If you are sending samples to AsureQuality from outside New Zealand, please make sure your courier or freight shipment is booked so that all New Zealand import-related charges are prepaid by, or billed to, the sender.
This helps avoid courier payment holds, clearance delays, or delivery issues that may affect sample receipt and testing.
What charges need to be prepaid?
International sample shipments may attract charges such as:
- New Zealand import duties or taxes
- customs or biosecurity levies
- low-value goods charges
- courier clearance or administration fees
- other destination import-related charges
These charges should not be payable by AsureQuality on arrival.
Why this matters
If import charges are not prepaid or billed to the sender, the courier may hold the shipment and ask AsureQuality to make payment before delivery.
This can delay sample receipt. For some sample types, delays may affect whether the sample is still suitable for testing, especially where specific timeframes, temperatures, or handling conditions apply.
What to select when booking your shipment
When booking an international courier or freight shipment, please select the option that makes the sender responsible for New Zealand import charges.
Different providers use different terms. The table below gives common examples.
| Courier or provider | What to select or ask for |
|---|---|
| DHL Express | DTP / Duties & Taxes Paid |
| FedEx / TNT | DDP / Delivered Duty Paid and Bill Duties and Taxes to Shipper |
| UPS | DDP / Delivery Duty Paid |
| NZ Post / EMS | DDTP / Delivery Duties & Taxes Paid, if available |
| Aramex | DDP / Delivered Duty Paid, or confirmation that all destination charges are sender-paid |
| Other courier or freight provider | Any equivalent option where all New Zealand destination duties, taxes, levies and clearance charges are prepaid or billed to the sender |
Terms to avoid
Please do not use shipping options where import charges are payable by the receiver.
This may include:
- DTU / Duties & Taxes Unpaid
- DDU / Delivery Duty Unpaid
- DAP / Delivered at Place
- receiver pays
- recipient pays
- any option where AsureQuality is asked to pay import charges before delivery
Important: paperwork alone may not be enough
Writing “DDP” or “Delivered Duty Paid” on a commercial invoice or shipment paperwork may not be enough on its own.
The sender must also select the correct billing option when booking the shipment with their courier or freight provider. This ensures any New Zealand import duties, taxes, levies, clearance fees, or other destination charges are charged to the sender’s account rather than to AsureQuality.
Import permits and sample documentation
Prepaying import charges does not replace any import permit, quarantine, biosecurity, hazardous substance, or sample submission requirements.
Before sending samples, please make sure:
- any required import permit or approval has been arranged
- the completed AsureQuality submission is included with the shipment
- the sample is packaged and labelled correctly
- temperature or time-sensitive samples are sent using a suitable courier service
- tracking details are provided to AsureQuality where required
If you are unsure
Please check with your courier or freight provider before sending the samples. Ask them to confirm that:
all New Zealand import duties, taxes, customs or biosecurity levies, courier clearance fees, and other destination import charges will be prepaid by, or billed to, the sender.
Shipments that arrive with unpaid import charges may be delayed before delivery to AsureQuality.