 |
 
|
NZFSA’s Statement of Intent 2008-2011
July 2008
Our 2008 Statement of Intent describes our roles, activities and aspirations. It also explains how we manage our resources and how we intend to measure our performance in delivering on our mandate. Our strategically planned work programmes are also outlined.
NZFSA’s Statement of intent as a pdf format. [32 pages, 396 KB]
1 Foreword: Minister for Food Safety
NZFSA’s Statement of Intent establishes ambitious and challenging goals for New Zealand in 2008/09 and beyond. Protecting consumers is one of the most significant roles and targets such as the 50% reduction in key foodborne diseases sought over the next five years attest to this. The targeting of Campylobacter is a particularly important initiative given that over 15,000 cases are reported each year.
I commend NZFSA for the leadership shown in setting a clear and purposeful direction, particularly for a department that is entering only its second year of existence. This Statement of Intent builds on the momentum generated when the Department was established back in July 2007 by providing a solid platform for judging its success over the medium term.
Our expectations of NZFSA are high, given the critical role that food safety and suitability plays in delivering across the government priorities: economic transformation; families, young and old and national identity.
The government is well aware of the role that our trade in food has in achieving economic transformation. Our excellent food industry will only achieve its full potential with a regulatory system that is smart, enabling and cost-effective.
NZFSA also needs to be agile and responsive to new challenges in a constantly changing society to meet the changing needs of our families, young and old. For instance, changing consumption patterns are resulting in more food and diet-related illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. Adding a new outcome focused on consumer choices for health recognises that individuals and families need authoritative information from a trusted source to help them manage their health. I look forward to further work in this area over 2008/09.
Our reputation for quality food is very much a part of our identity as a nation. NZFSA helps make sure we are seen as a premium safe and suitable food provider by consumers around the world.
The work programme ahead for NZFSA is a challenging one, but it is entirely consistent with putting in place world class regulatory infrastructure to support progress across economic, health and social outcomes. This Statement of Intent serves New Zealand well in that regard.
Hon Lianne Dalziel
Minister for Food Safety
2 From the Chief Executive
Safe food has been integral to New Zealand’s history and continues to be an essential part of our social, cultural and economic development. Safe food transcends all of Government’s strategic priorities for New Zealand. It is central to our quality of life, and how we are seen by the world.
It is important for our work to keep pace with changes at home and globally that will affect our relationship with food. This Statement of Intent charts a course that is intended to ensure New Zealand is well placed to gain every advantage, in health and economic terms, from a safe and suitable food supply. The implementation of the Domestic Food Review, new food legislation, our market access strategy and emerging work in improving nutrition are key initiatives to help us achieve this.
Having confidence that the food our families consume is safe, can often be taken for granted in most developed countries. Arriving at that conclusion is, however, not simply a matter of good regulatory design. World-class regulation, built on robust risk analysis and the best available science, is critical but is only one factor at play.
Increasingly, the actions of consumers who demand safe and suitable food are a significant force, as are the actions of industry that recognise that safe food is ultimately good business.
We support both consumers and industry to that end by making sure they have access to trusted and authoritative information. NZFSA will continue to be open, accessible and transparent in what it does and why.
In this Statement of Intent we have also set bold performance targets that will require consumers, food businesses and government agencies to work together. Where the targets don’t currently exist, we are committed to developing them, so every New Zealander can have confidence in how we will account for our performance.
The outcomes we have identified for the next three to five years will be challenging for NZFSA in our second year as a department. In particular, our role in contributing to improved diet-related health outcomes is an exciting and important area for development. There is still a considerable amount of work to do, but I am confident that our strategic direction provides a solid base for New Zealanders to gain further opportunities from a safe and suitable food supply.
Andrew McKenzie
Chief Executive
3 Nature and scope of functions
Food forms a critical component of the way we live in New Zealand. Food has an important role in cultural, religious and social dimensions of life. As a consequence, our relationship with food and its place in society is constantly changing with underlying changes in New Zealand and the rest of the world.
The external environment is always evolving and there are many new dimensions that now influence our work.
3.1 NZFSA’s mission is:
To protect consumers and enhance New Zealand’s position as a trusted supplier of food.
Food is “anything that is used or represented for use as food or drink for human beings”. Food-related products are products involved in growing and processing animal and plant products and other goods produced from animals and plants.
3.1.1 NZFSA protects consumers by:
• making sure food-related products are safe and suitable, whether they are New Zealand produced or imported
• giving consumers’ access to authoritative information that helps them make food choices for better health.
3.1.2 NZFSA makes sure New Zealand is trusted as a food supplier by:
• meeting the standards required and other overseas markets’ needs, and assuring them our systems deliver trustworthy products.
3.2 What does NZFSA do?
NZFSA works to protect consumers and make sure New Zealand businesses are trusted suppliers of food by working with a range of people as described below.
3.2.1 The Minister for Food Safety and other government agencies
We provide advice to the Minister for Food Safety and other government agencies with related interests, including the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, Foreign Affairs and Trade and Health. This advice includes developing and implementing safety standards, identifying new and emerging food safety and suitability issues, and where necessary, proposing interventions to address these risks.
We administer legislation covering:
• food for sale in New Zealand
• primary animal products processing and official assurances for export
• controls for agricultural compounds registration and use and veterinary medicines
• wine production and export.
The major pieces of legislation are the:
• Food Act 1981
• Animal Products Act 1999
• Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997
• Wine Act 2003.
NZFSA is also involved in the Official Organic Assurance programme and in human health assurances for exporting plant products.
3.2.2 Consumers in New Zealand
We provide authoritative food safety and suitability information for New Zealanders – from individuals to community groups to schools – so they can manage food-related risks.
NZFSA:
• provides the best available science-based information to consumers
• educates consumers on safe handling of food in their home and communities, including avoiding risks from inadequate hygiene, transporting, storing and cooking
• provides targeted information for different groups of New Zealanders, including working with Mäori under NZFSA’s ‘Shared Vision’ Strategy
• works with consumer groups and surveys New Zealanders, so we know their food safety concerns, what they are eating, food handling practices in the home and community, and how food choices may be affecting longer-term health
• helps manage food emergencies and food recalls.
