If you are importing products of a biological origin, anything in a sea container or any used machinery or personal effects you will need to deal with the Cook Islands Biosecurity Service and ensure that you are not committing an offence. 

Firstly, you will need to check the product you wish to import against the Import Specification List and the Prohibited Items list to see what steps you might need to take for import. If the product is of biological origin (animal or plant products) but is not on the list you will need to contact the Director of Biosecurity for a risk analysis.

Once you have found the product on the Import Specification List  you will be able to see what conditions are required. If you require an Import Permit please contact Biosecurity at the Ministry of Agriculture Head Office. Failure to obtain an import permit prior to export for designated risk products is an offence, your products may be destroyed or reshipped and you may be fined.

If you require certification for your product please ensure you get this from the country of origin and have the certifying agency ensure they include any clauses required in the Import specification. 

If you are bringing in any regulated products you will also need to apply for a Biosecurity Import Clearance . This will allow the Biosecurity Service to help you ensure all your documents are in order and plan for any inspections. Sea Containers are a regulated item and you will need to put in an application for ANY sea container you import regardless of its contents. Failure to provide a Biosecurity Import Clearance application is an offence and your products may be destroyed or reshipped and you may be fined. The Biosecurity Service will use this information to provide you with a release ahead of arrival or will provide a direction indicating any action that will need to be taken when your product gets here. Failure to follow a direction issues by a Biosecurity Officer is an offence.

If your product is coming to the Cook Islands in a Sea Container your overseas supplier will need to fill out a sea container declaration certifying the container is clean and that the packaging used is approved and treated. Where multiple containers are coming from one supplier you only need one certificate.

Biosecurity Officers screen the ship/aircraft manifests and Bills of Lading/AWBs and will place a hold on any goods which they are concerned about. You may already require an inspection from your Biosecurity Import Clearance application.

Biosecurity Officers may inspect your goods for risk products, insects, signs of pests or disease or they will inspect your certification. It speeds up the process to get your documentation inspected before the goods arrive to ensure no delay once they are here.

If your products require an inspection they may only be inspected at the Port of Entry or a Biosecurity Approved Premise. To apply for approval as a Biosecurity Approved Premise contact the Director of Biosecurity.

If the importer is not present at inspection then they must nominate a Biosecurity Clearance Agent to Act on their behalf. A Biosecurity Clearance Agent is liable to the same extent as an importer for any act or omission which amounts to an offence under the Biosecurity Act, 2008. 

If your products do not meet the Import Specification List requirement or pose any risk to the Cook Islands, action may be taken to reduce the risk. This may include destruction or reshipment of goods. Bear in mind there are no current treatment facilities in the Cook Islands so it is unlikely infested perishable goods will ever be released for consumption here. Make sure you buy good quality goods from a reputable source overseas.

If your used goods (ie Cars, tractors, personal effects) are contaminated they may be cleaned by an Officer, or cleaned at your cost, or cleaned by you under supervision of an Officer. All contamination is to be collected and destroyed under the supervision of an Officer. If the Biosecurity Officer considers the risk too high or finds significant contamination, the product may be re-exported. This is very likely to happen to any contaminated farming equipment.

Once a Biosecurity Officer is satisfied the product/s meet the Cook Islands Biosecurity requirements for entry the Officer will issue a clearance.