Source: New Zealand Government
New proposals for modernising New Zealand’s rules for dietary supplements will cut red tape for exporters and enable more competition in overseas markets, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
Under the current rules, most exporters of dietary supplements have to comply with both New Zealand’s labelling and composition rules and those of the country they want to export to.
“The changes would prevent unnecessary double-up by requiring exporters to only meet the rules of the importing country,” says Mr Hoggard.
“It’s a common-sense change strongly supported by industry and would help to level the playing field for a rapidly growing industry, without compromising on consumer safety.”
Last year the Government announced exemptions for food exporters, signalling at the time that there would be further export exemptions, including for the dietary supplement sector.
Under proposed changes, exporters of dietary supplements would now be able to make therapeutic claims in line with importing country requirements and be exempted from New Zealand compositional requirements for food additives and for maximum daily dose of vitamins and minerals.
Products subject to an exemption under the new rules would not be able to be sold in New Zealand and should only be sold to the market where they meet the importing country’s labelling and composition requirements.
MPI undertook targeted consultation in November 2025 with New Zealand’s largest industry body for dietary supplements, representing 80 percent of the dietary supplements sector, and received strong support for updating regulations to enable trade.
“This is another demonstration of the Government’s ongoing commitment to cutting red tape for food businesses and growing New Zealand exports,” says Mr Hoggard.
Updated regulations are being drafted and will go back to Cabinet for approval in due course.
Further detail can be found in the cabinet paper available on the MPI website. Cabinet papers and related documents
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/23/improvements-proposed-to-level-playing-field-for-dietary-supplements-exporters/