Update from Mike Inglis, Acting Deputy Director-General, New Zealand Food Safety

Kia ora koutou,

On 7 June, New Zealand Food Safety celebrated World Food Safety Day. This year's theme, "from burden to solutions - safe food everywhere," highlights how using evidence, science, and practical action can reduce foodborne illness.

At New Zealand Food Safety, our work to reduce the burden of campylobacteriosis shows how food safety challenges can be addressed through practical actions and solutions. Since 2006, notified cases of foodborne campylobacteriosis have reduced by 70%. This successful reduction came with careful monitoring, research, industry collaboration, and targeted food safety interventions.

Campylobacter is not the only foodborne illness we are addressing at New Zealand Food Safety. Foodborne illnesses can sometimes be life-threatening, particularly for people with low immunity. Our recently updated version of the Food safety when you have low immunity booklet identifies higher risk-foods and provides practical advice to help people with low immunity or their carers make safer food choices.

Please share this booklet to anyone you know with low immunity, or to any businesses that serve food and may wish to incorporate these safe food preparation practices when catering for low-immunity clientele.

To verifiers, I appreciate the work and contributions you make to ensuring safe food is available to everyone, especially those at higher risk of getting seriously ill.

Ngā mihi nui,

Mike Inglis
Acting Deputy Director-General, New Zealand Food Safety

Public Consultation Live: Food Notice: Requirements for Recognised Agencies and Person

New Zealand Food Safety recently reviewed the Food Notice: Requirements for Recognised Agencies and Persons (the Notice) under the Food Act 2014. The public consultation on the proposed changes is now live, and open for four weeks, closing 7 July. 

The proposed changes to the Notice will clarify requirements for:  

• qualifications of evaluators providing an evaluation service; 
• qualifications of verifiers providing a verification service; and
• pre-recognition competencies and maintenance of recognition for verifiers and evaluators.  

The Notice also includes general editorial updates to approach and terminology to improve clarity. Feel free to pass on the link to public consultation to any stakeholders you consider relevant.

We are particularly interested in feedback from Food Act 2014 verifiers, evaluators, and their recognised agencies. You can read about the proposal and submit feedback on the consultation page: Proposed amended Food Notice: Requirements for Recognised Agencies and Persons 2026.

Working with a business thinking about exporting food and fibre products to India?

India is a significant market for New Zealand’s high-quality food and fibre products. Key exports include wool, mānuka honey, meat, dairy, nutraceuticals (which includes dietary supplements and/or supplemented foods), New Zealand grape wine, wood, and a range of horticulture products.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI’s) Exporter Help team has developed an Exporting food and fibre to India guide to help businesses navigate key exporting requirements. It is now available on the India OMAR landing page and Get help with exporting webpage.

This guide is not exhaustive, and businesses are encouraged to work with their trusted importers to ensure their exports are successful.

Exporting to India involves navigating a complex and evolving regulatory landscape. However, careful engagement with the market and a long-term approach to partnerships can offer meaningful opportunities.

If any of your businesses are thinking of exporting to India, please pass them this Exporting food and fibre to India guide.

If you have any questions, please email exporterhelp@mpi.govt.nz.

Update: Lighter-touch regulations around hemp cultivation in effect from 28 May 2026 but no change to regulations around hemp seeds as food

Lighter-touch regulations regarding hemp cultivation came into effect on 28 May 2026, replacing the previous industrial hemp licencing system. Growers now need to notify MPI and New Zealand Police before cultivating hemp. These regulations are intended to reduce compliance burden on the hemp industry.

What is staying the same?

Food safety regulations are unchanged.

• You must register as a food business to grow, process, or sell hemp for food use.
• You must register as a food importer to import hemp seed food products.
• Hemp seed food products must stay below tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) limits and follow food labelling rules.

Agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines regulations are also unchanged.

• Food must stay below residue limits for agricultural compounds.
• Hemp products for animals must be registered with MPI.

There are risks to food safety if tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) enter the food system without appropriate oversight and registration. Regulations around hemp food products and hemp use in animals help manage risks to people, the environment, and trade, while supporting New Zealand’s primary sector and upholding food standards and animal welfare.

