Getting Started.

Raw Materials

• Are raw materials certified as being GMO free / free range / antibiotic or hormone free ?
  Our raw materials are sourced from livestock which is free range, grass fed and free of GMO, hormones and anti-biotics, but those raw materials are not certified as such. It may be possible to source certified raw materials so if this is something which is of interest then please enquire.
• Is raw material sourcing done seasonally ?
  Some raw materials are harvested seasonally when the livestock is processed into meat. The products that are seasonal are venison, lamb and veal. Biophive secures the supply volume that we need by forecasting demand with our customers. 
• What species does Biophive source raw materials from?
  Biophive uses raw materials from venison (deer), beef, sheep, lamb, goat, veal (young beef), greenlipped mussels. In addition we can source other species for customer specific requirements such as ostrich, possum, salmon and other fish.
• Where are raw materials sourced from ?
  Biophive is the only pet products processor that has a vertically integrated raw material supply chain so, unless otherwise stated, raw materials are sourced from New Zealand government licensed export meat processing facilities.

Product Range

• Does Biophive have a standard product range ?
  Biophive does have a standard range of pet treats which are available. These are the products that are listed on the our products page. In addition, Biophive is able to develop and process customised treats to meet customers specific requirements.
• Is it possible to have Biophive supply a unique / bespoke / customised product ?
  Yes - Biophive is able to develop and process customised treats to meet customers specific requirements.
• What is the shelf life for the products ?
  The shelf life for all standard products is 2 years.

Product Development

• Does Biophive have product development capability ?
  Yes – Biophive has the expertise to develop new products utilising both internal food technologists as well as being able to access external experts if a customer has highly specialised requirements.
• If I pay to have a product developed then who owns the Intellectual Property ?
  If the product development work utilises existing Biophive intellectual property then Biophive retains the exclusive ownership of that intellectual property. If there is new intellectual property which is created as an outcome of the product development work then the intellectual property is owned equally by both parties.
• If I pay to have a product developed, is that product exclusive ?
  There are some circumstances where it is possible to have product development work carried out which would result in exclusive ownership of the product. Please discuss this with us.
• Is there a fee for development of a new product ?
  For some development work a fee is charged. Biophive has a standard Product Development Agreement. If a product development fee is charged then the fee is credited back against the first order(s). Contact us to discuss your product development requirements with us.

Packaging

• Can I arrange for delivery of a container of imported packaging directly to Biophive ?

  Biophive is not an approved transitional facility which means that we are not New Zealand government licensed to receive and unload containers which are imported from offshore. So a container would need to be unloaded at another facility and the packaging then delivered to Biophive. 

• Can I provide my own packaging ?

  Yes – most customers choose to supply their own packaging.

• Can I purchase a product in a bulk pack format ?

  Yes – Biophive is able to pack any treat product into a lined kraft cardboard carton which is taped closed. The carton weight and / or number of product pieces per carton will vary for each treat product.

• Does Biophive supply the packaging ?

  Most customers choose to supply their own packaging and Biophive can provide details of options for packaging suppliers. If you would like Biophive to source packaging for you then please discuss with us.

• I would like a completely different type of packaging format, is that possible ?

  Yes – Biophive has semi-automated packing lines which means that we have the flexibility to be able to pack products into almost any type of possible packaging format. Please discuss with you what your unique requirements are.

• If I have special carton labelling requirements, is that able to be done ?

  Yes – there are a number of options for customised carton labelling including modification of the existing standard carton label, pre-printing of cartons and application of an additional pre-printed label during the cartoning process. Please discuss your requirements with us. The contents of labels may be modified on request provided the label continues to meet domestic and export regulatory requirements.

• What format options are available for date coding ?

  Biophive has an inkjet date coder which is able to print alpha numeric code on the top of the pack. The coder is able to also print foreign text (eg: Chinese, Japanese, Arabic). The minimum size of the characters is 1mm and the maximum size of the characters is 13mm. The coder cannot print on clear packaging.

  The presentation and location of the date coding on the pack is dependent on the design of pack and so we prefer to discuss date coding options and requirements with the customer.

• What information is on a shipper carton label ?

  Here is an example of a carton label. The standard information that is printed on a carton label is the product name and description, storage conditions, net weight in kilograms and pounds, product barcode, production / pack date: in format DD/MM/YYYY, shelf life, product code, packing batch cipher, ingredient list, manufacturer address and RMP identifier, country of origin, and carton ID number.

  

• What packaging options are available ?

  The most common form of packaging used for pet treats is a polyethelene stand up pouch with resealable (hand press closure) zipper. Most customers also choose to have a hanging hole on the pack for point of sale display.
  Pouches are then packed into a kraft cardboard shipper carton which is taped closed.

