SGS Achieves Dairy Industry Accreditation

News release
12th November 2007

SGS Achieves Dairy Industry Accreditation

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has awarded SGS New Zealand Limited Dairy Recognised Agency status, introducing a private competitor into the dairy industry accreditation field for the first time.

“We’re delighted to be able to provide an alternative for New Zealand’s dairy industry,” says Murray Roberts, Business Manager, Agricultural and CTS Food sectors, SGS New Zealand Limited.

Up until now, the only Dairy Recognised Agency has been the state-owned enterprise AsureQuality Limited (formerly AgriQuality Ltd).

“Members of the industry have encouraged us to apply for this status to become a service provider to what is New Zealand’s largest export industry.”

Mr Roberts says the accreditation enables SGS to provide evaluation and verification of Risk Management Programmes and provide load out supervision for European-bound consignments to dairy manufacturers, transporters and storage operators. These activities complement SGS’s ability to perform laboratory testing to meet domestic and export requirements in the NZ dairy sector.

“SGS recognises the importance of dairying to New Zealand, and we look forward to providing a new level of service to the dairy industry. We’ve recruited two extremely experienced people, Ian Cardno (National Programme Manager) and Ruth Houston (Senior Auditor), both of whom were previously with the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s compliance and investigation group, so they are well aware of the standards required.”

SGS New Zealand Ltd employs 380 people in seven business groups around the country and is part of the SGS Group, which is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognised as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With more than 48,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

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