use of the items rather than their technical characteristics. The new end-use provision is designed to prevent the export of non-listed items where intended for one of the above prohibited end-uses.

Controls on electronic transfers

The electronic export of software or technologies – either listed on the New Zealand Strategic Goods List or captured by the new end-use (catch-all) controls – is prohibited unless an export permit has been obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

See Chemicals that require approval to import and export (DOC 483 KB) for more information.

Legislation: Customs Export Prohibition Order 2014, Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act 1998, Arms Act 1983, Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1996, Cluster Munitions Prohibition Act 2009.

Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Wine

Grape wine made from grapes grown in New Zealand

You must have approval from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to export grape wine made from grapes grown in New Zealand for sale.

Specific guidance on wine export and exemptions is available on MPI's website at Steps to exporting New Zealand grape wine

You don’t need to register if you’re exporting these wines for:

• use as a trade sample (up to 110 litres volume)
• the personal or non-commercial use of the person travelling with the wine
• consumption by passengers or crew on aircraft leaving New Zealand for consumption during that journey.
• “direct to consumer” trade (up to 27 litres per final consignee) – your obligations if you are involved in this trade are set out under “exemptions” on the MPI website.

If you’re exporting these wines:

• and need to be registered with MPI, enter WIN plus your MPI approval number in the “Permit number” field
• and don’t need to be registered, either
• enter SAM in the “Prohibited” field if trade sample; or
• enter DTC in “Prohibited” field if “direct to consumer” NZ grape wine. Note total litreage for the export entry may exceed 27 litres, if multiple final consignees (eg you are exporting one consignment representing sales to multiple consignees, to a distribution hub in destination country for final distribution in destination country). Exporter must maintain records of all DTC exports for MPI compliance checking.

Other wines

You must register with MPI if you’re exporting:

• fruit wine (includes cider, perry and mead)
• vegetable wine
• grape wine made from grapes not grown in New Zealand.

You don’t need to register if you’re exporting these wines for:

• use as a trade sample (up to 110 litres per consignment)
• the personal or non-commercial use of the person travelling with the wine
• consumption by passengers or crew on aircraft leaving New Zealand for consumption during that journey

“Direct to Consumer” exports of these other wines are not exempt registration requirements.

If you’re exporting these other wines:

• and need to be registered with MPI;
• enter your WIF number in the “Permit number” field.
• The WIF number is sent to the registered exporter in the letter accompanying the Notice of Registration. It is issued annually upon registration.
• and don’t need to be registered, enter SAM in the “Prohibited” field.

If you are exporting New Zealand grape wines eligible for “direct to consumer” AND non-New Zealand grape wines, fruit or vegetable wines in the same consignment, “DTC” is to be entered into the prohibited code field, and the WIF plus number is to be entered into the permit fields against the relevant lines of the entry.

Any queries on your wine exporter obligations email exporterhelp@mpi.govt.nz 

Legislation: Wine Act 2003.

Authority: Ministry for Primary Industries.