WELLINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Singapore have signed a new electronic certification arrangement to streamline trade in food and primary products, a senior New Zealand official said Friday.
"It will streamline border processes, improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance supply chain security and integrity, and help products clear borders and reach markets sooner," said New Zealand Trade and Investment, and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.
The deal, signed in Singapore, replaces the current paper-based system with a real-time digital exchange of export health certification, verifying that goods meet animal or plant health, hygiene, and food safety standards required by the importing country, said a New Zealand government statement.
Singapore is one of New Zealand's closest trade partners, with New Zealand's food and primary product exports to Singapore reaching 1.2 billion NZ dollars (720 million U.S. dollars) in the year to Nov. 30, 2025, the minister said. ■
