Please note that the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (MAF) have made some recent changes to the Sea Container Health Standard, which will effect the biosecurity requirements for ALL containers being imported into New Zealand.

As you are already aware, a Quarantine Declaration (copy attached) must be completed & signed by the party responsible for packing the container, for all containers imported into New Zealand. Please note:

• If Quarantine Declaration requirements are not met, containers will be classified as High Regulatory Interest (HRI) and will require a compulsory 6 sided inspection by the authorities upon importation, in addition to any other treatment and / or inspection requirements that have been stipulated by MAF on a case by case basis. 
  
• The new requirements stipulate that we must now submit the
  Quarantine Declaration & related paperwork for each container no later than 12 hours before the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the inbound vessel.
   
• Where containers are discharging at one New Zealand port and being onforwarded to another final Port of Delivery by the Shipping Line, the Quarantine Declaration and required documents must be submitted no later than 12 hours before the ETA of the inbound vessel to the first NZ port of discharge.
   

It is important to note that additional costs and delays will result where importers fail to submit the relevant paperwork within the required timeframe as outlined above.

This will affect ALL containers being imported into New Zealand, including Full Container Loads and Groupage / Freight All Kinds Containers. Important - Where additional costs are incurred due to non compliant or late documentation, where our agent or their nominated packing depot is responsible for the packing of the container, we will seek recompense of costs from our overseas Agent, to recover from the appropriate party as necessary.

It is therefore imperative that we receive all appropriate paperwork for import containers at least 48 hours prior to vessel ETA in order that we can meet local requirements and avoid any delays and additional costs.