Interim moratorium on the Approval of Food Safety Programmes for Importers
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has implemented an interim moratorium on the approval of Food Safety Programmes (FSP) for importers pending the current implementation of the Imported Food Review (IFR) and outcomes of the Domestic Food Review (DFR)
The NZFSA initiated a strategic review of regulatory arrangements controlling the importation of Food and Food-related products into New Zealand in 2004. The purpose of this review was to recommend cost effective ways to improve the regime that regulates the importation of these items, to better meet the reasonable expectations of consumers and the food industry, as well as the likely demands of the future international trading environment, without compromising public safety. NZFSA are currently implementing the outcomes of this review.
Simultaneously the NZFSA is also undertaking a comprehensive review of government involvement in the domestic food sector. This Domestic Food Review (DFR) seeks to respond to a number of problems and issues that have arisen with the existing regulatory framework applying to food in New Zealand.
The reason the NZFSA are introducing this moratorium is to ensure consistency with the proposed outcomes of the DFR as well as providing more certainty to importers on the scope and clarity on food safety requirements arising from the implementation of the IFR.
This moratorium will affect Importers who solely ‘import only’. Importers who conduct other activities such as cold storage, repacking, manufacturing - are subject to other Food Act requirements (particularly registration). A Food Safety Programme (FSP) is appropriate for such activities. The "import activity" of any such FSPs will continue to be managed by Standard Management Rules and a hazard analysis approach.
NZFSA recognizes those importers who already have a NZFSA approved FSP or who are currently developing or operating a FSP. Your efforts have not been wasted as any new systems developed under the IFR are likely to follow a similar risk management approach. In addition we are obliged to register any programme submitted that is acceptable in terms of Section 8 of the Food Act despite the moratorium. Any future FSP approval given will be time-bound and subject to the development of any future requirements of the IFR.
We expect this moratorium to be in place for the next 12 - 18 months.
The NZFSA initiated a strategic review of regulatory arrangements controlling the importation of Food and Food-related products into New Zealand in 2004. The purpose of this review was to recommend cost effective ways to improve the regime that regulates the importation of these items, to better meet the reasonable expectations of consumers and the food industry, as well as the likely demands of the future international trading environment, without compromising public safety. NZFSA are currently implementing the outcomes of this review.
Simultaneously the NZFSA is also undertaking a comprehensive review of government involvement in the domestic food sector. This Domestic Food Review (DFR) seeks to respond to a number of problems and issues that have arisen with the existing regulatory framework applying to food in New Zealand.
The reason the NZFSA are introducing this moratorium is to ensure consistency with the proposed outcomes of the DFR as well as providing more certainty to importers on the scope and clarity on food safety requirements arising from the implementation of the IFR.
This moratorium will affect Importers who solely ‘import only’. Importers who conduct other activities such as cold storage, repacking, manufacturing - are subject to other Food Act requirements (particularly registration). A Food Safety Programme (FSP) is appropriate for such activities. The "import activity" of any such FSPs will continue to be managed by Standard Management Rules and a hazard analysis approach.
NZFSA recognizes those importers who already have a NZFSA approved FSP or who are currently developing or operating a FSP. Your efforts have not been wasted as any new systems developed under the IFR are likely to follow a similar risk management approach. In addition we are obliged to register any programme submitted that is acceptable in terms of Section 8 of the Food Act despite the moratorium. Any future FSP approval given will be time-bound and subject to the development of any future requirements of the IFR.
We expect this moratorium to be in place for the next 12 - 18 months.