Hundreds of New Zealand food exporters are set to benefit from a major regulatory overhaul that will slash compliance costs and speed up market access.
From 25 September 2025, food exporters no longer needed to apply for special exemptions from New Zealand rules if their products meet the requirements of the importing country. This follows an announcement by Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard.
“This simple change means that as long as exporters comply with the rules of the country they’re sending food to, they won’t need MPI’s approval to get around New Zealand’s composition or labelling requirements,” Hoggard says.
Previously, exporters faced an “onerous process” of applying for exemptions on a product-by-product basis – a system that “drove up costs, created delays, and sometimes meant missed opportunities,” he explains.
The dairy industry, for example, has long highlighted the challenge of differing composition requirements across markets, where dietary habits and nutritional needs vary.
The new rules will cut paperwork and compliance costs, give exporters greater certainty, and allow them to manage their own compliance with overseas markets.
“Exporters have been clear that the old system held back trade and innovation. Cabinet has now delivered a streamlined approach that makes exporting easier and more efficient,” Hoggard says.
To ease the transition, exporters will have a one-year period in which they can choose between the existing exemption process and the new pathway. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has published guidance to help businesses adjust and is considering extending the approach to all food categories.
“This is just the start. I’ve asked officials to prioritise additional work on dietary supplements, and we are working on extending the new approach to all foods,” Hoggard adds.
Exporters and industry leaders have welcomed the move. ExportNZ Executive Director Joshua Tan calls it a “sensible, long-awaited fix that ExportNZ and our members have been calling for.”
He notes that simplifying labelling and composition exemptions “has been on the agenda for some time,” and says the change will “give businesses more certainty, cut compliance costs, and reduce delays.”
“This is a change that will make a real difference to Kiwi exporters competing on the global stage,” Tan says, adding that ExportNZ looks forward to working with officials on further measures to simplify export processes.
Guidance for exporters on the new system is available on the MPI website at mpi.govt.nz/export/food/exempting-food-exports-from-new-zealand-requirements.
