Canterbury Food Exporters Set to Benefit from Red Tape Reduction

As the Global Trade Business Advisor for Canterbury at Business Canterbury, I am pleased to see that recent government decisions will have a positive impact on the region's food export sector. On 10 December, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard announced key regulatory changes that aim to simplify the export process for food products by exempting them from domestic composition and labelling requirements.

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For years, our food exporters have faced the challenge of navigating complex, costly, and time-consuming exemption applications due to domestic composition and labelling requirements. The new approach changes all of that, providing a simpler, more efficient pathway for businesses to reach international markets.

A Boon for Canterbury’s Dairy Industry

For those of us in Canterbury, this is particularly good news for the dairy sector, which has long been a cornerstone of our export economy. With dairy export revenue expected to reach a remarkable $25.8 billion by the end of June 2025, these regulatory changes couldn’t come at a better time. The new measures will help producers capitalise on emerging market opportunities more swiftly and effectively, reducing the administrative burden and speeding up the process.

But it’s not just the dairy industry that will benefit. The government’s two-stage plan will start by addressing labelling requirements across all food products, as well as composition requirements for animal products produced under a Risk Management Programme. The second stage will focus on extending these exemptions to other food types, improving the export framework under the Food Act.

What Does This Mean for Other Food Exporters?

As these changes roll out, it’s essential for our diverse food export community to understand the impact. While dairy producers will see immediate benefits, food exporters in other sectors will need to continue engaging with the existing processes until the second stage is fully implemented.

This staged approach allows for a thoughtful, measured shift, giving exporters time to adapt and prepare. Once the changes are fully in effect by mid-2025, the responsibility for meeting the requirements of the importing country will shift to the exporters themselves. Gone will be the need for time-consuming, case-by-case applications to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). This streamlined process aligns New Zealand’s exporters more closely with international competitors, placing us in a stronger position in the global food market.

New Responsibilities for Exporters

While the changes are certainly positive, they also come with new responsibilities. Exporters will be expected to meet any conditions specified in the regulations, which will be independently verified. This is where the shift to a risk-based measure will come into play, with exporters taking more control over their compliance while maintaining New Zealand’s world-renowned reputation for food safety and quality.

The Future of Canterbury’s Food Exporters

Looking ahead, I see significant opportunities for Canterbury’s food exporters to become more competitive on the global stage. These changes will allow for faster product development, quicker responses to market demands, and a reduction in administrative costs. For smaller producers and start-ups, in particular, this could make all the difference, giving them the agility they need to innovate and expand into new markets.

Ultimately, these changes are about more than just reducing red tape. They represent a significant step towards making Canterbury – and New Zealand as a whole – a more flexible, competitive player in the global food market. As exporters embrace this new system, it will be interesting to see possible increases in export values and even new job opportunities in the sector. The potential for growth is enormous, and I’m confident our food exporters are ready to seize it.

Here at Business Canterbury, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead for Canterbury’s food export sector. Now is the perfect time for our region's exporters to review their export processes, identify areas for improvement, and explore how these regulatory changes can open new doors. 

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