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The potato industry has a very active market access programme, seeking to maintain access to existing markets and obtain new access opportunities. These activities are carried out through the Potato Industry Export Market Development Group (formerly the Potato Export Access Committee).
Two-thirds of fresh potato exports go to Fiji and the remainder to markets in the Pacific and Asia. Fresh potatoes are currently prohibited access to many potential markets such as Korea, Japan, USA, European Union and Australia. Comprehensive export statistics are provided on a monthly basis in the Export Statistics section of this site.
Potato compliance programme update
An updated version of the potato compliance programme has been posted on the MAFBNZ Plant Exports website with an effective date of 18 January 2010.
The following major changes have been made to the programme:
- The addition of a new section which clearly outlines MAF approved inspection organisation traceability requirements (as well as the requirement for these organisations to register annually before undertaking inspection of potatoes)
- The inclusion of bins under the definition of 'equipment' AND removal of requirement for movement control and documentation for non Taiwan registered sites
- Clarification and extension to sprout inhibitor verification methods
- A new registration form for MAF Approved Organisations inspecting potatoes
- An amended registration form for Exporters (only sub agents details required)
If you have any questions regarding this email please contact your IVA in the first instance. The document can be downloaded by clicking here.
PCN compliance programme
Information on the potato cyst nematode compliance programme can be found here.
Guide to importing country phytosanitary requirements
The ICPR quick guide has been updated to reflect the changes required by Tahiti.
Tariff barriers
In addition to the phytosanitary barriers that make exporting more difficult and expensive, many countries impose high tariffs on potatoes and potato products entering their countries. Unfortunately, when NZ signed up to the World Trade Organisation we also accepted the tariff reduction packages offered / negotiated with other aspiring members. Unless there is a breakthrough in the latest (Doha) round of trade negotiations it is unlikely that tariffs will be further reduced, unless New Zealand is able to negotiate free trade agreements.
The direct cost of tariffs on frozen potatoes was $2.3 million in 2006. Tariffs in Thailand (although set to slowly reduce under the CEP) and India are particularly high to protect their domestic potato and processing industries.
New Zealand has a 31 tonne quota for fresh potatoes to Thailand under the CEP at 27%. The out of quota rate is 125%. Thailand also operates an above tariff rate quota allocation of 25,400 tonnes of processing potatoes at 27% - spread across all countries that are imported from (the quota is allocated to processors who decide what country to import from). Under the Thailand CEP New Zealand will have tariff and quota free access in 2020.
Cost of frozen potato (2004.10.00.00 & 0710.10.00.00) tariffs (based on 2006 FOB value)
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Country
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Value of exports (NZ$ FOB)
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Tariff %
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Estimated cost of tariff
2006
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Thailand
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3,292,253
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24%
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790,141
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India
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945,889
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35%
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331,061
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Japan
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3,790,845
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8.5%
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322,222
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Philippines
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2,455,726
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10%
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245,573
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Taiwan
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1,935,078
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18%
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348,314
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Indonesia
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3,818,721
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5%
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190,936
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China
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1,416,685
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13%
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184,169
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Total
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17,655,197
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2,412,415
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Export News
Taiwan
14 Aug 2009
The first commercial shipment to Taiwan was sent in June 2009.The Export Market Development Group is encouraging growers to register crops for Taiwan to provide an additional market opportunity for their product. If growers meet the Taiwan registration requirements this opens up other markets that also require MAFBNZ additional declarations for PCN.
Thailand
14 Aug 2009
The Thailand government has recently approved revisions to the import regulations for table, process and seed potatoes from New Zealand. Growers and exporters interested in the Thailand market are encouraged to contact Shaun Slattery (shaun@solutionz.co.nz) to discuss Thailand’s new requirements.
Fiji
14 Aug 2009
Officials from Fiji recently visited a Pukekohe production site and packhouse to view the export procedures for Fiji. The objective of the visit was to provide Fiji confidence in the low risk associated with dried stolons on tubers so that import regulations in Fiji can be relaxed.
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