NZFSA also works to support other government objectives. While our work is mostly for the food regulatory system, NZFSA works to implement non-food-related parts of legislation where it has the technical expertise and skills – for example, certifying non-food animal products for export, and managing risks to biosecurity and animal welfare (including the use of agricultural compounds).
The New Zealand Food Safety Regulatory Model
3.2.3 Businesses
We make sure businesses meet standards that protect their customers.
These businesses cover the whole food production chain – from farm and sea to the table. We work with producers, processors, transporters, wholesalers, shops and food services. We work both with businesses providing food for New Zealanders and businesses exporting food products.
NZFSA provides information and tools that help businesses meet food safety and suitability standards we develop. The standards that protect New Zealanders cover agricultural and veterinary chemicals use on plants and animals, feeds for animals, hygiene when handling food, food storage and food composition labelling, including standards developed through the joint food standards setting mechanism with Australia.
We monitor food safety and suitability by verifying food processors and handlers have appropriate systems in place. Where necessary, we investigate and enforce standards, using a range of sanctions, including prosecution.
We also provide exporters with authoritative information about different markets’ access requirements for food and other plant and animal derived products.
3.2.4 Global trading partners
NZFSA works to negotiate market access safety and suitability requirements with other countries and provide official assurances through certification. We collaborate with the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, and Foreign Affairs and Trade.
3.2.5 Science researchers and international standard setting bodies
NZFSA:
• undertakes and commissions research on food safety and suitability
• works to influence standard setting internationally, through organisations such the Codex Alimentarius Commission, to make sure international standards are technically justified, and based on sound science and risk assessment.
4 Strategic direction
Our strategic direction is based on three major outcomes that NZFSA needs to focus on to achieve government priorities. These outcomes are:
1. improved safety and suitability of food - Protecting consumers from risks in our food supply
2. improved business opportunities through safe and suitable food - Businesses are able to take up opportunities because they are underpinned by a world class, responsive and cost-effective regulatory framework
3. consumer food practices and choices that support better health - All New Zealanders practice safe food handling and choose food that leads to better health.
4.1 Factors in the global and New Zealand environment
What we do to achieve these three outcomes is influenced by factors in the global and New Zealand environment. NZFSA needs to respond to the following factors:
• new and emerging food-related risks – changes in technology, new products and the potential for new hazards to arise at all stages of an increasingly complex food chain mean that we need to evaluate risks to food safety continually
• New Zealander’s high gastrointestinal illness rate, which decreases quality of life and costs our economy millions
• the high prevalence of nutrition-related diseases that decreases New Zealanders’ quality of life and life expectancy and impacts on our economy
• consumer concerns, media coverage and opinions from other sources that influence New Zealanders’ beliefs about food safety – which are sometimes based on fact, but not acted on, and sometimes not based on fact, but acted on
• a constantly changing global trading environment, including different approaches to food regulation across the world that presents both risks and opportunities for New Zealand food exports.
4.2 NZFSA’s contribution to government’s priorities
NZFSA will work towards government’s priorities for New Zealand: families, young and old; economic transformation; and national identity.
4.2.1 Families – young and old
There is a critical relationship between food and health and participation in society. Improving food safety is essential to New Zealanders’ ability to work, care for families and others, study and play. Improved food safety will lessen:
• foodborne illness and the high prevalence in New Zealand of diseases affected by what we eat, that can result in chronic illness, disability or early death
• New Zealanders’ low uptake of some essential nutrients, like iodine and folate, which affects their ability to participate fully in our society.
NZFSA will contribute to the families – young and old priority through improving health for all New Zealanders. We will:
• support the stronger families priority by increasing people’s ability to participate in the workforce – reducing sick days and severe and chronic illness – so they have a stronger income base to support themselves and their family
• support the healthy, confident kids priority by reducing illness so they do not miss learning opportunities, and by adding iodine and folate to bread, which improves their development before birth and as they grow up
• support the positive ageing priority by making sure foodborne hazards are minimized in general, and providing information to older people to help them eat safely when they are ill or frail.
4.2.2 Economic transformation
There is also a critical relationship between food and New Zealand’s economic success. The food sector as a whole:
• employs one in five members of the working population either directly or indirectly
• contributes over 50% of the value of our merchandise exports. A major loss of overseas consumer confidence could reduce our export receipts by as much as $1.4 billion
• is the ‘engine-room’ for driving economic transformation goals in New Zealand.
NZFSA will contribute to economic transformation, helping grow globally competitive firms by responding to the changing global regulatory market and enabling businesses to assure other countries and New Zealanders that our food is safe and suitable. We will:
• provide a world-class food standards infrastructure by working with globally important multilateral organisations, such as the World Trade Organization and bilaterally with Australia and others
• increase innovation in businesses by developing standards for new foods and technologies and working with our export markets to have them accept innovative processes and practices in New Zealand
• increase productivity and skill development by reducing illnesses so New Zealanders can participate more in the workplace, education and communities – for example, by reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal illness that takes away five million working days per year according to the ESR study of Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in 2007
• minimise compliance costs wherever possible, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), by adopting enabling rather than prescriptive regulations
• reduce health costs, as fewer people contract foodborne illnesses and fewer suffer diseases resulting from poor nutrition.
4.2.3 National identity
Food is important to how the world sees us, and our cultural practices within New Zealand.
NZFSA will support our image as a trustworthy producer internationally by providing credible assurances to importing countries of the safety and suitability of our premium and innovative products, meaning people see New Zealand as a desirable place to live, to visit and to invest in.
5 Our Strategic Framework
The following diagram shows NZFSA’s strategic framework. It explains:
• why we have chosen the three outcomes and what we need to focus on to get best impact
• how those outcomes contribute to the government’s priorities
• NZFSA strategic priorities in 2008/09 that will best achieve progress towards these outcomes
• the performance indicators that can be used to assess progress against our outcomes
• the place that the State Sector Development Goals have in delivering the outcomes.
The framework is elaborated on in the ‘Operating Intentions’ section.
