Changes to NZ food and labelling export exemptions

New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced that the way food composition and labelling exemptions are handled for some NZ exported food products is changing.

From 25 September 2025, new export exemptions will be available for certain foods and dietary supplements (excluding wine, and some non-dairy-based products for infants and young children):

• Labelling exemptions: Foods and dietary supplements for export are exempt from most New Zealand labelling rules.
• Composition exemptions: Foods and dietary supplements for export that are animal products are exempt from most New Zealand composition rules, if processed or packaged under a Risk Management Programme (RMP) and provided they meet certain conditions.

New regulations made under section 345 of the Food Act 2014 will provide exemptions for exported foods from New Zealand food composition and labelling requirements. The exemptions mean businesses whose products are in scope of the regulations can self-assess their ability to export under exemption to meet importing country requirements. Businesses do not need to apply to MPI; instead, they must comply with the conditions in the regulations.

If a product isn’t eligible for a composition exemption under section 345, businesses can still apply for an exemption under section 347.

For more information about these export exemptions, visit the MPI website or register for the webinar, to be held on 23 September 2025.

Image credit: iStock.com/Iskandar Zulkarnaen