Update from Vincent Arbuckle, DDG, NZFS

Kia ora koutou,

Welcome to the May 2025 edition of Food News.

Earlier this month, I visited Bidfood New Zealand and Hawkins Watts New Zealand in Auckland, as part of my routine stakeholder engagements. These visits were a great opportunity to connect and better understand how our work at New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) impacts business operations.

I also had the privilege of representing New Zealand at the Asia Pacific Food Regulatory Authorities Summit (APFRAS) hosted by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. APFRAS is a regional forum for food regulatory authorities in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 2023, the forum aims to address common challenges in the food sector. The forum is an invaluable opportunity for New Zealand to continue to build our relationship with the host country, Korea, and the many countries from the region that attended. I look forward to building on our engagements and collaboration efforts to further support New Zealand’s food safety system.

Ngā mihi nui,

Vincent Arbuckle
Deputy Director-General, New Zealand Food Safety

Vincent attending APFRAS with other food safety representatives across Asia-Pacific.

Consultation to include the 'Making biltong' into the Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan

We're proposing to add the 'Making biltong' card as a specialist card to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP. Minor amendments are being made to other cards in the template to accommodate the new biltong card and to correct errors regarding pH parameters and water treatment which were advised in the March 2025 edition of Food News.

NZFS invites you to submit feedback on the proposed 'Making biltong' card.

To have your say, fill in the survey. Submissions close at 11:59pm on Sunday 1 June 2025.

A summary of the changes and full details are available on the MPI website.

Check your Continuing Professional Development is on track

There are 4 months remaining in the 2024/25 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) year. Over the next few months, all verifiers should plan to reach their points target and complete their peer review before 30 September. A small number of verifiers have yet to start entering points into their timecard – are you one of them? Avoid the pressure of a time crunch and plan ahead now.

Compulsory Learning

The Good Regulatory Practice module is compulsory for all CPD participants to complete before 30 September. Access the module directly from the Academy homepage, or from the learning activities page. Ensure you make time to complete this module and claim 1 CPD point in your timecard.

Organic Products and Production Act 2023: proposed cost recovery for the new organics regime

MPI is planning to undertake public consultation on proposed cost recovery for the new organics regime. Public consultation will begin on Tuesday 3 June and will be available for submissions here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/.

Section 69 of the Organic Products and Production Act 2023 requires MPI to recover the costs of services under the Act that are not funded by the Crown. This requirement is identical for other regimes MPI administers such as Food Act, Animal Products Act and Wine Act. 

2025 New Zealand Food Awards – entries close 30 May 2025

Do you know a business or product that is new to market, demonstrates innovation, has a sustainable lifestyle, showcases exceptional food safety and delivers an outstanding customer experience? 

NZFS are proud to partner with Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University to sponsor the 2025 Primary Sector Award. 

This award is open to all food and beverage producers, researchers and manufacturers who add value to primary products through:

• the introduction of new varieties, cultivars, or breeds;
• new, innovative, or alternative products; or,
• new, innovative, or alternative methods or technologies for harvesting, processing, packaging products. 

For the purposes of entry, primary products include meats, poultry, seafood, milk, horticultural produce, grains, and honey.

The countdown is on with entries closing this Friday 30 May. A judging panel will review all entries, and the winner will be presented with their award at the New Zealand Food Awards Gala Dinner in Palmerston North on 16 October 2025.

Visit the website for more information, including the entry process.  

Read about last year’s winners of the Primary Sector Award – Next Generation Apples

Visit the NZFS stand at Fine Food New Zealand 2025

Come visit NZFS at the Fine Food New Zealand show, held on the 29 June - 1 July at the Auckland Showgrounds.

You can talk to our team at our stand (N11) or listen to our presentations at the show:

• Sunday 29 June at 11.00am: “Keeping informed: Updates to rules and services that might affect you”
• Tuesday 1 July at 2.00pm: “Future foods and the regulatory framework in New Zealand”

Emerging Food Allergy Risk webinar

This year, NZFS are hosting a series of webinars on emerging food allergies, inviting leading experts to present their research. They are a great opportunity to look ahead at how allergies affect consumers and the food industry from a range of perspectives.

Join us for the second webinar in our Emerging Food Allergy Risk Webinar Series:

Our current understanding of the psychological impact of food allergies featuring Professor Rebecca Knibb, Aston University, Newcastle

Date: Thursday 29 May 2025

Time: 11am-12pm NZST

For information about other emerging risks in New Zealand’s food safety system, subscribe to the regular Food Safety Insights, Emerging Risks and Current Issues bulletin. Speakers, topics, and registration details are circulated through the bulletin, which also regularly includes developments and learnings on food allergen risks.

World Food Safety Day webinar

Join NZFS for a webinar about the food safety science behind edible seaweed.

United Nations World Food Safety Day is marked on 7 June each year to highlight how important food safety is for the health, prosperity and wellbeing of people around the world. The theme for 2025 is ‘Food safety: science in action’. This theme recognises the role science plays in ensuring the credibility and accuracy of food safety guidance for governments, food businesses and consumers. However, the theme goes further, by reminding us that food can only be safe if the guidance and advice is put into action.

In the webinar, you will hear from NZFS experts and their work on understanding the food safety risks associated with edible seaweed and its safety implications to New Zealanders.

The food safety science behind edible seaweed

Date: Friday 6 June 2025

Time: 12-1pm

Registration: Please register to attend here

Presenters:

• Jefferson Fowles, Principal Adviser Toxicology, Food Risk Assessment, NZFS
• Kate Thomas, Senior Adviser Microbiology, Food Risk Assessment, NZFS

We look forward to you joining us. 

For more information about the event, please visit the MPI website.