6 NZFSA strategic framework
Outcomes |
Outcome 1: |
Developing our organisation | ||
Why do we need to make changes? Environmental drivers |
Changes in our environment and our response • Foodborne diseases have a major impact on New Zealanders’ health, and on our economy. We need to target reductions in high impact foodborne diseases – campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis and listeriosis. • Emerging risks and opportunities will arise because of - new technologies and pathogens at all stages of an increasingly complex food chain. We need to identify and mitigate new food risks - new foods, resulting from an increasingly culturally diverse population, demand for overseas products and new ‘functional’ foods. We need to make sure new foods in New Zealand are safe and suitable. • Many New Zealanders do not take in adequate levels of some nutrients, resulting in a greater risk of some diseases and poor child development. We need to make sure New Zealanders can get adequate nutrients. • Many New Zealanders are having allergic reactions to foods. We need to make sure ingredient labelling is accurate so they can manage allergies. |
Employer of choice Networked agencies | ||
What will we do to achieve changes? Strategic priorities |
Implement new domestic food legislation • Food businesses begin to adopt Food Control Plans • Make standards and systems for imports and wine consistent with our national framework |
Implement strategies • Campylobacter • Salmonella • Listeria |
Implement the food risk management system • Implement any changes needed resulting from the Slorach review of NZFSA’s risk management decision-making processes |
Value-for money |
How will we demonstrate changes? Performance indicators |
After five years • 50% decrease in campylobacteriosis • 30% decrease in salmonellosis • No increase in listeriosis |
From 2008 • Chemical hazards in food are minimised and standards complied with |
Risk • Management indicator to be developed in 2008-09 • Food labelling requirements complied with |
Coordinated agencies |
What will we contribute to government priorities? Impacts for New Zealanders |
NZFSA will contribute to families, young and old, economic transformation and national identity by: • strengthening families through increasing participation in the workforce (foodborne gastrointestinal illness accounts for some five million lost working days each year) • supporting the development of healthy, confident kids, as they will miss fewer learning opportunities and get essential nutrients for better development • supporting positive ageing, as frail or ill older people, who are more susceptible to foodborne illness, eat safer food • reducing health costs as the number of doctor visits and hospitalisations from foodborne illnesses decrease • reducing non-participation in workplaces, schools and communities so that we get improved productivity and skills • New Zealand being seen as a principled, trusted source of premium, innovative food. |
Accessibility Trusted state service | ||
Outcome 2: Businesses are able to take up opportunities because of a responsive and cost-effective regulatory framework |
Developing our organisation | |||
Why do we need to make changes? Environmental drivers |
Changes in our environment and our response • Our merchandise exports are 50% food-related and our domestic food sector is a major player in our economy, employing one in five New Zealanders. We need to make sure both global and local markets have confidence in our food safety and suitability. • Governments increasingly want to improve the quality of regulation in their countries. We need to make sure our standards meet their needs and that we engage with global organisations to develop food safety standards. • Developed countries want high value foods and food-related products and are concerned about technologies and food related ethics. We need to make sure foods and related technologies are acceptable to them. • Businesses must work smart and be innovative to be internationally and domestically competitive. We need to make sure compliance costs for meeting standards are minimised and approval of new products is easy. |
Employer of choice Networked agencies | ||
What will we do to achieve changes? Strategic priorities |
Implement the Market Access Strategy • Complete implementation plans for strategies - meat - dairy - seafood • Develop a model for allocating resources to increase net return (the Return on Resource Investment model) |
Research cost effective regulations • Meat regulations research • Undertake Verification Agency cost effectiveness study |
Minimise compliance costs for businesses • Provide off the- peg Food Control Plans • Trial tool to measure compliance costs |
Value-for money |
How will we demonstrate changes? Performance indicators |
• Increase in market access for new products and/or new markets • Reduction in compliance costs for exporters |
• Minimise compliance costs for businesses over time • Establish cost effectiveness benchmarks for the Verification Agency |
• Trial and report on Business Cost Calculator in 2008/2009 |
Coordinated agencies |
What will we contribute to government priorities? Impacts for New Zealanders |
NZFSA will contribute to economic transformation by: • growing globally competitive firms through efficient systems that assure other countries our food and food-related products are safe and suitable • providing a recognised, world-class food standards infrastructure through working with key bilateral and multilateral organisations • increasing productivity and skills by reducing food-related illness, so New Zealanders participate more in workplaces, in education and in communities • increasing innovation through efficient regulatory programmes • developing cost effective regulations • providing tools for businesses so they can comply easily with regulations • supporting our international image of a supplier of premium and innovative products |
Accessibility Trusted state service | ||
Outcome 3: Consumer food practices and choices that support better health All New Zealanders practice safe food handling and choose food that leads to better health |
Developing our organisation | |||
Why do we need to make changes? Environmental drivers |
Changes in our environment and our response • Much food borne disease happens because of poor handling in domestic settings. We need to help New Zealanders to keep food safe. • Our eating patterns are resulting in diseases like diabetes and heart disease. We need to make sure consumers can use labels to choose foods that support long-term health. • Confidence of New Zealanders in using label information is limited, particularly for New Zealanders who have lower educational achievement. We need to make sure labelling is easy-to-understand. • New Zealanders are concerned about food safety, often taking messages from the media and other sources that may or may not be science-based. We need to make sure New Zealanders can get authoritative information. |
Employer of choice Networked agencies | ||
What will we do to achieve changes? Strategic priorities |
Work with other agencies to: • Coordinate work to reduce foodborne and nutrition-related illness • Coordinate service delivery for better health |
Labelling for consumer choice • Develop strategies to increase consumer use of labels |
Promote key science- based messages • Provide sound food information • Manage effective risk communications • Promote science advocates |
Value-for money |
How will we demonstrate changes? Performance indicators |
• Indicator to be developed in 2008/09 for nutrition and diet-related illnesses |
• More than 70% of consumers are confident in their ability to make an informed food choice from food labels |
• More than 80% of consumers are confident in their knowledge of hygiene and food safety in the home |
Coordinated agencies |
What will we contribute to government priorities? Impacts for New Zealanders |
NZFSA will contribute to families, young and old, and national identity by: • working with other government agencies for better health of New Zealanders over the short term, by helping them use safe food handling practices and over the longer term by helping them to achieve a balance of food choices • helping New Zealanders become confident users of labels • contributing to strong families, positive ageing and healthy and confident kids by providing effective information tailored to pregnant women, families with babies and young children, to older people and other targeted population groups |
Accessibility Trusted state service | ||
7 Operating intentions
8 Outcome 1
Improved safety and suitability of food.
