TFGen (Transitional Facilities for General Uncleared Risk Goods) is the primary MPI facility standard that governs how most Transitional Facilities must operate. It is made under section 39 of the Biosecurity Act 1993. The current version came into force on 2 October 2025. All TF operators handling general uncleared risk goods must comply with TFGen.

Do TF operators need an Operating Manual?

Yes. TFGen requires every TF operator to prepare a TF Manual (Operating Manual) that describes how the facility will be operated to meet the standard's requirements. It must include hygiene procedures, a contingency plan for managing biosecurity risks, and the types of goods handled. It must be kept up to date and be readily accessible to staff and MPI inspectors at all times. MPI provides a template.

Does the TF operator need to complete training?

Yes. To be approved as a TF facility operator, you must have completed and passed an MPI-approved operator training course. This is a prerequisite for MPI approval — not just a recommendation. Staff working at the facility must also complete MPI's biosecurity awareness training, which the operator signs off.

What is an Accredited Person in the context of a Transitional Facility?

An Accredited Person (AP) is an individual authorised by MPI to carry out specific biosecurity activities such as inspecting goods or issuing clearances. APs are separately authorised from TF operators and must meet their own training and competency requirements. Many TF operations involve both an approved facility operator and an Accredited Person.

What law governs Transitional Facilities in New Zealand?

Transitional Facilities are governed by the Biosecurity Act 1993. The primary facility standard — TFGen — is issued by MPI under section 39 of that Act. Import Health Standards for specific goods types also apply alongside TFGen.

Does MPI inspect Transitional Facilities?

Yes. MPI makes verification visits to check whether TF operators are meeting their obligations under TFGen and other relevant regulations. Visits may be notified in advance or unannounced. There is a charge for verification visits under the Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations 2010.

What is a Transitional Facility in New Zealand?

Q: What is a Transitional Facility in New Zealand?

A Transitional Facility (TF) is a premises approved by MPI where imported goods that may carry biosecurity risk are held, inspected, treated, or cleared before entering New Zealand. TFs are governed by the Biosecurity Act 1993 and must operate in accordance with relevant facility standards, primarily TFGEN (Transitional Facilities for General Uncleared Risk Goods).

The Short Answer

A Transitional Facility (TF) is a premises approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) where imported goods that may carry biosecurity risk are held, inspected, treated, or cleared before they can enter New Zealand freely.

Think of a TF as the last checkpoint between an imported shipment and the New Zealand environment. Goods that could harbour pests, diseases, or contaminants — anything from timber to machinery to fresh produce — must pass through an approved TF before they are released.

Key Point

Transitional Facilities operate under the Biosecurity Act 1993. The primary governing standard for most TFs is TFGen — the Facility Standard for Transitional Facilities for General Uncleared Risk Goods — issued by MPI under section 39 of that Act. The current version came into force on 2 October 2025.

What Actually Happens at a Transitional Facility?

Depending on the type of goods being imported, a TF may be used for:

Holding goods securely while awaiting inspection or clearance
Inspecting goods for pests, contaminants, or non-compliance with import requirements
Treating goods — for example, fumigation, heat treatment, or irradiation
Decontamination of equipment or containers
Releasing goods into New Zealand once they have met all biosecurity requirements

Not every TF does all of these things. Many are approved for a specific function — a cool store might be approved to hold fresh produce pending inspection; a fumigation provider might be approved specifically to treat timber.

The TFGen Standard — What It Governs

Most TF operators are governed by TFGen (Transitional Facilities for General Uncleared Risk Goods). This is MPI's facility standard for TFs that receive general uncleared risk goods, including:

Air and sea containers
Inorganic risk goods
Wood and forestry products
Plants and plant material
Live animals
Biological products (for holding only)

TFGen sets out the operational requirements your facility must meet — from physical security and hygiene, to record-keeping, contingency planning, and staff training. MPI also publishes a guidance document (TFGEN-GD) and a separate health, safety and wellbeing guidance document (TFGEN-GD-HSW) to help operators understand and meet those requirements.

Note

TFGen applies to general uncleared risk goods. If your facility handles specific goods types — such as cats and dogs, biological products, or animals — there may be additional facility standards that apply on top of TFGen. Check MPI's full list of facility standards for your goods type. Import Health Standards for specific goods also apply alongside TFGen.

The TF Operating Manual — A Mandatory Requirement

One of the most significant requirements under TFGen that many operators underestimate is the TF Manual (Operating Manual). This is not optional.

TFGen requires every approved TF to have a written TF Manual that:

Describes the types of risk goods held at the facility and the purpose of importation
Documents all activities that will be conducted, including any processing or treatment
Specifies hygiene procedures — including prevention of debris, dunnage, packaging, or soil accumulation that could pose a biosecurity risk
Includes a written contingency plan to manage all identified biosecurity risks at the facility
Is kept up to date at all times
Is readily accessible to staff and MPI inspectors at all times

MPI provides a template to help operators prepare their TF Manual. You can find the TFGEN Operating Manual template on the MPI website.

