NZ Customs Release 741

This week Customs acknowledged those who served to protect New Zealand and sacrificed their lives for our safety. And those that continue to serve each day to protect our nation and people.

Imports are targeted by overseas criminal groups who hide illicit drugs within containers or their contents. Often this involves break-ins at supply chain businesses to collect the drugs.

Suspicious activity may be a precursor to imminent illegal activity occurring at your business.

Click on the link below to download more information.

Customs continues to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleagues in Police and the Department of Internal Affairs to not only manage and respond to America's National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reporting, but to do the best we can to keep our children safe from this heart-breaking abuse, happening both here in New Zealand and across the world.

This week, NZFS published the revised Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale, which comes into effect on 1 August 2024.

This amendment includes new rules for importing frozen berries, as well as a minor change to importing canned bovine meat products from the EU and UK.

There will be a transition period from 1 August 2024 to 31 January 2026. Over this period importers can gain food safety clearance of frozen berries by using the previous clearance pathway of consignment testing or the new pathway using third-party certificates.

From 1 February 2026 all frozen berry imports must comply with the new rules and can only gain food safety clearance by using third-party certificates or official certificates issued by the exporting country. 

Guidance will be provided on the new requirements, including how to submit an overseas manufacturer third-party certificate for checking, on the MPI website before the rules come into effect.

More information on the revised requirements can be found on the consultation page on the MPI website.

For voluntary disclosure entry adjustments of more than 10 resulting from internal audit, please contact Trade.Assurance@customs.govt.nz prior to submitting into TSW to explore processing options that may be mutually beneficial to both parties.

For multiple entry adjustments that include a revenue refund, a manual batch refund process may be a preferable option. This manual batch refund process would potentially remove the need of lodging multiple entry adjustments via TSW.

Brokers are advised to contact Trade.Assurance@customs.govt.nz in the first instance to seek advice on what the mutually preferred option may be for applying for the refund. If a manual batch refund process is to be applied, Trade Assurance can provide the necessary application form along with advice on what documents and evidence will be required.

When you return, you can complete a digital New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) before you fly back into New Zealand – replacing the need to fill out a paper declaration card on the plane.  

Everyone coming into New Zealand needs to complete an NZTD. You'll answer questions about your trip and what's in your bags. You can complete it at a time that suits you, on the NZTD website or by downloading the NZTD app, and submit it 24 hours before your trip back to New Zealand.

Food Importer News is a regular e-newsletter for food importers, agents and food businesses that provides updates about the rules for importing food under the Food Act 2014. It is a valuable source of information for anyone who imports food for sale, including ingredients and alcohol.

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Don't forget to tune in to next Monday's episode for more top dog discoveries. Dog Squad airs on TVNZ 1 at 8pm, or can be streamed on TVNZ+.