Food Safety & Quality

• Are there any specific compliance requirements for my market that I need to be aware of ?
  The New Zealand Government has international agreements in place with some overseas markets which determine whether there are any specific compliance requirements for import of pet treats into that country from New Zealand. These are called OMARs (Other Market Access Requirements). Biophive can advise you on the specific requirements for your market.
• Does Biophive have product specifications ?
  Yes - Biophive issues customers with a product specification which contains all of the details of the product, including photographs, packaging and any testing requirements. This specification is signed off by the customer prior to production commencing.
• Does Biophive have the required licenses for export ?
  Yes – Biophive is licensed by the New Zealand government’s Ministry of Primary Industries as an approved processor and exported of pet-grade animal products. Biophive is currently permitted to export to Australia, China, European Union, Great Brittan, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, United States of America. If your importing country is not in the list please discuss our capabilities with us.
• Is a Certificate of Analysis provided with my order ?
  Upon request Biophive is able to provide a Certificate of Analysis for each batch of product which is supplied to a customer.
• What testing is carried out on the products ?
  The New Zealand government has international agreements in place with some overseas markets which determine whether testing is required for import of pet treats into that country. These are called OMARs (Other Market Access Requirements). Biophive can advise you on the testing requirements for your import market.Some customers also have specific additional testing that they would like carried out on their product.
• Is product testing included in the cost of the product ?
  If there is testing required for compliance and market access then that testing is included in the cost of the product. If a customer has specific additional testing that they would like carried out then Biophive passes the cost of that testing on to the customer.
• What food safety or quality certifications does the business have ?
  Biophive has a New Zealand Government certified Risk Management Programme (RMP) which is a food safety management system based on HACCP principles. Download the RMP Certificate here. In additional Biophive is certified by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) which is an internationally recognised quality management system which is independently audited annually. Download the BRC Certificate here.

Pricing / Ordering / Payment

• Does Biophive have a standard price list ?
  Yes – Biophive does have a standard price list for the range of standard products. Contact us to obtain a copy of the standard price list.
• Does Biophive have a standard Supply Agreement ?
  Yes – Biophive does have a standard Supply Agreement. Contact us to obtain a copy of the Supply Agreement.
• Does Biophive hold products in stock ?
  Biophive holds some of the standard products in stock and some are processed and packed to order. The normal lead time for standard products is 8 weeks.
• Is there a minimum order quantity for an order ?
  Yes – Biophive does have minimum order quantities for some products. Please discuss that with us.
• What are the payment terms ?
  Standard payment terms for a new customer are 50% payment on order and then the balance prior to uplift (or dispatch) from the Biophive facility.
• What are the standard pricing conditions (eg: ex-works, FOB, CIF) ?
  The pricing for the standard products is ex-works Biophive’s facility in Feilding, New Zealand. Other pricing can be provided if required. Please discuss this with us.
• What is the order lead time ?
  The lead time for standard products is 8 weeks.
• What is the ordering process ?
  When a customer sends through an order, Biophive issues an order confirmation advising all of the order details including delivery date.

Storage

• Is Biophive able to store my packaging or finished products on site ?
  Biophive has limited storage space and so has to use off-site storage for surplus storage requirements. A small weekly / monthly per pallet storage fee is charged for storage packaging or finished products extending beyond the normal order period.

Dispatch / Delivery within New Zealand

• How is delivery within New Zealand done ?
  Finished product is dispatched to customers in New Zealand from the Biophive facility in Feilding using Toll Group (trucking).

Exporting

• How is exporting from New Zealand organised ?
  Either you can make all of the arrangements for the uplift and export of the container from the Biophive facility in Feilding, New Zealand or Biophive can make all of the shipping arrangements on your behalf.
• Is product palletised or block stacked into a container ?
  Shipper cartons of finished product are block stacked into a container by hand.  The product is light (maximum carton weight of 15kg) and so it is easily manually unloaded at the point of delivery.
• Is there a charge for containerisation ?
  No – there is no additional cost for containerisation. That is included in the price as quoted.
• What export documentation is provided ?
  All export shipments are accompanied by an export certificate issued by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries. Upon request the following documentation can also be supplied: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin (issued by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce), Manufacturer’s Declarations, Certificate of Analysis.
• What quantity of product does a 20 foot container hold ?
  A 20 foot container holds 550 of the standard shipper cartons. The quantity which a shipper carton holds varies based on the product which has been packed into it. This information is available in the Product Information section of the website.
• What quantity of product does a 40 foot container hold ?
  A 40 foot container holds 1250 of the standard shipper cartons.The quantity which a shipper carton holds varies based on the product which has been packed into it. This information is available in the Product Information section of the website.

Other

• Is Biophive able to do Toll Processing ?
  Yes – Biophive has a number of customers that they currently carry out toll processing and / or toll packing for. Toll processing is where a customer supplies the raw materials or a partially processed product to be further processed or a finished product for Biophive to pack for them. The ownership of the product remains with the customer at all times and Biophive charges a processing or packing fee, only.