New food imports programme for New Zealand
Government this week approved the release of information on the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s (NZFSA) new imported food programme. The new programme will be implemented over the next two years and brings the process of importing food more into line with the proposed new domestic food regime.
The changes, which will give consumers more assurance about the food they are eating, follows on from an extensive review into New Zealand’s food and food related products’ importing system. The review recommended NZFSA update controls on imported foods. Since then, NZFSA has been developing options and working with representatives from the importing industry to design the new imports programme.
The principles of the new programme’s design are to manage risks at the appropriate point in the food chain, to be flexible, and to ensure adequate, scientific-based controls on imported food and food related products
The new imports programme will group foods into one of three levels of regulatory interest, each of which will have differing import requirements related to the product’s potential risk.
Part of the new Food Bill being developed as a response to the Domestic Food Review will include requirements relating to imports. Importers will need to comply with general obligations as well as specific requirements applying to higher risk foods, register with NZFSA, keep records and, on request, report this information to NZFSA. It is expected that importers will use some of the same tools, such as Food Control Plans, proposed for local food operators under the new Bill. Local operators who also import foods will be able to cover both their domestic and importing operations under one Food Control Plan.
Once implemented, the new imports programme will provide greater confidence that imported food is safe and suitable, and complies with the relevant standards.
The changes, which will give consumers more assurance about the food they are eating, follows on from an extensive review into New Zealand’s food and food related products’ importing system. The review recommended NZFSA update controls on imported foods. Since then, NZFSA has been developing options and working with representatives from the importing industry to design the new imports programme.
The principles of the new programme’s design are to manage risks at the appropriate point in the food chain, to be flexible, and to ensure adequate, scientific-based controls on imported food and food related products
The new imports programme will group foods into one of three levels of regulatory interest, each of which will have differing import requirements related to the product’s potential risk.
Part of the new Food Bill being developed as a response to the Domestic Food Review will include requirements relating to imports. Importers will need to comply with general obligations as well as specific requirements applying to higher risk foods, register with NZFSA, keep records and, on request, report this information to NZFSA. It is expected that importers will use some of the same tools, such as Food Control Plans, proposed for local food operators under the new Bill. Local operators who also import foods will be able to cover both their domestic and importing operations under one Food Control Plan.
Once implemented, the new imports programme will provide greater confidence that imported food is safe and suitable, and complies with the relevant standards.