8.1 What will NZFSA achieve?
We will improve the safety of food, reducing the prevalence of foodborne illness and improving the uptake of some essential nutrients.
8.2 Why is this outcome a priority for NZFSA?
Foodborne diseases have a major impact on New Zealanders’ health and our economy, so we need to reduce the prevalence of these diseases. The major short-term result of unsafe food is Acute Gastrointestinal Illness (AGI). An NZFSA commissioned study done by ESR estimated costs of lost productivity associated with people temporarily or permanently removed from the work force through foodborne transmission of disease at $83 million annually. The estimate does not include potential damage to New Zealand’s international reputation for food safety. Nor does it include loss of skill development and other benefits from education and community participation.
Campylobacter makes up about 90% of the estimated cost, and New Zealand reported rates are very high compared with other developed countries (see Diagram One).
NZFSA needs to target foodborne AGIs that are highly prevalent, that have high morbidity and mortality consequences for individuals and that help NZFSA to see what practices are causing foodborne illnesses at different stages of the food chain.
Risks and opportunities emerge constantly.
• Use of new technologies and emerging pathogens at all stages of an increasingly complex food chain, which potentially creates more opportunity for food hazards to occur. We need to minimise risks by systematically identifying and mitigating them throughout the food chain.
• An increased range of new foods as a result of: a more culturally diverse population; demand for new products because of our increased travel and demand for ‘functional foods’, including nutraceuticals, that have added nutrients or other substances. New foods and technologies are also likely to result from investment of $700 million for the sustainable food and pastoral investment. This means we need to make sure we are responsive to new developments.
Many New Zealanders do not consume adequate levels of some nutrients. Lack of nutrients like iodine, folate and iron has a range of health and other impacts – including goitre, neural tube defects, developmental problems in children and difficulty in participating in learning. Children aged one to five and unborn children are especially at risk. We need to make sure New Zealanders’ diet have adequate nutrients.
Foods grown in New Zealand soils are low in iodine. The Total Diet Survey 2003/04 estimated iodine intake of New Zealanders is at best only 57% of the recommended dietary intake. Some New Zealand children are now showing signs of iodine deficiency
Many New Zealanders have allergic reactions to different foods. Allergy New Zealand says that over 30,000 New Zealanders have a food allergy. Cereals containing gluten, crustacea, egg, milk, nuts, sesame seeds, soybeans, royal jelly and sulphites cause some 90% of food allergies. We need to make sure ingredient labelling is accurate and manufacturing processes minimise contamination.
8.3 What will NZFSA do to achieve changes?
We will work closely with industry and consumers to decrease foodborne illness by:
• introducing a comprehensive and consistent framework within which food businesses can work, which includes businesses voluntarily implementing food control plans
• reducing rates of campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis and listeriosis by focusing on the production end to make sure food is safe throughout the food chain
• accessing the best science available, so we make good risk management decisions.
8.3.1 Implementing a new Food Act for New Zealand
The proposed new Food Act aims to improve New Zealand’s ability to protect consumers. Under the Act, over the next five years NZFSA will change from a focus on an inspection based system to a risk-based system.
The major change will require people in charge of food operations to take responsibility, rather than the responsibility for food safety being placed on inspectors.
8.3.2 Imports, wild foods and wine interventions
NZFSA will work to make sure imports, wild foods and wine align with the national framework for food safety. Imported foods NZFSA will develop risk categories for imported foods, apply different requirements for these categories and monitor them. We will also assess overseas controls and quality assurance systems to make sure imported foods meet New Zealand’s standards for domestic food, or are equivalent to them.
8.3.3 Wild foods
NZFSA will focus on wild food hazards that can cause avoidable foodborne illness, and increasing consumers’ awareness, particularly for areas that pose higher risks to consumers.
8.3.4 Wine
NZFSA will:
• develop a code of practice for industry
• register Wine Standards Management Plans for all producers except those with very small volumes.
8.3.5 Implement strategies to reduce campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis and listeriosis
NZFSA will reduce Campylobacter through the Campylobacter Risk Management Strategy by:
• revising guidance material for broiler chicken growers as needed
• ensuring primary processors meet performance targets for broiler chicken processing and monitoring the impact the targets have on decreasing human cases of campylobacteriosis
• requiring secondary processors to follow hygienic practice and hazard controls for processing broiler chickens
• further quantifying the proportion of foodborne cases attributable to poultry
• providing safe handling advice and material to consumers about handling poultry
• adopting international best practices to reduce campylobacteriosis, where these practices suit New Zealand’s situation.
NZFSA will reduce Listeria in 2008/09 by reviewing Listeria standards.
NZFSA will reduce Salmonella by implementing the Campylobacter Risk Management Strategy, which will result in reduction of Salmonella alongside the reduction in Campylobacter.
8.3.6 Implement required changes in risk management
NZFSA will analyse the review by Dr Stuart Slorach of NZFSA food safety risk management decision-making processes and begin to implement any improvements as appropriate.
8.3.7 New Zealanders consume essential nutrients
NZFSA will:
• develop guidelines with industry input to help them meet mandatory folic acid and iodine fortification of bread
• set up systems to monitor iodine and folic acid fortification in bread
• identify at-risk groups and any nutrient problems through the Total Diet Survey
• work with industry to identify opportunities to positively influence the nutrient content of foods
• make sure New Zealand’s nutrition position is addressed in trans-Tasman food standards development
• provide information to New Zealanders.
8.4 How will NZFSA demonstrate progress?
NZFSA will monitor progress against this outcome through the following performance indicators and targets.
Performance indicator |
Target |
a reduction in the foodborne incidence of campylobacteriosis |
50% reduction in foodborne reported annual incidence after five years |
a reduction in the foodborne incidence of salmonellosis |
30% reduction in reported foodborne annual incidence after five years |
no increase in foodborne incidence of listeriosis |
no increase in reported foodborne annual incidence over five years |
prevention of foodborne risks from chemical hazards in food |
monitoring standards for exposure to chemical hazards in the food supply are complied with, as demonstrated by the Total Diet Survey and regulatory monitoring programmes |
compliance with food labelling regulatory requirements in New Zealand |
NZFSA will develop an indicator in 2008/09. NZFSA will use data from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand label monitoring biennial surveys, and compare this with baseline data from 2003 and 2005 |
increase in the intake of iodine of New Zealanders |
target to be set in 2008/09 |
increase in the intake of folic acid by New Zealanders |
target to be set in 2008/09 |
9 Outcome 2
Improved business opportunities through safe and suitable food.
