The Cook Islands operates very strict biosecurity procedures at airports and ports to prevent the introduction of unwanted pests and diseases of plants and animals.

The Biosecurity Service focus is to manage biosecurity risk and facilitate trade into and out of the Cook Islands. The Biosecurity Service monitors, inspects and manages regulated items. A regulated item is any item which is likely to pose a biosecurity risk to the Cook Islands and can include used equipment, fresh produce, meat, live animals and plants and sea containers. The Biosecurity Service also inspects products for export to ensure they are pest and disease free and of a high quality.

 

The Biosecurity Service has a full list of conditions required for the import of regulated items it is called the Import Specifications List and is found by clicking on its name. If the item you are interested in bringing into the Cook Islands is not on that list check if it is on the Prohibited List. The Prohibited List contains items that potentially could carry very significant risks. In the Cook Islands we don't have any chemical, nuclear or heat treatments that can manage the risk so we refuse entry to these product types. If you are found with these products at entry and they have not been declared you may be fined or even imprisoned.

If a product you are interested in bringing in does not appear on either list please contact the Director of Biosecurity. In some cases we may be able to do an Import Risk Analysis (at your cost) to determine the risk of that product. If Australia and New Zealand allow the product in then there is a good chance we will approve the import of that product to the Cook Islands with similar conditions.

 

GENERAL CONDITIONS - please check the Import Specification List for more details

1. All live plants and animals must obtain an Import Permit from the Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture before they are to be brought into the country. Further details can be found in the import Specifications.

Besides Biosecurity Clearance there are additional conditions for Dogs

The following are Police Department requirements in regard to the importation of dogs into the Cook Islands as required by the Dogs Registrations Amendments Act 1991.

1. All Dogs imported into the Cook Islands require a Permit from the Police
2. The importation of the following breeds of dogs are prohibited:

• Doberman
• Pitt Bull Terrier
• Bull Dogs
• Rottweiler, or any other breed of dog that the Police may specify from time to time

1. All dogs imported into the Cook Islands must be neutered or spayed.
2. Dogs must be registered with the Police on arrival.

List of Animals Prohibited Entry into the Cook Islands

• Any Snake of any species
• Any venomous reptile, amphibian, fish or invertebrate
• Any Monkey of any species
• Any Squirrel of any species
• Any Red Fox or Silver Fox
• Any Musquash
• Any Hamster
• Any Mongoose, any Coypu or Nutna
• Any Mink

Port of Entry

All Live Animals imported will ONLY BE LANDED (by air) Rarotonga International Airport or (by sea) Avatiu Seaport.

Importation of Live Animal(s) by Sea or Air. The Airline (Air New Zealand cargo) or Seaport Agent (Waterfront Commission) has been advised that any live animal(s) without any Permit to Import must be refused entry. They are advised to contact the Quarantine Service for any animal(s) that are being imported ahead of time.

2. Importation of Meat and Meat products – fresh (chilled or frozen) beef, mutton or lamb, chicken, sausages, ham, salami, pork meat, eggs, diary products are allowed without a permit from New Zealand and Australia, provided it is accompanied by a statutory declaration under Government Supervision or conforms to the Food Standards of Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

3. For All countries; Importation of fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers, cuttings, bulbs, woods, bamboo or straw, must be accompanied by appropriate certification. Many of these products however are prohibited and will be destroyed or reshipped on arrival.

4. For specific detail please consult the Probitied List and Import Specification List.

Head office hours: 9.00 – 3.00 pm Monday to Friday

Aircraft hours: Open before international flights near check in for export inspection certification

Biosecurity Service

Ministry of Agriculture

P.O.Box 96

Rarotonga

 

Head Office Arorangi: Telephone: + 682 28711

Fax: + 682 21 881

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