Meat to New Caledonia

(Last updated: 17 Jul 2007)

Trends and opportunities

The market

In New Caledonia, meat import exclusively from New Zealand and Australia complements the local production. New Zealand is by far the dominant supplier being the almost exclusive source of fresh meat. In recent times imports have reduced slightly and are likely to gradually fall as local production strengthens further.

In New Caledonia, basic cuts of meat tend to be in higher demand than the premium cuts.

Australia is the leading supplier of cuts with bone-in, and for certain types of boneless cuts such as brisket, flanks, flat and top ribs. Australia supplies a relatively minor proportion of frozen meat into New Caledonia. Australia only supplies a minimal percentage of frozen lamb.

There is only one approved importer of meat, the Office de Commercialisation et d’Entreposage Frigorifique (OCEF) – The Marketing and Refrigerated Depot Office.

Opportunities

The best opportunities for Australia meat exporters are in:

• frozen beef
• frozen pork
• fresh or frozen lamb

Competitive environment

Apart from nickel mining, agriculture is the dominant domestic industry, and the local authorities are encouraging local production of meat.

According to the OCEF, New Zealand lamb tends to suit the French palate better, perceiving New Zealand lamb to be less fatty than Australian lamb.

New Zealand is the dominant and main competitor to Australian exporters.

Tariffs, regulations and customs

There are no import restrictions such as quotas on fresh or frozen meat

As noted, the Office de Commercialisation et d’Entreposage Frigorifique (OCEF) – The Marketing and Refrigerated Depot Office is only approved importer of meat. 

Meat imports are exempt from Customs Duty and General Import Tax, but they are subject to:

• Basic Import Tax of five per cent
• Port Tax of one per cent

All import taxes are calculated on the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of goods.

There is neither sales tax nor value added tax (VAT) in New Caledonia.

The general import tax regime of New Caledonia consists of the following:

• General Import Tax (TGI) – 0 to 31 per cent (depending on product)
• Basic Import Tax (TBI) – 5 per cent
• Customs Duty – from 0 to 20 per cent (only applicable to imports from non-EC countries)
• Conjunctural Tax – from 15 to 50 per cent (applicable on some products which are locally
• manufactured such as beer, chocolate, pasta, ice cream etc.)
• Airfreight Tax - 8 per cent (please note; airfreight is not subject to TBI)
• Port Tax – 1 per cent

Industry standards

When exporting foodstuffs from Australia, the relevant sanitary certificate must be attached to shipping documents.

Where applicable, French (or bilingual) labelling is a legal requirement. Retailers can be fined for displaying products that are not labelled in French.

More information

To obtain information on duties applicable to your product, please contact the local customs, Service des Douanes de Calédonie, email: douanes.nc@offratel.nc

Marketing your products and services

Market entry

Although the Office de Commercialisation et d’Entreposage Frigorifique (OCEF) – The Marketing and Refrigerated Depot Office has a demonstrated preference for New Zealand product, they are willing to consider Australian suppliers.

Australian meat producers have two options:

1. Market its product through Australian brokers
2. Approach the OCEF direct

Although the OCEF tends to have traditional suppliers, interested independent companies should fax details of its produce, along with indicative prices. The OCEF may then request samples from producers with whom they are not already familiar. Producing a French-language version of your marketing collateral will be an advantage.

Distribution channels

The OCEF is the only authorised importer of fresh and frozen meat into New Caledonia. It is also owns two slaughtering houses, with a total capacity of 6000 tonnes a year, and is responsible for the local slaughtering program and distribution to butchers in the territory.

The OCEF tends to deal with a few preferred suppliers in both Australia and New Zealand. They are generally meat brokers, which are able to consolidate various types and cuts of meat into one container, rather than individual meat producers.

The OCEF places orders (approximately) monthly, importing about eight or nine containers per year.

Transport

One cargo vessel services New Caledonia out of Australia every week. The journey is approximately three to four days. The volume of sea freight from Australia is around 4000 containers per year. 

Airfreight is available on all passenger flights. Two airlines service New Caledonia out of Australia; QANTAS and the local airline, Air Caledonie International, have regular flights from Australia to New Caledonia from Sydney and Brisbane.

There are no dedicated air cargo services out of Australia to New Caledonia.

Links and industry contacts

Meat-related resources

Office de Commercialisation et d’Entreposage Frigorifique (OCEF)
Meat section
B.P 258
98845 Noumea Cedex
Tel: (687) 25 08 00
Fax: (687) 27 39 19

Government, business and trade resources for New Caledonia

New Caledonian Economic Development Board - www.adecal.nc
B.P 2384, 98845 Noumea Cedex
Tel: (687) 249 077
Fax (687) 249 087

Syndicat des Commercants Negociants (Traders Association)
PO Box M3
98849 Noumea Cedex
Tel: (687) 27 54 10
Fax: (687) 27 61 48

Syndicat des Importateurs et Distributeurs de Nouvelle Calédonie
(Importers and Distributors Association)
PO Box 11496
98802 Noumea Cedex
Tel: (687) 25 45 38
Fax: (687) 25 45 39

New Caledonian Bureau of Statistics
B.P 823, 98845 Noumea Cedex
Tel: (687) 275 481
Fax: (687) 288 148
Email: itsee@itsee.nc

New Caledonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
B.P M3, 98849 Noumea Cedex
Tel:  (687) 243 100
Fax: (687) 243 131

New Caledonian Customs Department
B.P 13, 98845 Noumea Cedex
Tel: (687) 265 781
Fax (687) 276 497
Email: douanes.nc@offratel.nc

Business Directories - www.annuaires.net 
Kaori - www.kaori.nc New Caledonia local portal

Service providers:

Financial

Banque Caledonienne d'Investissement – www.bci.nc
Societe Generale – http://groupe.socgen.com/sgcb

KPMG Peat Marwick
Email: info@kpmg.nc

PricewaterhouseCoopers
Email: pwc.audit@offratel.nc

@com Audit Pacifique-Cofigex - Local representative for Ernst & Young
Email: audit@acomaudit.com

Legal

Societe Professionnelle d'Avocats Louzier-Roger-Fauche
Email: avocats.lrf@mls.nc

SELARL d'Avocats POC et Associes
Email: pocnc@lagoon.nc

SELARL de Greslan-Briant
Email: acocadgb@canl.nc

Juriscal - Juriscal works with PricewaterhouseCoopers
Email: juris@offratel.nc

Internet service providers
CANL - www.canl.nc

Micro Logic System - www.mls.nc
Offratel - www.offratel.nc

Media

Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes - www.lnc.nc (the only daily newspaper published in New Caledonia)

Australian resources

Australian Consulate General
7^th Floor, 19-21 Avenue Foch, City Centre
PO Box 22
98 845 Noumea
New Caledonia
Tel: (687) 272 414
Fax: (687) 278 001

Contact details

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government’s trade and investment development agency, operating as a statutory agency within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.

Austrade assists Australian businesses contribute to national prosperity by succeeding in trade and investment, internationally, and promoting and supporting productive foreign investment into Australia.

Austrade:

• Delivers services that assist Australian businesses initiate, sustain and grow trade and outward investment.
• Promotes Australia as an inward investment destination and, with the States and Territories, supports the inflow of productive foreign direct investment.
• Administers the Export Market Development Grants scheme.
• Undertakes initiatives designed to improve community awareness of, and commitment to, international trade and investment.
• Provides advice to the Australian Government on its trade and investment development activities.
• Delivers consular, passport and other government services in designated overseas locations.

A list of Austrade offices (in alphabetical order of country) is available.

More information

For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au

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