9.1 What will NZFSA achieve?
We will improve business opportunities in New Zealand and overseas by making sure consumers and overseas governments have confidence that we consistently provide them with safe and suitable food.
9.2 Why is this outcome a priority?
To improve our global competitiveness, we need to make sure our regulatory activities are world class and we pro-actively monitor and respond to global food safety and regulatory requirements. Food employs one in five New Zealanders through major New Zealand firms and through an estimated 34,000 small and medium-sized enterprises.
Fifty percent of our merchandise exports are food related and the domestic food sector contributes substantially to our economy. New Zealand has a reputation as a principled trading partner. We need to maintain and grow New Zealand’s reputation for safe food, making sure we maintain confidence of global and local markets.
NZFSA signs more than 200,000 government-to-government assurances every year (export certificates) that attest to our confidence in New Zealand-produced food.
Different global dominances are emerging that may change requirements and more countries are increasingly concerned with their quality of regulation. New Zealand already has a reputation as a principled trading partner, but we will need to continue to respond to international changes in standards. We need to engage globally about food safety standards for New Zealand’s interests – with Australia (under our Trans- Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement), the European Union and key international organisations such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the World Trade Organisation.
Rapidly growing economies present an opportunity for increasing exports – particularly because of increased consumption of meat and dairy products. For example, Asia accounts for 41% of the world's population, approximately 56% of world Gross Domestic Product and about 49% of world trade. We need to identify and negotiate standards with emerging markets.
Economically developed countries increasingly demand safe foods and are concerned about technologies and food-related ethics. More and more consumers want foods they perceive as safer or healthier. There is global interest in ethics in food production: environmental sustainability; where food comes from; and how food gets to consumers. Some new production technologies may require responses. We need to work strategically with industry to map likely new food products and technologies and to enable industry to respond to consumer interests and concerns as appropriate.
Businesses need to work smart and be innovative to be internationally competitive, so we need to minimise compliance costs for meeting export standards. Overseas governments are looking at measuring regulatory burdens and how to minimise costs – for example, the UK Food Standards Agency is doing this. NZFSA needs to meet government’s expectations that departments with regulatory functions improve the quality of regulations and take account of the impacts for businesses.
Significant advances in biotechnology, nanotechnology and materials sciences will yield both advantages and uncertainty for consumers and processors, so it is critical that NZFSA work closely with other agencies to maximise the benefits, whilst protecting consumers.
9.3 What will NZFSA do to achieve the changes?
9.3.1 Implementing the NZFSA Market Access Strategy
NZFSA will respond to the changing global regulatory environment, through the Market Access Strategy. This involves facilitating trade by maintaining confidence in New Zealand exports. NZFSA will:
• review and enhance implementation plans for meat (the focus in 2008/9), dairy and seafood market access strategies, working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade develop a tool for allocating resources that will allow NZFSA to prioritise those areas with the greatest economic yield – the Return on Investment tool
• introduce the New Zealand Supplemented Food Standard and make amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code for innovative foods.
9.3.2 Research cost-effective regulations
NZFSA will:
• conduct research into cost-effective meat regulations
• undertake a cost-effectiveness study of the Verification Agency.
9.3.3 Minimise compliance costs for businesses
NZFSA will:
• provide off-the-peg Food Control Plans for businesses
• trial a tool to measure compliance costs – the Business Cost Calculator; NZFSA will work closely with the Ministry of Economic Development to establish how this tool can improve both our regulatory decision-making and performance.
9.4 How will NZFSA demonstrate progress?
NZFSA will develop benchmark for the following performance indicators and targets.
Performance indicator |
Target |
• increased value by increasing market access for new products and/or new markets |
• estimated industry value of new market access (new products and/or new markets) • complete the Return on Investment Tool |
• minimised costs of complying with New Zealand • regulations |
• establish benchmarks based on the Business Cost Calculator trial • establish benchmark cost-effectiveness for the Verification Agency |
• reduced importing countries’ regulatory compliance costs |
• aggregated industry estimates of cost savings achieved (and costs avoided) through NZFSA interventions |
10 Outcome 3
Consumer food practices and choices that support better health.
10.1 What will NZFSA achieve?
This outcome will see New Zealanders:
• practice safe handling of food in their homes and communities to minimise risk of foodborne illness – including harvesting, hygiene, cooking, transporting and storage practices
• use information to choose foods that support better health, lessening the chance of nutrition-related diseases.
10.2 Why is this outcome a priority?
This outcome is a priority for NZFSA because of the following environmental factors that affect practices in the home and community, and current patterns of food choice.
10.2.1 Food practices
Knowledge and use of safe food practices by New Zealanders is varied. Much foodborne disease arises in domestic settings – through practices like poor hand washing, storage, and cooking. The risks are higher for people with low immunity. We need to take effective measures so that New Zealanders understand how to keep food safe.
10.2.2 Food choices
A high number of deaths in New Zealand are nutrition-related – 8,000 per year. This includes deaths related to high salt and saturated fat intake and low intake of fruit and vegetables. We are eating more ready-made and highly processed food and there has been an increase in household food expenditure on fast foods, which can be a significant source of salt, fat and sugar in the diet. Diseases linked with high consumption of salt, fat and sugar occur more for people in specific populations – for example, Mäori and Pacific peoples have much higher rates of type 2 diabetes. NZFSA needs to make sure all consumers can use labels for long-term health, including working with other agencies and targeting our efforts.
Prevalence (percent of overweight and obesity in adults (2002/03) and children (2003). (Courtesy of Ministry of Health 2002/03)
Adults (2002/2003) |
Adults |
Children (2002) |
Children (2002) | |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female | |
Overweight |
42.1 |
28.4 |
20.0 |
22.8 |
Obese |
20.1 |
21.7 |
9.0 |
10.7 |
Overweight or obese |
62.2 |
50.1 |
29.0 |
33.5 |
New Zealanders’ use of food labels is varied. In a 2007 FSANZ survey, 58% of respondents said they use label information, but males, older people, young people, children and New Zealanders who have only secondary education or less do not use labels as much as others. Many people surveyed by FSANZ in 2002 found labels were not easy to use – only 20% to 36% of respondents rated most elements of labels as ‘very clear’. We need to promote labelling and provide labels that work for people, so consumers can easily choose food to manage their health.
