Speeding up Customs clearance of fresh foods exports into China
10.12pm 22 June 2025
The New Zealand Customs Service and the General Administration of China Customs (China Customs) have agreed a new pilot to trial speedier border clearance for airfreighted fresh foods.
The pilot was announced on 20 June 2025 by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his recent trade visit to China. Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service Christine Stevenson was in Beijing to support Prime Minister Luxon's delegation.
The pilot will see both customs agencies expedite the clearance of fresh food produce before its arrival into Auckland International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Ms Stevenson said this pilot would reduce the need for documentation checks, resulting in faster access to the Chinese market for a range of items including fresh seafood, meat, dairy and fruit.
“We know that it is important for New Zealand businesses to be able to get the fresh food they are sending cleared on the same day it arrives into China, so that their high-quality products can be at restaurants or on the shelves of supermarkets that same evening.
“This trial will give our exporters increased certainty that their high-value produce will be processed with minimal delay when they arrive into Shanghai, ensuring the produce is in optimal condition for Chinese consumers.
“Low-risk goods from China entering New Zealand through Auckland will similarly receive reciprocal treatment at our border,” said Ms Stevenson.
Over the last 12 months (1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025) New Zealand exporters airfreighted over NZ$221 million dollars’ worth of fresh food to Shanghai.
During the trade visit, Prime Minister Luxon also announced a Customs Arrangement to identify areas for improving trade efficiency on Single Window, the New Zealand automated system that is used by traders and supply chain partners to submit craft and cargo information to border agencies.
Fresh food airfreight exporters can register their interest in further updates from Customs on the fresh food pilot by emailing ses@customs.govt.nz with the subject line ‘China Pilot’.