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| | | Update to Costs of Goods Management at the border | | | Customs has updated the Goods Fees Review consultation document to correct transcription errors identified in the original version released on 4 September 2024.
The updated consultation document can be found on the Customs website. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Importing sunscreen, insect repellents or skin care products? Make sure they comply with the mandatory Product Safety Standard | | | All sunscreens must comply with the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Act 2022. This also includes insect repellents and skin care products making SPF claims. The regulations apply to retailers and manufacturers as well as importers and distributors of sunscreen, insect repellents and skin care products.
Non-compliant imports are prohibited and will be seized by Customs.
The product safety standard (AS/NZ 2604:2012) includes rules to ensure sunscreen products go through rigorous performance testing and labelling and marking requirements. As an importer, you need to make sure the goods are thoroughly compliant with the Standard before you commit to the importation, or risk losing the goods and further enforcement action.
If you supply a non-compliant sunscreen product, you could put consumers at risk of harm. You will also have breached the Fair Trading Act 1986. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Organic Exports to European Markets | | | Organic consignments must not leave New Zealand for European markets if the organic certificate has not been issued.
Organic consignments destined for the European markets (including the EU, UK, Switzerland and Norway) must be accompanied by a Certificate of Inspection (COI). The relevant European legislation requires that the COI is issued before the consignment leaves New Zealand.
The legislation does not allow the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to issue the COI after the consignment leaves New Zealand.
If a consignment of organic product arrives in European markets without a COI, it cannot be cleared as 'organic'. Options for the products generally include:
Requesting the importing authorities to clear the consignment as 'conventional' (non-organic), conditional on all products being relabelled to remove any 'organic' marketing claims;
returning the consignment to NZ;
redirecting the consignment to an unregulated market;
destroying the products.
It is critical that you let your organic clients know of a change in the estimated date of departure (from New Zealand) at least three working days (72 hours) prior to the new ETD. | | | | | | | | | 
| | | MyCustoms Account Update | | | MyCustoms Account is Customs' self-service digital platform for brokers and importers with deferred payment accounts. With MyCustoms Account, you can view your account balance, available credit, and transaction history. You can also download your deferred payment account statements.
Since its launch, we've received client feedback that it is simple, quick and easy to find information online through MyCustoms Account. Clients said this was great, as they received information instantaneously and didn't need to wait for a response over phone or by email.
Due to the success of the platform, from 30 September we will no longer be responding to telephone or email requests for information that can be accessed via MyCustoms Account. This will enable us to speed up our responses to other requests for information that cannot be found on MyCustoms Account.
If you have not signed up to MyCustoms Account, please email revenue@customs.govt.nz. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Exporting 101: Food & Fibre Seminar | | | Thinking about introducing your products to the world?
Join the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to discuss exporting trends and insights, as well as what help and resources are available to help you navigate the exporting process.
New Zealand Customs will join MPI and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to offer advice and answer your questions.
This event is ideal for businesses (particularly in the food & beverage sector), who are thinking about exporting, just-started exporting, looking to diversify export markets/products, or for those who just want to understand the export process better.
Wednesday 16 October at 5:30pm at Mahitahi Colab Nelson. | | | | | | | | |