Update from Vincent Arbuckle, DDG, NZFS

Kia ora koutou,

For those of you who were able to attend the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health’s (NZIEH) Professional Development Conference last month I do hope you found the two days worthwhile. 

It was my pleasure to present at the conference and provide some insights into New Zealand Food Safety’s (NZFS) role in the food safety system, as well as updates on our current initiatives and priorities.

I have been in the role of Deputy Director-General at NZFS for nearly three years now, and I am extremely impressed by the hard work and dedication I have seen from those within the food industry and our co-regulatory partners working within territorial authorities. This work goes a long way to ensure that consumers are protected, the industry thrives, and we all maintain the strong reputation of New Zealand’s food sector.

To align with the conference theme ‘Small steps, giant strides’, the presentations delivered by NZFS staff were to support the work of those working in food safety to continue to take steps forward that have a significant impact. These presentations included making biltong safely, the Hepatitis A outbreak investigation, and what constitutes a critical non-compliance during a verification?

Thank you to Tanya Morrison, NZIEH National President and the team who organised the conference. It is always a big job, but the hard work pays off as the conference provides valuable personal development and an opportunity for everyone to step back from their everyday mahi and consider the bigger picture.  

Improving guidance and learning for Food Act verifiers and registration authorities 

NZFS is working to improve consistency of Food Act verifications nationwide by developing guidance and learning resources to support verifiers and registration authorities. This work is focused on the following three areas:

• how topics are selected for verification;
• how unacceptable verification results are handled; and
• protocols for unscheduled or unannounced verifications.

The project team has met with verifiers and registration authorities to better understand issues with the current verification processes and to identify opportunities to strengthen available support. We are using this information to develop new or updated guidance and learning solutions in response to the key issues identified.

Draft learning materials and guidance will shortly be available for testing, and we invite verifiers and registration authorities to test and provide feedback on these resources for us. If you are interested in testing the draft resources, please email teamdevelopment@mpi.govt.nz 

Finalised materials will be available at the end of June 2024.

NZFS is also reviewing existing Food Safety Academy (Academy) resources. This month we sent survey invitations to Academy users to gather your thoughts on how the learning resources in the Academy could be improved. The survey closed on 19 April. We are now analysing the survey responses and will use this information to guide the next stages of this work. Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey as your feedback is valuable.

Revised Importing Food Notice Published

Last week, NZFS published the revised Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale, which comes into effect on 1 August 2024.

This amendment includes new rules for importing frozen berries, as well as a minor change to importing canned bovine meat products from the EU and UK.

The revised Notice:

• Changes the imported food category of frozen berries from Increased Regulatory Interest (IRI) food to High Regulatory Interest (HRI) food.
• Changes the scope of the new rules, with clearance required only for ready-to-eat frozen berries and specified frozen berry products. Frozen berries intended for further processing will not require food safety clearance.
• Lists the berries that are included under these rules and clarifies the products that are excluded.
• Introduces a new food safety clearance pathway for frozen berries, by providing evidence of third-party certificates of overseas manufacturers certified to a GFSI-recognised standard.
• Allows food safety clearance of canned bovine meat products from the EU or UK with evidence of an EU or UK identification mark.

There will be a transition period from 1 August 2024 to 31 January 2026. Over this period importers can gain food safety clearance of frozen berries by using the previous clearance pathway of consignment testing or the new pathway using third-party certificates.

From 1 February 2026 all frozen berry imports must comply with the new rules and can only gain food safety clearance by using third-party certificates or official certificates issued by the exporting country. 

Guidance will be provided on the new requirements, including how to submit an overseas manufacturer third-party certificate for checking, on our MPI website before the rules come into effect.

New Food Importer Newsletter 

NZFS is launching a new newsletter. The Food Importer News is a regular e-newsletter for food importers, agents and food businesses that provides updates about the rules for importing food under the Food Act 2014. It is a valuable source of information for anyone who imports food for sale. 

Subscribe here to join the mailing list and keep up to date on the latest news or if you have any contacts that would be interested in receiving these newsletters, please forward the link to join the mailing list. 

Food Safety Insights, Emerging Risks and Current Issues bulletin 

NZFS has begun publishing a fortnightly report about overseas food recalls and events that might signal future food safety concerns. We are sharing the report with food businesses and verifiers so they can consider and act on the information as needed.

NZFS has always monitored for new sources of risk, but this work represents a more deliberate effort to watch for signs of change. By dedicating a small resource to focussing on the future, NZFS aims to increase the ability to identify a risk early, as it is emerging.

To read the reports, go to the Food safety insights, emerging risks, and current issues bulletin page where you can also subscribe to receive notifications when each bulletin is published.

2024 Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award 

Do you know an individual, a team, or an organisation who has made a significant contribution to improving food safety in Aotearoa New Zealand?

NZFS are proud to partner with the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) to sponsor the 2024 Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award for the eighth year.

The Award recognises developments in a process or operation to improve food safety across, or in a particular part of, the food chain. This could include developing or improving a food safety process or operation. It could be in one sector, or across a few sectors, and is not time specific. 

Entries are open now until 27 May 2024. A judging panel will review all nominations and the winner will be presented with their award at the NZIFST Food Industry Awards Dinner in Hamilton on 3 July 2024.

Visit our website for more information, including the entry form.  

Entries for 2024 New Zealand Food Awards open on 1 May

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 2024 Primary Sector Award. 

The Award recognises researchers and manufacturers who have added value through the introduction of:
•    new varieties, cultivars, or breeds
•    new or alternative harvesting, processing, or packaging to extract or create new or innovative primary sector products.

Entries are open 1- 31 May 2024. A judging panel will review all nominations and the winner will be presented with their award at the NZ Food Awards Gala Dinner in Auckland on 10 October 2024.

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

Coming up 

World Food Safety Day is fast approaching this year and will be held on Friday 7 June 2024. Through World Food Safety Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues its efforts to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. The theme for this year is 'food safety: be prepared for the unexpected'. More information about World Food Safety Day will be provided in the next issue.