New MPI Food Import Rules Take Effect in 2027

September 25, 2026

Updated MPI Food Notice for Registered Food Importers Effective 1 February 2027

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released the Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale 2026, which incorporates requirements relating to schemes under the Food Act 2014, including NP1, NP2, NP3, and cFCP.

The updated Notice takes effect on 1 February 2027 and replaces the previous Notice issued on 17 April 2024.

To help importers understand the changes, MPI has included a Document History section on pages 5-6. We recommend reviewing this section first, as it provides a summary of the amendments and identifies key changes that may affect your organisation and the products you import.

You can access the Notice here:

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/71821-Food-Notice-Requirements-for-Registered-Food-Importers-and-Imported-Food-for-Sale-2026-issued-1-May-2026-and-effective-from-1-February-2027

From 1 February 2027, Telarc verifiers will assess against the updated Notice. Verification activities will continue as normal, and we do not currently anticipate that the changes will result in any additional verification time on site.

To stay informed about future regulatory changes, consultation opportunities, media releases, and industry news, businesses may wish to subscribe to MPI's email updates:

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/subscribe-to-mpi