Update from Vincent Arbuckle, DDG, NZFS

Kia ora koutou,

When Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) requirements came into effect on 25 February 2024, a two-year transition period allowed businesses to continue selling packaged food and drink labelled before that date. 25 February 2026 marks the end of this transition period. All packaged food and drink sold in New Zealand must now comply with PEAL requirements.

PEAL makes it easier for people to find information about common food allergens on food labels. Food labelling needs to be as simple, clear and easy to find as possible to be effective. Clear food labelling is particularly important for the New Zealanders who have food allergies, as they can suffer from the serious consequences of eating the wrong food.

My continued thanks to verifiers for your crucial work in keeping food safe and suitable. By supporting food businesses understand and meet the PEAL requirements, you enable consumers to make trusted and informed decisions when choosing a product that is right for them.

Ngā mihi nui,

Vincent Arbuckle
Deputy Director-General, New Zealand Food Safety

Food Act templates

The revised My Food Plan (MFP) and National Programmes (NP) 1, 2 and 3 were published in December 2025.  You can find the latest MFP on the "Steps to an MFP" webpage. Businesses registered under MFP must update their plan by 30 April 2026. The latest NPs are on the “National Programmes” webpage – there's no requirement to use the updated NPs, but we strongly encourage it.

Simply Safe and Suitable record blank updates

The record blanks (‘templates’ ‘forms’) have been refreshed. Note that recording requirements have not changed. The refresh is about making the record blanks easier to use. We also created ‘Record Keeping Guidance’ which includes a record requirements list, examples of completed records and ways to keep records.

Please see the following links for the updates:

• Record templates (‘forms’ ‘blanks’) for Simply Safe and Suitable [PDF]
• Record templates (‘forms’ ‘blanks’) for Simply Safe and Suitable [Word]
• Record templates (‘forms’ ‘blanks’) for Simply Safe and Suitable [Excel]
• Record keeping guidance [PDF]

Main changes

• Available in Word and Excel to allow businesses to adapt record blanks to fit their needs

• Added “Opening and closing checks”, “Internal audit/verification”, “Thermometer checks/calibration”, “Daily cleaning tasks” and biltong record templates

•  “Return to contents” link added to pages in the PDF and Excel versions.

Please share this update with any businesses using the templated record blanks or who would prefer to keep digital records instead of paper copies.

Guide for exporting honey and bee products

Our Exporting honey and bee products – A guide to meeting the rules helps beekeepers, operators and exporters understand their requirements for exporting.

This guide is a go-to resource, whether businesses are just starting out or looking to expand their honey business overseas.

Other useful resources on the MPI website include:

• Get help with exporting
• How to start exporting
• Steps to exporting honey and bee products

Our Exporter Help team supports New Zealand exporters to understand export requirements and they can provide tailored advice. Contact our Exporter Help team by email exporterhelp@mpi.govt.nz or by calling freephone 0800 67 44 90.

Please share these resources and contact details with those who will find them useful.   

P1059 Energy Labelling on Alcoholic Beverages

On 13 August 2025, changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) were gazetted to mandate energy labelling on packaged alcoholic beverages. The change involves a three-year transition period with a stock-in-trade exemption.

Alcoholic beverages labelled before 13 August 2028 can either abide by the existing requirements of the Code (no energy statement) or comply with the new energy labelling requirements. From 13 August 2028, all packaged alcoholic beverages must display the mandated energy statement on their labels.

The joint Food Regulation system has published guidance along with an online calculator to help explain the new requirements and support implementation of changes. The guidance and the calculator can be accessed at https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/labelling/alcohol-energy-content-calculator

NZFS will also be working to update the MPI labelling guide (A guide to alcoholic drinks – what’s in them and how to label them) to reflect the new requirements for energy labelling.

If you have any questions, please contact us at foodactinfo@mpi.govt.nz.

P1044 Plain English Allergen Labelling requirements

When the Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) requirements were introduced on 25 February 2021, a five‑year implementation period was established to help industry adjust to the new rules. From 25 February 2024, any food packaged and labelled needed to meet the PEAL requirements.

The upcoming date of 25 February 2026 marks the end of the transition period. From now on, all food and drink sold in New Zealand must fully comply with the PEAL requirements.

If you have any questions, please contact us at foodactinfo@mpi.govt.nz. 

Keep up to date with food importing rules and changes

Food Importer News is a New Zealand Food Safety newsletter 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, or those who work with food importers. It keeps the industry up to date about food importer responsibilities, upcoming changes to food requirements, and current events such as recalls related to imported food.

Sign up to stay informed and encourage the importers you work with to do the same. Visit the Food importer news webpage Food importer news webpage to subscribe and read previous editions.

Importers you work with can also contact our Food Importer Advice service for help with their food importing questions through the Get help with importing food webpage or by emailing foodimporteradvice@mpi.govt.nz.

New resources for Food Act Evaluators

A new page on the Food Safety Academy for Evaluators has been launched, with useful resources including an evaluation guide.

On 18 February the Shared Services team hosted the first evaluation webinar, with 126 people attending. A recording of this webinar will be available to Academy users very soon. Look for it on the NZFS Event Resources page.

Managing business scope changes

If you as a verifier find out at a verification that the business has changed their scope of operations, please ensure they engage with the appropriate Registration Authority.

The business will need to understand what this change of scope means for them and their responsibilities under the Food Act. For example, does the business know whether they are now required to do a simulated recall or not?

NZIEH conference 24-25 March 2026

We’re excited to be attending the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health (NZIEH) Annual Professional Development Conference taking place virtually on the 24-25 March. This is the national conference for all environmental and public health staff around the motu, which attracts a variety of speakers who cover a range of environmental and public health topics.

The 2026 conference theme is ‘Our Health, Our Future’. Our Senior NZFS representatives will provide insights into our role in the food safety system and use of the S.39 template. The presentations will cover the following topics:

• The development and use of specialist cards under SS&S.
• A Case study into Compliance and enforcement under the Food Act 2014.

For more details, visit the NZIEH Conference web page.

From Gate to Port - Taking Te Tai Tokerau Food & Fibre to the World (Northland) workshop

In March, the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Exporter Help, On Farm Services and Māori Agribusiness teams will be co-presenting From Gate to Port in Northland.

Participants can learn about MPI requirements for food and fibre products, the NZGAP food certification programme, what’s needed to prepare for export (fresh or value-added products), which agencies can support you, and how local growers’ and producers’ export journeys.

Please pass this practical workshop series to growers and producers in Northland who are considering pathways to market (or are already exporting). The registration link can be found here.

Dates, times, and locations:
• Ngāwhā: Tuesday 17 March, 2pm–4pm
• Kaitaia:Wednesday 18 March, 10am–12pm
• Mangawhai:Thursday 19 March, 10am–12pm
• Whangārei:Thursday 19 March, 3pm–5pm