Food News 12 November 2021

12 November 2021

Verifying Businesses that Import Food

Do you verify businesses that import food? If so, we want to hear from you. New Zealand Food Safety is developing resources to support Food Act 2014 verifiers who verify importers. We want to know your pain points and uncertainties. To share your feedback, please email us at verifieracademy@mpi.govt.nz by 5pm 17 November. Read more.

CPD Self-Assessment and Learning Plans

Verifiers, we’re now in the 2021/22 Continuing Professional Development year. As a reminder, you’ll need to complete the Self-Assessment and two Learning Plans by 30 November 2021. Your Learning Plans should capture your development aims from now until 30 September 2022. Read more.

Update on Template Review Project

The Food & Beverage team is reviewing the National Programme guidance (1, 2 and 3), My Food Plan, Simply Safe & Suitable and the Food Safety Template for Cheesemakers to make sure these documents are up-to-date, fit-for-purpose, and easy-to-use for food businesses and verifiers. Read more.

Have Your Say

Animal Products Notices

For verifiers who work across multiple Acts, your feedback is welcome on two stand-alone Animal Products Act 1999 Notices which are open for public consultation as part of the Animal Products and Wine Regulatory Redesign Project. Read more.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Update on Plain English Allergen Labelling

In February 2021, the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was amended to introduce new requirements for the labelling of allergens in food. These Plain English Allergen Labelling changes will help ensure mandatory food allergen declarations are clearer and more consistent for consumers. Read more.

Risk-based Measures for Selling Frozen Pies

As a reminder, outlets that manufacture and retail pies (including frozen pies) can operate under a Simply Safe & Suitable Template Food Control Plan. Read more.

Close-out Dates for Approvals' Applications

For the Christmas/New Year period, most Ministry for Primary Industries’ sites will be closed from 12 noon on 24 December 2021, and will open again on 5 January 2022. Please note there will be minimal staff attendance on 24 December and from 5-10 January. Read more.

Saying Goodbye to Mike Webster and Elli Harb

The Food & Beverage team is sad to be saying goodbye to Mike Webster and Elli Harb from our liaison team. For registration, verification and enforcement enquiries, email us at foodactinfo@mpi.govt.nz. Read more.

What's New on the Web

Horticulture: Registration Growers & Packers

We’re continuing to work with Horticulture New Zealand and its associated product groups to help make Food Act 2014 registrations as easy as possible. A number of Section 40 Template Food Control Plans have been approved and are available for horticultural businesses. Read more.

Exporting: Animal Products E-cert

New Zealand Food Safety’s Export Regulatory Advice Service (ERAS) team understands some exporters and operators have issues with the Animal Product (AP) E-cert system. ERAS has published a suite of new resources on Learn how to raise an animal product export certificate in AP E-cert. Read more.