New Zealanders are increasingly concerned about what they consume, but often take messages from sources that are not based on scientific evidence and that may prejudice their health. At the same time, New Zealanders are getting some 70% of their food safety information from newspapers and television according to a 2007 NZFSA survey. This information may or may not be based on scientific evidence. We need to make sure New Zealanders can access authoritative, clear information about food and nutrition-related risks.
We have increasing populations of people who are likely to be more affected by foodborne illnesses – pregnant women, young babies, young children, and older people who are frail. We need to take effective measures so that these New Zealanders can consume food safely.
10.3 What will NZFSA do to achieve the change?
10.3.1 Work with other agencies to improve food handling practices and better choices for health
NZFSA will work:
• to investigate the risks associated with consumer practices and the types of risk management responses required
• with the Ministry of Health to develop a coordinated work programme to deliver nutrition-related services, including exploring ways to increase consumers’ use of labels.
10.3.2 Improve the use of labelling
NZFSA will work to:
• make sure labelling is consistent for all New Zealand products
• have high use of improved labelling by New Zealanders so they can manage their health.
10.3.3 How Will NZFSA demonstrate progress?
Performance indicator |
Target |
• improved confidence of consumers in their knowledge of hygiene/food safety in the home |
• more than 80% of consumers are confident of their knowledge of hygiene/food safety in the home |
• increased use of labels by consumers to improve their nutrition |
• more than 70% of consumers are confident in their ability to make an informed food choice from food labels |
NZFSA will develop further indicators for Outcome 3 in 2008/09 as part of a coordinated programme of work with the Ministry of Health to reduce foodborne and nutrition-related illnesses. | |
11 Managing in a changeable environment
11.1 NZFSA’s organisational risk management system
NZFSA’s organisational risk management system includes:
• an organisation-wide risk register of key risks and analysis of probability, impact and risk mitigation strategies
• a monthly review by senior management of the risk register
• risk registers in Business Groups that are reviewed and updated quarterly.
11.2 Environmental scanning
Annual environmental scanning will include:
• government priorities and strategies that NZFSA could contribute to
• demographic changes in New Zealand
• global changes – political, social, environmental, demographic, trade patterns and requirements
• trans-Tasman food developments
• other agencies’ outputs and work programmes that NZFSA activity may impact on, and vice versa
• industry trends and work – food-related and other
• non-governmental organisations’ trends and work
• environmental strategies in New Zealand
• evaluation and monitoring information – international, New Zealand and NZFSA internal.
11.3 NZFSA Risk Committee
NZFSA is appointing a Risk Committee, including external experts, to provide independent assurance that risk management systems are functioning effectively.
11.4 NZFSA’s organisational risks 2008/09
This table sets out the major risks for 2008/09.
Risk |
Mitigation |
Food legislation delay: |
• put contingency planning in place • develop and implement the voluntary implementation programme in partnership with territorial authorities and food businesses |
Cost recovery forecasting variances: |
• monitor revenue, costs and forecasts monthly • revise industry service/funding agreements annually after consultation round with industry sectors • implement Memorandum Accounting for 2008/09 to improve transparency |
Best available science is not accessed: |
• engage national and international peer reviewers as necessary |
Emergency events planning is found to be ineffective: |
• response procedures and capability – ongoing development of preparedness |
Credibility challenges: |
• maintain transparency in decision-making processes • remain open to public and media • maintain and develop relationships with a range of stakeholders to strengthen our credibility |
Consistent approaches are not adopted between our New Zealand and international positions on food standards: |
• deliver to a consistent policy framework with principled advice • implement peer review of policy positions on standards • continue to actively consider international standards, trends and policies • continue support for the Joint Food Standards development process and be involved in Codex Committees |
People capability is not maintained: |
• NZFSA manages a specific recruitment programme for specialist technical expertise • recruit overseas if necessary |
Relationships are not managed effectively: |
• implement and monitor communications strategy • implement Memoranda of Understanding with other agencies as required |
Systemic failures in the assurances provided to overseas markets: |
• undertake NZFSA audit programme • implement internal monitoring systems within the Verification Agency |
11.5 Our food Risk Management Framework
NZFSA has continued to address food safety issues through the Risk Management Framework (RMF) for food safety agreed with the Ministry of Health in 2002 and updated in 2008. We have based the RMF on international guidelines established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation, incorporating elements of the more generic Australian/New Zealand risk management standard AS/NZ 4360:2004.
The RMF can be entered into at any step. It is cyclical and iterative. Monitoring and review informs NZFSA of the success of interventions and identifies situations when risk management decisions must be revisited because of inadequate outcomes. 
12 Developing our organisation
12.1 The organisation
NZFSA consists of about 530 people, located in more than 80 sites around New Zealand. Its staff includes people with a range of technical and scientific skills who carry out policy development, monitoring, research, standards development and implementation.
NZFSA is a new department, established on 1 July 2007. The development actions in the table below reflect the newness of the department.
12.2 NZFSA objectives and performance indicators 2008–2015
NZFSA will use the six cross-government goals of Transforming State Services to prioritise NZFSA organisational health and capability development. NZFSA will use the State Services Commission indicators of progress to judge success.
