FAOLEX Database

Cook Islands - Country Profiles

Cook Islands Constitution (with amendments incorporated)
Date of text: 04 August 1965

Policies

Biosecurity Plan for Palmerston, Manihiki and Penrhyn Islands of the Cook Islands.
Date of text: 14 July 2023
National Security Policy 2023–2026.
Date of text: 2023
National health strategic plan 2023 - 2027.
Date of text: 2023
National Environment Policy 2022 - 2032.
Date of text: 01 December 2022
Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) Strategic Plan 2022-2026.
Date of text: 01 June 2022

Legislation

Agricultural and rural development

Agriculture Act No. 4 of 2021.
Date of text: 25 March 2021

Cultivated plants

Biosecurity Act, 2008 (No. 14 of 2008).
Date of text: 24 September 2008
Pesticides Act.
Date of text: 04 December 1987
Biosecurity (Fees, Charges, and Penalties) Regulations 2025.
Date of text: 28 January 2025

Disaster risk management

Disaster Risk Management Act, 2007 (No. 33 of 2007).
Date of text: 30 November 2007
Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Act (No. 15 of 2021).
Date of text: 06 December 2021

Environment

Environment Act 2003 (No. 23 of 2003).
Date of text: 19 November 2003
Solid and Hazardous Waste Act (No. 4 of 2025).
Date of text: 27 June 2025
Biosecurity Act, 2008 (No. 14 of 2008).
Date of text: 24 September 2008
Infrastructure Act No. 6 of 2019.
Date of text: 17 June 2019
Noise Control Act (No. 3 of 1986).
Date of text: 22 July 1986

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Marine Resources Act 2005 (No. 7 of 2005).
Date of text: 29 July 2005
Ministry of Marine Resources Legislation Act No. 16 of 2019.
Date of text: 17 December 2019
Ministry of Marine Resources Act, 1984 (Act No. 15).
Date of text: 27 December 1984
Pearl and Pearl Shell (Penrhyn, Rakahanga and Manihiki Lagoons) Act 1982 (No. 8 of 1982).
Date of text: 10 September 1982
Trochus Act 1975.
Date of text: 05 March 1975

Food and nutrition

Food Act (No. 23 of 1992-1993).
Date of text: 13 July 1993
Re-use of Bottles Act 1988.
Date of text: 14 June 1988
Food Regulations 2014 (No. 01 of 2014).
Date of text: 04 February 2014
Food (Fish Export Processing) Regulations 2006.
Date of text: 02 May 2006
Food Amendment Act 2005 (No. 13 of 2005).
Date of text: 10 October 2005

Forestry

Cook Islands Native Timber Preservation Ordinance 1957.
Date of text: 08 November 1957 (1965)

Land and soil

Property Act 1952.
Date of text: 24 October 1952
Land Agents Registration Act 2009 (No. 2 of 2009).
Date of text: 11 February 2009
Small Claims Tribunal Act 2008 (No. 20 of 2008).
Date of text: 26 November 2008
Unit Titles Act (No. 17 of 2005).
Date of text: 14 October 2005
Penrhyn (Naharakura Lease) Facilitation Act 1992 (No. 12 of 1992).
Date of text: 21 December 1992

Livestock

Biosecurity Act, 2008 (No. 14 of 2008).
Date of text: 24 September 2008
Wandering Animals Act 1976.
Date of text: 01 December 1976
Agriculture Regulations 2025.
Date of text: 18 February 2025
Biosecurity (Fees, Charges, and Penalties) Regulations 2025.
Date of text: 28 January 2025

Mineral resources and energy

Atomic Energy Act, 1945 (Act No. 41 of 1945).
Date of text: 07 December 1945 (01 July 1992)
Seabed Minerals (Royalties) Regulations 2013.
Date of text: 10 December 2013
Seabed Minerals (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 2020.
Date of text: 30 June 2020

Sea

Maritime Zones Act No. 1 of 2018.
Date of text: 23 February 2018
Maritime Transport Act 2008 (No. 4 of 2008).
Date of text: 19 February 2008
Prevention of Marine Pollution Act (No. 5 of 1998).
Date of text: 23 July 1998
Ports Authority Act 1994-95 (No. 30).
Date of text: 01 July 1995
Marine Pollution Act.
Date of text: 06 April 1974

Water

Public Health (Sewage and Wastewater Treatment and Disposal) Regulations 2014.
Date of text: 2014
To Tatou Vai (Free Water Allocation and Funding of Catchment Committees) Regulations 2025.
Date of text: 04 June 2025
Public Health Sewage (Forms) Regulations 2008.
Date of text: 04 December 2008
Operation, Testing and Reporting Standards.
Date of text: 18 June 2014
Design and Construction Standards.
Date of text: 18 June 2014

Wild species and ecosystems

Environment Act 2003 (No. 23 of 2003).
Date of text: 19 November 2003
Marae Moana Act 2017 (No. 10 of 2017).
Date of text: 13 July 2017
Conservation Act 1986-87.
Date of text: 15 April 1987
Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust Act 1999 (No. 14 of 1999).
Date of text: 25 March 1999
Cook Islands Declaration on the establishment of a whale sanctuary.
Date of text: 01 September 2001

Miscellaneous

Public Health Act (No. 17 of 2024).
Date of text: 20 May 2024
Traditional Knowledge Act No. 7 of 2013.
Date of text: 06 December 2013
Official Information Act No.2 of 2008.
Date of text: 18 February 2008
Development Investment Act 1995-96.
Date of text: 1996 (2007)
Ministry of Health Act 2013 (Act No. 6 of 2013).
Date of text: 13 June 2013

International Agreements

Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands.
Date of text: 2021
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands.
Date of text: 04 October 2016
Agreement between the Government of the Cook Islands and the Government of Niue concerning the delimitation of the maritime boundary between the Cook Islands and Niue.
Date of text: 29 August 2012

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