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Important notices

Find updates to regulations, notes on revisions to forms and documents, and other important information.

Notices issued over the past 12 months are shown on this page. Links to notices issued in previous years are also available.

New items covered by the Heavy Engineering Research Levy

New Tariff codes items have been added onto Schedule 2 of the Heavy Engineering Research Levy Act 1978.

Update on excise duty and levy rates for alcohol from 1 July 2025

The annual adjustment to the excise and excise-equivalent duty rates and levy rates on alcoholic beverages took place 1 July 2025.

Updated Working Tariff Document now available

The updated Working Tariff Document, which will take effect 1 July 2025, is now available.

New excise duty and levy rates for alcohol from 1 July 2025

The annual adjustment to the excise and excise-equivalent duty rates and levy rates on alcoholic beverages will take place on 1 July 2025.

Tariff Amendment - Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS)

New Zealand, Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland have signed the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS). Domestic ratification for the Agreement has been completed and it will come into effect 1 July 2025.

New excise duty rates for tobacco products, cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 1 January 2025

The annual indexation increase to excise and excise-equivalent duty rates will take place on 1 January 2025.

Consultation: Customs Long-Term Insights Briefing

Customs is consulting on the proposed topic and scope for its Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB).

Changes to declarant pin testing

From 1 April 2025, Customs will be implementing changes to the restricted declarant pin process.

Cabinet approves fee changes for border management of goods

Cabinet has approved changes to the fees and levies that the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) charge to recover the costs of managing goods crossing our border.

Customs clarifies requirements for the duty-free importation of pharmaceutical materials imported for clinical trials

New Zealand Customs Service (NZ Customs) has reviewed the treatment of drugs and other material imported solely for the purposes of clinical trials.

US Tariff announcement - contacting New Zealand Customs

Information about recent announcements on US tariffs.

New border processing levy rates in force on 1 December 2024

The Comptroller of Customs has set new levy rates to apply from 1 December 2024 for each traveller arriving in and departing from New Zealand.

Reduction in duty on heated tobacco products on 1 July 2024

The excise rate applied to products for use with tobacco heating systems (commonly known as Heated Tobacco Products or HTPs) reduced by 50 percent on 1 July 2024.

Import Entry Transaction Fee refunds

New Zealand Customs has become aware of an administrative issue which resulted in some individuals being charged the Customs portion of the Import Entry Transaction Fee (IETF) in error.

Updated requirements for graphic material importers and manufacturers

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has updated the rules for importing and manufacturing graphic materials marketed at children, such as fingerpaints, crayons, and felt-tip pens, as part of their decision to reduce the lead impurity levels allowed in paints.

Fee for regulated tyres under the Waste Minimisation (Tyres) Regulations 2023

On 1 March 2024, a fee for regulated tyres will be implemented under the Waste Minimisation (Tyres) Regulations 2023. Various questions have been asked in the leadup to the implementation date, and this page contains a list of questions that have been considered by the Valuation, Origin and Classification (VOC) team.

Important notices - 2024

Access important notices issued in 2024.

Important notices - 2023

Access important notices issued in 2023.

Important notices - 2022

Access important notices issued in 2022.

Important notices - 2021

Access important notices issued in 2021.

Important notices - 2020

Access important notices issued in 2020.

Important notices - 2019

Access important notices issued in 2019.

Important notices - 2018

Access important notices issued in 2018.

Important notices - 2017

Access important notices issued in 2017.

Important notices - 2016

Access important notices issued in 2016.