Employer of Choice | ||
Perception of NZFSA as a place to work | ||
2008/09 Action • conduct employment branding • research for NZFSA and use findings to develop recruitment and retention strategies |
By 2010 Action • refine recruitment and retention strategies |
By 2015 Action • complete evaluation of recruitment and retention strategies, including branding |
Performance indicator • recruitment and retention strategies developed using branding research |
Performance indicator • NZFSA vacancy ratio has improved by 5% from the NZFSA 2007 baseline |
Performance indicator • NZFSA vacancy ratio has improved by 10% from the NZFSA 2007baseline |
NZFSA staff engagement | ||
2008/09 Action • run Gallup survey including measuring staff engagement |
By 2010 Action • plan for staff engagement, based on Gallup survey results |
By 2015 Action • complete evaluation of staff engagement strategies and revise as needed |
Performance indicator • run Gallup survey successfully |
Performance indicator • NZFSA achieves increase in grand mean to 75th percentile of New Zealand State Sector in Gallup survey • increase in overall satisfaction rating to 50th percentile in Gallup survey |
Performance indicator • maintain at least a rating of grand mean to 75th percentile in Gallup survey of New Zealand state Sector • maintain overall satisfaction rating to 60th percentile in Gallup survey |
The extent to which NZFSA specifies the competencies to meet current and future organisational needs | ||
2008/09 Action • identify critical competencies for each role, function and level within NZFSA to meet current and future needs |
By 2010 Action • update position descriptions for staff, using the competency framework |
By 2015 Action • evaluate the competency framework and revise as needed |
Performance indicator • competency framework produced • 100% of roles in NZFSA have specified competencies |
Performance indicator • 100% of roles have core competencies specified • 100% of staff have updated position descriptions that include competencies for their role from the competency framework |
Performance indicator • 100% of staff have specified core competencies for their role, based on the updated competency framework |
The extent to which a learning and development framework is used to improve performance | ||
2008/09 Action • develop a learning and development framework for NZFSA to make sure that learning and development initiatives are aligned with organisational goals |
By 2010 Action • implement the learning and development framework |
By 2015 Action • evaluate the learning and development framework and revise as needed |
Performance indicator • the NZFSA learning and development framework is produced |
Performance indicator • 100% of NZFSA staff have a development plan that aligns with NZFSA’s goals |
Performance indicator • NZFSA staff are sought after and recognised as skilled, high performing public servants |
Networked State Services | ||
Individuals can access multiple programmes at the same time from one place | ||
2008/09 Action • contribute to the initial development of the border Sector Single Window Strategy alongside Customs and Bio-security to enable businesses and government to access export and import information • agree a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Services Commission to participate in the Government Login Service |
By 2010 Action • contribute to the development of the Border Sector Single Window Strategy • work to make sure some NZFSA applications are available within the Government Login Service |
By 2015 Action • contribute to the completion of the Border Sector Single Window Strategy • work to ensure all NZFSA applications are available within the Government Login Service • participate in the Identity Verification Service system, so that user verification enables access to the NZFSA site |
Performance indicator • NZSFA has contributed positively to initial development of the Border Sector Single Window Strategy, as confirmed by the Steering Group |
Performance indicator • importers and exporters, can go through the Government Login Service to access some NZFSA applications |
Performance indicators • users can access all NZFSA applications • importers, exporters, can access, to defined service standards, NZFSA/Customs/ Bio-security data through the Border Sector Single Window website |
The extent to which users have to give the same information only once to government | ||
2008/09 Action • establish the approach for food businesses to be able to register a Food Control Plan with a territorial authority, through which they are automatically listed on the NZFSA public register |
By 2010 Action • work with territorial authorities to enable new businesses to register with a territorial authority, through which they are automatically listed on the NZFSA public register |
|
Performance indicators • approach agreed with all territorial authorities |
Performance indicators • 100% of food businesses who register a Food Control Plan with a territorial authority, through which they are automatically listed on the NZFSA public register |
|
Value-for-money State Services | ||
The extent to which decision makers are taking account of longer-term economic and fiscal impacts of government activities The extent to which agencies use and publish value-for-money indicators and benchmarks | ||
2008/09 Action • work to improve performance specification and cost information for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry/NZFSA Shared Services Agreement (eg for procurement, payroll, finance, IT infrastructure). This will provide baseline data for consideration at the mid-term review in 2009 • undertake a cost-effectiveness study of the NZFSA Verification Agency, assessing efficiency and identifying the value derived, • including economic returns to the export sector |
By 2010 Action • complete a review of the Ministry of Agriculture/NZFSA Shared Services Agreement and use performance data to demonstrate the gains and areas where further gains could be made • maintain annual reporting against the NZFSA Verification Agency cost-effectiveness indicators and benchmarks • identify further NZFSA business activities for review and establishment of cost effectiveness and value-for-money |
By 2015 Action • complete cost-effectiveness studies across all key areas of business • report annually against a suite of cost-effectiveness and benchmarked data |
Performance indicators • baseline performance and cost information specified • cost-effectiveness study completed of the Verification Agency |
Performance indicators • over 35% of NZFSA expenditure areas have value-for-money/ cost-effectiveness indicators by 2009/10, which are reported on • NZFSA Verification Agency effectiveness and efficiency reported on benchmarks |
Performance indicators • over 70% of NZFSA expenditure has value-for-money/cost effectiveness indicators in place by 2013/14, which are reported on |
Co-ordinated state agencies | ||
The extent to which coordination – mandate, systems and behaviours – are present and their use is impacting on results. | ||
2008/09 Action • agree shared work programme for reducing short and long term illness with the Ministry of Health food safety relating to the New Zealand food supply |
By 2010 Action • finalise a work programme with the Ministry of Health to reduce short and long term illnesses, using shared capabilities and networks • confirm short and medium term performance measures with the Ministry of Health consistent with the strategy, involving other agencies as required |
By 2015 Action • monitor and report on joint achievements for the NZFSA/ Ministry of Health strategy |
Performance indicators • outcome/s and performance measures that enable New Zealanders to choose food that reduces the risk of short and long term disease have been developed |
Performance indicators • performance measures developed for joint outcomes with Ministry of Health • outcomes and performance measures developed across other agencies as required |
Performance indicators • performance measures developed for joint outcomes across agencies |
Accessible State Services | ||
Accessible State Services – uptake of services | ||
2008/09 Action • develop NZFSA website architecture to meet the needs of identified stakeholder groups for food safety and suitability information and tools • develop sub-sites for individual stakeholder groups |
By 2010 Action • develop the sub-sites for remaining stakeholder groups • develop benchmarks for rates of website usage and how well NZFSA meets the needs of individual stakeholder groups • identify any new stakeholder groups |
