[Nathan]

I can't find these on MAF lists or in a search of the forum.

I'm packing the kitchen. Do I have to throw away all my specialty rice, dried beams, and grains such as barley, cracked wheat, quinoa, rye, etc...? Or may I just leave them in the jars I keep them in and pack them as "staples" or "dried food" or what?

Thanks for your help.

Nathan
:cheers

PS I just found a case of really nice Belgian beer in the wine closet!
:cheers :cheers

[barryp]

Pantry items are fine, so long as you omit items on MAF's prohibited items list. Dried beans and grains should be OK.

It's best if you pack all of it into one or two boxes rather than spread across many boxes. MAF inspections are more likely when food is in a box, and your inspection fee goes up as they inspect more boxes.

You need to know EXACTLY what's inside; 'staples' will be considered an inadequate description on its own. It is possible to avoid MAF inspection (we did) but to do so you need to be able to answer every question they might ask with confidence, and detailed inventory helps with that.

[migratory birds]

Ah, quinoa! We should share a meal when we arrive in NZ!

When crossing the border into Canada for a backpacking trip many years ago, customs came across a jar of teff and disappeared with it for a long while...and came back empty handed.

If in doubt (and you can get it in NZ) leave it behind - they're heavy and some of these things run only a dollar or two a pound - is it really worth shipping?

[Nathan]

... - is it really worth shipping?
I don't see a point in shipping empty storage jars if I'm allowed to ship them with the contents....which I'll end up buying anyway. I like a well stocked kitchen!

... - pack all of it into one or two boxes rather than spread across many boxes. ...
Yes! And it's so much easier to unpack and put away if it's packed with some organization.

Thanks!

[Familyofmonkeys]

I asked about dried pulses...MAF said no....there is a very tiny remote possibility these things could grow...
Also there is risk that these dried goods could be contaminated with weevels or other insects/eggs etc.

Also not allowed 'whole' herbs/spices e.g. whole nutmeg/cardamon pods etc or any seeds. But you can bring any of these if they are ground product and in schwartz jars or similar.....I guess in these quantities risk is acceptable. I brought over all my ground spices...would have cost a fortune to replace.

[Sam B]

Beans and stuff are a definite no-no. They took our juggling balls at Auckland airport because they were stuffed with beans!

[Steadybears]

Where can I find the site for MAF - to see whats allowed and whats a no-no

Thanks
Jayne

[speckythecky]

OH has spent 5 hours so far today emptying our kitchen cupboards, she has binned everything, all my herbs and spices, any dried products, all tinned stuff has been given away - what am I having for tea??

[thirtysomethings]

I guess a takeaway is in order :)

[Caroline and Dave]

Where can I find the site for MAF - to see whats allowed and whats a no-no

Thanks
Jayne


Here we go. Its a bit confusing so take your time


http://www.maf.govt.nz/quarantine/index.htm

Dave and Caroline

[ruthyroo]

On the dried beans and pulses, MAF are very (over) zealous in their treatment of these goods, a lot them are heat treated to the extent that they are no longer cookable - we boiled a pan of expensive organic chickpeas for over an hour one evening and they remained solid as pebbles. Our local health food store no longer stocks many types of dried beans and pulses because they are fed up with customers bringing them back. We have ended up using a lot of tinned beans, and experimenting with small amounts of supermarket beans to find the ones that can be cooked. Kidney beans from NW are generally okay!. Quote below from Commonsense Organics is fairly typical.

"We do, however, have a problem with the new government regulations
on importing grains and legumes. According to our wholesalers, New
Zealand is now one of the most difficult countries to import to. The
biosecurity regulations require that any products which have not
completed an incredibly complicated paper trail must be heat treated.
This is not acceptable to organic retailers, so we have not had supplies
of white beans, chickpeas and other legumes for quite some time."

[Nathan]

... Our local health food store no longer stocks many types of dried beans and pulses because they are fed up with customers bringing them back. ...

Quote below from Commonsense Organics is fairly typical.

"We do, however, have a problem with the new government regulations
on importing grains and legumes. According to our wholesalers, New
Zealand is now one of the most difficult countries to import to. The
biosecurity regulations require that any products which have not
completed an incredibly complicated paper trail must be heat treated.
This is not acceptable to organic retailers, so we have not had supplies
of white beans, chickpeas and other legumes for quite some time."

Is seed stock (seeds to plant) available?

[jubjub]

Beans and stuff are a definite no-no. They took our juggling balls at Auckland airport because they were stuffed with beans!

I still got mine :D they were in a box in the container, did not even realise they were prohibited cos of the filling..... ooops :o

[Familyofmonkeys]

I recently came across my Gourds from Guatemala...forgotten all about them as still packed from previous 2 moves since Xmas. Bit of aurprise as i'm sure they would have been confiscated by MAF....not like they are going to be planted though! :o

[swissmissdesigner]

I recently came across my Gourds from Guatemala...forgotten all about them as still packed from previous 2 moves since Xmas. Bit of aurprise as i'm sure they would have been confiscated by MAF....not like they are going to be planted though! :o


Oh I love Guatemala! I spent my last summer vacation there!

[Nick88]

You can get all of that sort of thing in the Bin Inn stores, or Asian supermarkets in the major cities. MAF are very uptight about all plant material that comes into the country. It isn't worth the hassle.

[migratory birds]

On MAF heat-treating all imported beans until they're hard as rocks and uncookable...d'ya think it's part of a greater farms economy plan to get us to eat more lamb?! :laugh

NZ is in a tricky spot - trying to maintain what they've had (i.e. healthy honeybee hive population by preventing importation of whatever is causing hive collapse in North America and retaining tight control over the use of genetically-modified organisms in the seed stock to prevent unintentional widespread release of GMOs onto farms throughout NZ) while diversifying to meet the needs of a growing population.

[Aussie Pom]

Hi,
Sometimes the removalists won't take beer and liquids in case they break (glassed ones). So ask them too, it is not always just the quarantine issue. You can always drink it in celebration of your move!
Gina:cheers

[Nathan]

The question……

“I am in the process of preparing my kitchen for shipment via container to NZ.
I will emigrate in mid-September.

May I pack my dried beans, specialty rices, barley, quinoa, etc..?
I.e., just leave them in the jars that I use for storing rather than throw it all away?”

The answer from Biosecurity…..

“Thanks for your enquiry.
Unfortunately a lot of the foods you mentioned will not be allowed. Beans are almost always prohibited, and some sorts of wild rice are not allowed either. You can check for yourself with the link below; just search for the foods you are unsure of, or browse the whole document.

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/plants/standards/bnz-npp-human.htm

This link also may be helpful...

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/ediproic.all.htm

And please remember to declare any food on your cargo manifest.

We appreciate your initiative in helping keep NZ's natural environment in pristine condition.”