- Help

About the New Zealand Food Safety Authority

About us

On 1 July 2010, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) and MAF were amalgamated. This will provide for a single organisation focussed on the integrity and performance of New Zealand’s animal, plant, food and related sectors.

NZFSA and MAF have worked closely together and the amalgamated ministry spans the full primary industries value chain from producer to consumer. It will closely align key functions supporting the Government’s public health and economic growth goals, including sector performance, sustainable development and trade facilitation.

Go to MAF website.

NZFSA is mandated "to protect consumers by providing an effective food regulatory programme covering food produced and consumed in New Zealand as well as imports and exports of food products."

NZFSA’s mandate is to protect all consumers of New Zealand food

On 15 September 2008, the New Zealand Cabinet agreed that:

"The New Zealand Food Safety Authority's mandate is to protect consumers by providing an effective food regulatory programme covering food produced and consumed in New Zealand as well as imports and exports of food products."

The new statutory mandate emphasises, “In pursuing this mandate the overriding priority will always be to protect consumers.”

NZFSA's mandate as of 15 September, 2008

Safe and suitable food is our priority

Ensuring a safe and suitable food supply is a public health priority for any country. In New Zealand nearly 80% of the food we produce is exported, providing just over half the country’s merchandise trade underpinning our economy.

Protecting consumers and our reputation as a supplier of safe and suitable food is essential.

New Zealand consumers expect our food supply, including imported foods, to be safe. Exporters and our trading partners need assurance that the food we produce meets the requirements of importing countries.

Establishing NZFSA in its new form and ensuring it continues to meet the expectations of government, consumers, industry, exporters, trading partners and other stakeholders is another priority.

Legislation NZFSA is accountable for

Profile of New Zealand Food Safety Authority

Our profile gives more information about us:

• our vision and mission

• more about our roles and how we fulfil them

• who we work with

• the legislation we administer

• our organisation structure and leadership.

Profile of New Zealand Food Safety Authority – December 2007

The Slorach review of NZFSA’s food safety risk management framework

NZFSA uses a framework to assess risks in food. It helps us identify areas along the food chain where risks can be reduced by intervention, and what interventions might be suitable.

A review of the framework was completed in April 2008 by Dr Stuart Slorach, an independent international expert, to gauge its effectiveness and how NZFSA applies it as a tool for risk assessment.

In his review, Dr Slorach made a number of recommendations. The New Zealand Government’s response to these recommendations was agreed by Cabinet in September 2008.

NZFSA’s risk management framework

Review of NZFSA's risk management framework by Dr Slorach

The Government's response to the Slorach review

NZFSA's Risk Management Framework - Lay Summary

NZFSA Academy

The NZFSA Academy is a group of experts in a range of food safety-related areas. Academy members provide NZFSA with an independent source of external knowledge.

NZFSA Academy – pool of technical expertise and knowledge

Links to accountability documents and Minister for Food Safety

NZFSA’s accountability to parliament

Ngā Tikanga Māori – Māori food safety

New Zealand's food regulatory environment

Minister for Food Safety

NZFSA's role in the Carbon Neutral Public Service programme