Transitioning to the new food regime

Stakeholders have their say on transitioning to the new food regime

14 May 2007

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has published a summary of the submissions received on the ninth discussion paper for the Domestic Food Review – Transition Policy and Related Implementation. This paper was developed as part of the NZFSA review of the entire New Zealand food regulatory programme, being undertaken to ensure that New Zealand's vital food sector is positioned to deal with the significant growth expected over the next 20 years.

The discussion paper outlined the proposed implementation plans for the new food regulatory regime, identified the food sellers that will be affected and when each food-selling sector will need to comply during the five-year transition period.

Carole Inkster, NZFSA's Director of Policy says: "Responses have been generally positive with submitters praising NZFSA for its comprehensive consultation process. There were, though, a number of concerns raised about the transition and we are well advanced in analysing those and changing the proposals to reflect some very good suggestions for making transition the very smoothest possible."

The 48 submissions (from business groups, government bodies, industry organisations, community groups, and professional bodies) expressed general agreement with the principles of national consistency, reduction of foodborne illness, and the provision for 'persons' to take responsibility for providing safe and suitable food.

Submitters sought more information on the roles and responsibilities of local councils and public health units, cost recovery, education and training requirements, and the registration process. "Generally, there has been qualified support for the registration proposals and the general principle that operators cannot provide food unless they are registered," says Carole.

The principal risk management tool in the new food regime is a Food Control Plan (FCP). These may be developed using an off-the-peg (OTP) template prepared by and available free from NZFSA or be custom-made to fit an individual business and paid for by the business.

In general, submitters support FCPs as a risk-management tool, especially proposals for the OTP FCPs to be kept as simple as possible and available free for food operators. The main concerns raised were around how OTP FCPs will apply to specific sectors and the number of sectors to be brought into the new regime in the early years of the transition period. NZFSA is and will continue to work with relevant industry sectors when developing OTP FCPs to ensure they are practical for each sector. Carole Inkster says NZFSA is currently conducting a three-month trial in more than 50 food-service premises that involves pre- and post-trial assessments of a prototype OTP FCP for the food-service sector.

Many submitters expressed concerns that the start date (1 July 2008) was too soon and consideration is being given to a delay of some months.

The summary, along with all the papers published as part of the DFR, can be downloaded from NZFSA's website: www.nzfsa.govt.nz/policy-law/projects/domestic-food-review/index.htm.

ENDS

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