Working together to grow a successful export food and beverage industry in NZ

We often hear the phrase “New Zealand is a food bowl for Asia” used in the media, but how do we ensure that New Zealand exporters are ready and able to exploit this opportunity?  There are several government organisations working to enable this, but how do we work together as an industry body to ensure the government supports our member companies?

The FGC Board identified export as a key strategic initiative, hence the formation of the Export Initiative Working Group.

The FGC Export Initiative Working Group Objectives

  1. Accelerate the growth of food and beverage exports from New Zealand, particular focus initially in Asia.
  2. Provide a resource base for members wishing to export or expand their business.
  3. Provide networking and speaker opportunities and forums.
  4. Raise the profile, importance, quality of resource and funding for food manufacturers within government organisations.
  5. Use offshore connections to lobby for improvements to regulatory constraints in various countries.

Approach

  • A small workgroup of industry specialists meets during the year to develop the work plan and allocate responsibilities.
  • Industry updates and resources to be provided via newsletters and the Food & Grocery Council website.
  • Relevant speakers to address members via regular forums.
  • Networking events.

NZTE Resource Links

  • The Export Initiative Working Group has worked with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise to create some links to useful areas of information, specifically for the Asian market.

Selected publicly available internet resources for food and beverage market research for New Zealand exporters

The following information sources and links have been selected as being of use to New Zealand companies wanting to export food and beverage products. They have been selected based upon their authority and reliability and because they have proven to be useful to New Zealand exporters in the past.  This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

Free Trade Agreements

New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreements (In force and under negotiation):

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)

ASEAN-Australia-NZ Free Trade Agreement Website

NZ-China Free Trade Agreement Website

HS Codes

Explanation of Harmonised Classification System (HS Codes) (World Customs Organisation)

Online version of the HS Nomenclature 2012 Edition

(World Customs Organisation)

Tariffs

World Trade Organisation (WTO) Tariff Download Facility

ASEAN-Australia-NZ Free Trade Agreement Website Tariff Finder

NZ-China Free Trade Agreement Website Tariff Finder

Regulatory information

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Agricultural Import Standards and Regulations (FAIRS) reports (these can be found by selecting exporter assistance from the category menu)

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

European Union: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) , EU general food law (via the EUROPA website)

General market overviews and reports

NZTE website: Explore Export Markets Section

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):

The following reports can be found in the exporter assistance category and are good general market overviews: Exporter Guides, Retail Guides, Foodservice – HRI Guides, Food Processing Ingredients Guides.  Other more specific product reports are also available.

Austrade Website: Export Markets Section

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Website: Export Section

The Canadian Trade Commission Service Website: Market reports Section ; Country Info Section

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Trade Service website: Market Information Section

JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) website: Reports and Statistics Section

MarketLine Advantage via Auckland City Libraries (must be an Auckland City Libraries member to access)

How-to-do business guides

US Commercial Service – Country Commercial Guides.  These can be found by searching the Market Research Library by the required country.

World Bank Doing Business Website

General country information

CIA World Factbook

Statistics NZ – Statistics NZ also has a list of links to the statistical agencies of other countries and international statistical agencies

See also the websites of the trade development agencies listed in the General Market Overviews and Reports Section as they often have data and profiles on countries.

Trade data (exports/imports)

UN Comtrade Trade Statistics Database

Agriculture products production and consumption data

FAOSTAT (Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations Statistical Division)

Company information

KOMPASS via Auckland City Libraries (must be an Auckland City Libraries member to access)