When you import goods into New Zealand, you have some responsibilities. You must not give false, misleading, or incomplete information about the goods to officials or automated electronic systems. You also must not do things that could stop officials from finding goods that have not been cleared.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM4757512.

Topics:

Immigration and citizenship > Border controlEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishing

16: Purpose of Part 3, or

"Keeping New Zealand safe from harmful imports"

16B: Duty of importers to comply with import health standards, or

"Importers must follow health rules when bringing risk goods into New Zealand"

Part 3Importation of risk goods

16AGeneral duty relating to importation

A person must not—
provide an official or an automated electronic system with false, misleading, or incomplete information about goods to be imported or uncleared goods; or
take steps that are likely to hinder the detection by an official of uncleared goods.

Notes

Section 16A: inserted, on 18 September 2012, by section 17 of the Biosecurity Law Reform Act 2012 (2012 No 73).