For further guidance on the change in hemp regulations, visit the MPI website: Hemp: guidance for growers, processors, importers, and exporters.

Annual food recall report

The annual Consumer-level Food Recalls report has been published for 2025. The data within the report details trends in the 57 consumer-level recalls undertaken in 2025. Allergens were the leading cause of consumer-level recalls last year, accounting for 26 recalls, nine of which were due to the undeclared presence of milk. A total of 37 recalls were initiated from domestically produced foods, while 20 recalls involved imported foods.

This report is an important resource for consumer awareness, and to demonstrate the New Zealand food safety system is working. It is valuable for industry to become aware of food-safety trends to improve their systems, mitigating food safety risks. The report can be found here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/food-recalls/food-recalls-annual-reports/  

Guilty plea

The University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) has entered a guilty plea to one charge under the Food Act 2014. The charge is in relation to an incident in November 2024 where dinner served at university student accommodation in Christchurch resulted in over 100 cases of foodborne illness.  Sentencing has been scheduled for 1 December 2026.

Details of previous Judgments under the Food Act 2014 can be found here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/running-a-food-business/enforcement-food-act-2014/judgments-under-the-food-act-2014

Upcoming evaluation webinar

The New Zealand Food Safety Shared Services team are hosting the second evaluation webinar on 22 June at 2:30pm. This webinar is open to both evaluators and verifiers, as the information shared will be valuable to all. If you did not receive the invitation to register, please email foodacttraining@mpi.govt.nz

Upcoming CPD drop-in Q&A sessions

As we are approaching the end of the 2025-2026 CPD year, and verifiers will be planning and completing their CPD peer reviews soon, we are hosting three CPD drop-in Q&A sessions in July.

 These sessions are an opportunity to:

• ask questions about the CPD programme, peer review requirements, and the Food Safety Academy; and
• get clarification on anything you’re unsure about

The sessions are entirely optional, and verifiers and CPD managers are welcome to log-in and log-out at any time.

If you did not receive the invitation to register, please email foodacttraining@mpi.govt.nz

New application form for waivers and exemptions from evaluation

There is now a new application form to request waivers and exemptions from evaluation for custom Food Control Plans (FCPs) and custom Risk Management Programmes (RMPs).  Operators requesting a waiver or exemption from evaluation need to submit this application form to MPI Approvals.

The application form formalises and standardises how requests are submitted, and includes application fees to recover the time spent by MPI Approvals assessing the applications; fees are already provided for in existing regulations. Please refer to the application form for applicable fees.

APAFA1 Application Form for waiver and exemption from evaluation for custom RMPs and FCPs

This application form should be used for:

FCPs

• Waiver from evaluation of new custom FCP (fully customised or My Food Plan) under section 53 of Food Act 2014
• Exemption from on-site evaluation for new fully customised FCP (that is not My Food Plan) under regulation 9 of the Food Regulation 2015

 RMPs

• Waiver from evaluation of new custom RMP under section 20 of Animal Products Act 1999
• Exemption from on-site evaluation for new custom RMP under regulation 79 of the Animal Products Regulations 2021
• Waiver from evaluation for significant amendment to custom RMP under regulation 29 of the Animal Products Regulations 2021

Email approvals@mpi.govt.nz if you have any questions or to apply.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) Food Business levy increase reminder

This is a reminder that from 1 July 2026, the Food Business Levy will increase to $86.25 (plus GST). The same Levy applies to all food businesses, regardless of who they’re registered with, but the amount will depend on the business’ registration type.

The full Food Business Levy is phasing in over three years. Year two commences on 1 July 2026 with the below rate being charged for each site or business, depending on registration under a Food Control Plan or National Programme:

• from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027: $86.25 (plus GST) per site/business;
• from 1 July 2027: $115.00 (plus GST) per site/business.

If you are a Territorial Authority, this would be a good time to offer businesses the opportunity to review their registration or apply to deregister. For businesses registered with MPI, you can review or deregister by emailing approvals@mpi.govt.nz.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Food Business Levy FAQs and Legislation fees and charges - Food Act 2014 fees, charges, and levies.