New Zealand Market Overview

New Zealand organic exporters have access to international markets through OPENZ’s Official Organic Assurance Programme, which is administered by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

New Zealand’s two largest certifiers – BioGro New Zealand and AsureQuality – are IFOAM accredited, and have market access to countries including the USA, European Union, Australia, South East Asia, the UK and Japan, based on the international Codex Alinorm 99/22, the European Union Regulations and the Australian National Standard.

OPENZ actively works to expand market access for New Zealand’s certified organic products, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and international counterpart organizations.

OPENZ regularly partners with university researchers to measure trends in New Zealand organic exports. In 2009, this research measured the value of New Zealand organic exports at NZ$170 million, an increase from NZ$120 million in 2007 and NZ$70 million in 2005. Major export destinations include the European Union (37%), North America (22%), Australia (19%), Japan (9%), and other Asian markets (12%).