From 1 October 2006, all import consignments that attract New Zealand Customs' import entry transaction fee will also incur the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) new biosecurity risk screening levy of $3.38 (incl. GST).  Customs will collect this levy on MAF's behalf.

The new levy will fund MAF's automated primary screening of imports and all funds collected will go directly to MAF's biosecurity risk screening work.  This levy is part of wider changes to MAF's charging structure.

Using New Zealand Customs' existing systems to collect this levy maximises the Government's investment in CusMod (New Zealand Customs' data management system), avoids duplicating resources and reduces administrative costs for importers by providing one invoice from two government departments.  New Zealand Customs and MAF are working together in the interests of our common clients and minimising the amount of government infrastructure needed to collect revenue.

This MAF charge will be collected by New Zealand Customs and billed on the same invoice as New Zealand Customs' import entry transaction fee, duty and GST, using existing systems to avoiding duplication of government resources.  Payment conditions for the levy will be the same as for the import entry transaction fee.

The import entry transaction fee is charged on commercial imports with duty and/or GST liability of $50 or more, and on private imports of good with a value of $1,000 or more and a duty and/or GST liability of $50 or more.  For more information on the import entry transaction fee, refer to Customs Fact Sheet 7A.

MAF has advertised the changes to their charging structure in the Shipping Gazette and New Zealand Customs will send information to importers with their September invoices, alerting them to the new levy.

New Zealand Customs Fact Sheets 7, 7a, 28 and 29 have been updated to incorporate these changes and are available for download from Customs' website.

Further information on the new levy and the wider changes to MAF's charging structure is available on MAF's website, including a question and answer document for importers.