The Ministry for Primary Industries says an animal limb has been discovered in an imported load of palm kernel.
It says it was found by a Bay of Plenty Farmer on 12 May and identified as the leg of a deer or goat species foreign to New Zealand.
New Zealand imports nearly all of its palm kernel, a supplementary feed for dairy cows, from Indonesia and Malaysia. Foot and mouth disease is common in the latter country.
Andrew Coleman, the ministry's deputy director of compliance and response, said the chances of the leg bringing disease into New Zealand is low. A vet had been sent to the farm and all animals were found to be in good health.
Mr Coleman said the benefits of importing palm kernel from the countries outweighs the risks, but it is important that high biosecurity standards are kept.
The ministry says it does not know where the limb came from.
