"'Korean Rice Taste Really Good' Kept Asking... New Zealand Says, 'Then We'll Make Small-Pack Export Easier'"

Export Procedures Eased for Small-Packaged Rice to New Zealand
Final Implementation of Relaxed Import Requirements for Korean Small-Packaged Rice

From now on, rice packaged in small quantities of 25kg or less can be exported to New Zealand without a phytosanitary certificate.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on the 15th that the New Zealand government officially implemented relaxed import requirements for domestically produced small-packaged rice on the 9th.

Domestic rice (small packages up to 25 kg) can now be exported to New Zealand without a phytosanitary certificate. Pixabay

Until now, exporting domestic rice to New Zealand required attaching a phytosanitary certificate and undergoing import quarantine or fumigation upon arrival in New Zealand. A quarantine agency official stated, "In the case of small-packaged rice, milling and packaging are done immediately, so the risk of pest infestation is low," adding, "Since 2023, the quarantine agency has been negotiating with New Zealand to relax these requirements, and New Zealand finalized the relaxed import requirements for domestic small-packaged rice on the 9th of this month."

With this relaxation, domestically produced rice intended for retail (small packages of up to 25kg) can be exported to New Zealand without a phytosanitary certificate. Import quarantine upon arrival in New Zealand is also waived. The quarantine agency expects that exporters will benefit from simplified administrative procedures as the issuance of phytosanitary certificates is no longer necessary, greatly improving convenience.

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Currently, domestic rice is exported to 48 countries including New Zealand, the United States, Australia, China, and Germany. Recently, domestic rice has gained popularity in the New Zealand market as high-quality rice with excellent taste, leading to steadily increasing demand and export volumes rising from 18 tons in 2023 to 137 tons in 2024. It is expected that the application of the relaxed quarantine requirements will further activate exports of domestic rice to New Zealand.

Kim Jeong-hee, head of the quarantine agency, said, "We will continue to listen to the voices of exporting farmers and the industry to ensure smooth export of our agricultural products," and added, "We will do our best to improve quarantine requirements in export countries."