Do Not Overlook This

During MPI verification visits, operators are expected to provide evidence of compliance with their TF Manual. If your manual is out of date, incomplete, or not accessible on site, this is a compliance failure — regardless of how well the facility is otherwise run.

Who Operates Transitional Facilities?

A wide range of businesses operate as TF operators, including:

Freight forwarders and customs brokers
Port and airport operators
Importers with their own warehousing
Cool stores and temperature-controlled facilities
Fumigation and pest control companies
Container depots and logistics providers

If your business regularly handles imported goods that require biosecurity clearance, you may need to apply to become a TF operator — or ensure you are using an approved one.

Important

If you store or handle imported goods on your premises before they have been biosecurity-cleared, you may need TF approval — even if freight and logistics is not your core business. Check with MPI if you are unsure. Operating without approval when required is an offence under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

How Do You Become a TF Operator?

To become an approved TF operator, you must follow a specific process set out by MPI. The steps are:

Complete an MPI-approved operator training course — this is a hard prerequisite. You cannot be approved as a facility operator without it.
Register with MPI as a facility operator (individuals) or have your nominated delegate registered (companies).
Submit a facility application — including your proposed TF Manual and evidence that your premises and systems meet the relevant facility standard requirements.

Where a company is the facility operator, the company must identify a nominated delegate — a senior person who holds MPI-approved operator training and will be MPI's point of contact for approval, compliance, and verification matters.

Note: MPI charges for processing your application, whether or not it is approved, under the Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations 2010. Ensure your application is complete before submitting.

Training Requirements for TF Operations

There are two distinct training obligations under TFGen:

1. Facility Operator Training

The person who will be the approved facility operator must have completed and passed an MPI-approved operator training course. This is a condition of MPI approval — not just a recommended step. Contact MPI's approved training providers for course dates and locations.

2. Staff Biosecurity Awareness Training

All staff working at a Transitional Facility must understand what biosecurity is and how it is managed. MPI has created a specific biosecurity awareness training module for TF staff. Key points:

The module is available online from MPI
The facility operator must sign off that each staff member has completed it
A certificate is available at the end of the module — operators should file this as proof of completion
This training should cover: biosecurity obligations under the Act, health and safety requirements specific to TF environments, how to identify and report potential biosecurity breaches, and correct procedures for handling, storing, and releasing goods

Key Point

Training records must be maintained and be available to MPI during verification visits. "They know what to do" is not sufficient — documented completion is required.

TF Health & Safety Training — Online

Our Transitional Facility H&S course covers the health and safety obligations specific to NZ TF environments. Self-paced, NZ-specific, aligned with MPI's expectations for TF staff training.

Start TF Training For Businesses

MPI Verification Visits

Once approved, TF operators are subject to ongoing MPI verification visits. These visits check whether you are meeting the requirements of TFGen and any other relevant regulations. Key points:

Visits may be notified in advance or unannounced
Frequency is based on your compliance history, the biosecurity risk of your operation, and the complexity of your facility
Operators are expected to be present during visits and to provide evidence of compliance
There is a charge for verification visits under the Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations 2010

This is why having your TF Manual current, your training records filed, and your operating procedures actually followed — not just documented — matters.

What About Accredited Persons?

An Accredited Person (AP) is someone separately authorised by MPI to carry out specific biosecurity functions — such as inspecting goods or issuing clearances — within a TF or elsewhere in the supply chain. APs are distinct from TF operators, though in practice they often work closely together.

An AP must meet their own training and competency requirements, separate from the TF operator obligations. Being an approved TF operator does not make you an Accredited Person, and vice versa.

If you are interested in becoming an Accredited Person, our Accredited Person page explains the role and requirements in detail.

Managing Site Access at Your TF

One of the most overlooked operational challenges for TF operators is controlling who comes in and out of the facility — and demonstrating that control to MPI.

A biosecurity-secure facility needs more than a sign-in sheet. When contractors, delivery drivers, or casual workers access your TF, you need to be confident they have been inducted, understand the biosecurity rules, and that there is a clear, auditable record of their access.

Many TF operators are now using digital site access systems to manage this — ensuring site access is only granted after staff have completed induction training, and maintaining automated records of who was on site and when. This creates exactly the kind of documented evidence MPI expects to see during a verification visit.

If you are looking for a purpose-built solution for this, SiteKey is designed specifically for businesses that need to control site access and link it to training completion.

Summary

A Transitional Facility is a legally approved premises where imported goods are held or processed before biosecurity clearance into New Zealand. TF operators carry significant obligations under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the TFGen facility standard.

The key things to have in order:

Operator training — the facility operator must hold an MPI-approved operator training qualification before approval is granted.
TF Operating Manual — a written, current, accessible manual that covers your operation, hygiene procedures, and contingency plan. MPI provides a template.
Staff awareness training — all TF staff must complete MPI's biosecurity awareness module, with completion signed off by the operator and records kept on file.
Verification readiness — MPI can visit at any time. Your systems, records, and people need to reflect your TF Manual — not just exist on paper.

Both training and site access management are things we can help with at biosecuritytraining.nz.