By 2015 Action • implement strategies to improve usage rates and to better meet the needs of individual stakeholder groups |
Performance indicator • website architecture is in place • sub-sites for at least half of the identified stakeholder groups are developed by June 2009 |
Performance indicator • sub-sites for all identified stakeholder groups are developed by June 2010 • benchmarks are developed for rates of website usage and how well the NZFSA meets the needs of individual stakeholder groups |
Performance indicator • performance meets benchmarks for usage rates and for how well NZFSA meets the needs of individual stakeholder groups exceed established benchmarks |
Responsive State Services – service users’ individual circumstances are taken into account | ||
2008/09 Action • provide off-the-peg Food Control Plans for businesses that will meet the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) |
By 2010 Action • review effectiveness of consumer information services for different population groups and improve responsiveness, based on this review |
|
Performance indicator • targeted SMEs have Food Control Plans in place |
Performance indicator • performance indicator to be developed for reach and effectiveness |
|
Effective State Services – users’ experience and expectations inform service design and improvement | ||
2000/09 Action • use consumer and industry fora to capture the range of businesses’ and consumers’ feedback to inform service design and delivery |
By 2010 Action • use outside-in reviews of services to improve service design and delivery |
By 2015 Action • routinely manage outside-in reviews as part of the annual performance review cycle |
Performance indicator • feedback captured and used from the range of consumer and populations and business sectors |
Performance indicator • outside-in reviews target groups where NZFSA will make most impact |
Performance indicator • outside-in reviews are conducted annually and information is used to improve design and delivery |
Trusted State Services | ||
Trustworthiness exhibited by State servants | ||
2008/09 Action • develop and promulgate NZFSA code of conduct • develop an ongoing system to deliver training to existing and new staff |
By 2010 |
|
Performance indicator • all staff receive training about the code of conduct |
Performance indicator • all newly recruited staff demonstrate understanding of required behaviours of the NZFSA Code of Conduct |
|
The extent of New Zealanders’ confidence in the integrity of State servants when delivering services | ||
2008/09 Action • define and promulgate service expectations for key services |
By 2010 Action • conduct outside/in review of NZFSA services develop performance measures for industry confidence |
By 2015 Action • conduct outside-in reviews of selected services on a periodic basis benchmark performance for delivering services to industry
|
Performance indicator • maintain or improve on 59% consumer confidence in organisations regulating and monitoring food in New Zealand (based on the Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007) |
Performance indicator • maintain or improve on 59% consumer confidence in organisations regulating and monitoring food in New Zealand (based on the Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007) • performance measures developed for industry |
Performance indicator • improve on 59% consumer confidence in organisations regulating and monitoring food in New Zealand (based on the Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007) • benchmark for service to industry developed and published |
Equal Employment Opportunities
NZFSA will carry out a pay and equity audit, with Department of Labour Pay and Employment Equity Unit guidance, and implement findings of the response plan. NZFSA will complete its review by 30 June 2008. A committee of representatives from across the organisation will use three key indicators:
• women and men have an equitable share of reward
• women and men participate equitably in all areas of the organisation
• women and men are treated with respect and fairness.
The audit process will be carried out in partnership with employees and the Public Service Association. Unions representing staff in the Verification Agency have asked to be kept informed of progress.
12.3 Diversity policy
NZFSA will develop and implement a diversity policy in 2008/09:
• taking into account the findings of the Pay and Employment Equity review
• in line with guidance from the State Services Commission.
12.4 Departmental Capital Intentions
NZFSA is not a capital-intensive organisation and manages capital investment in IT hardware through our shared service agreement with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This means the emphasis of our capital investment plans over the next five years is on:
• maintaining our fleet of vehicles, particularly in support of our verification services to industry around New Zealand
• maintaining our office environment
• maintaining, updating and developing systems to support our business and stakeholder interaction with us, particularly for online services resulting from the Domestic Food Review.
The following table shows NZFSA’s capital intentions forecast 2007–2012.
Estimated actual |
Forecast | ||||
$(000) |
2007/08 |
2008/09 |
2009/2010 |
2010/2011 |
2011/2012 |
Intangible assets Software/systems development |
2,180 |
4,700 |
1,800 |
1,800 |
1,800 |
Motor vehicles |
40 |
1,160 |
700 |
700 |
700 |
Furniture and fittings |
790 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
40 |
3,010 |
5,925 |
2,565 |
2,565 |
2,540 | |
Performance indicators – technical notes
Outcome 2008/09 indicators |
Data and Scope |
Outcome 1: Improved safe and suitable food | |
Campylobacteriosis Salmonellosis Listeriosis Improved compliance with food labelling requirements in New Zealand |
NZFSA will report on registered notifications per 100,000 people per year. This allows for demographic changes in the New Zealand population. NZFSA will report on the foodborne proportion of total notified cases acquired in New Zealand based on robust expert elicitation (0.8 for campylobacteriosis, 0.8 for salmonellosis and 0.9 for listeriosis). NZFSA will estimate the proportion of cases acquired abroad through the EpiSurv programme administered by Environmental Science Research (ESR) and the Ministry of Health. The baseline for the measurement is the number of cases reported through registered notifications, with trend analysis determining average levels at any one point in time. The measure will be reported against the baselined data of 2003 of 5% overall label consistency from the FSANZ Label Monitoring Survey, which takes a sample across all the main packaged food categories in New Zealand. This will include Nutritional Information Panels, which may also be an area of action included in our 2009/10 Statement of Intent. |
Outcome 2: Improved business opportunities through safe and suitable food | |
Cost-effective regulation Minimise regulatory costs borne by food businesses operating in New Zealand |
We will (a) establish baseline data for selected areas for administrative costs (b) define costs of new/amended regulations in a specific area. NZFSA will base the method of measurement on the Business Cost Calculator (BCC) provided through the Ministry of Economic Development. NZFSA will conduct initial pilot BCC calculations in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development. |
Reduction in compliance costs imposed by importing countries on exports of New Zealand food Aggregate industry estimates of cost savings achieved in 2008/09 |
We will establish baseline data for 2008/09 using aggregate estimates based on: • written estimates received from industry associations or industry groups • expected annual benefits (cost savings) directly relating to a change in export requirements for which NZFSA was involved in negotiating • the initiative or change at the time it was agreed, even if implementation occurs post 2008/09. NZFSA will use aggregate estimates to maintain confidentiality. |
Increase in market access for new products and/or new markets Estimated industry value of new market access |
We will establish baseline data for 2008/09 using aggregate estimate based on: • written estimates received from industry associations or industry groups • expected annual benefits (cost savings) directly relating to a change in export requirements for which NZFSA was involved in negotiating • the initiatives or change at the time it was agreed, even if implementation occurs post 2008/09. NZFSA will represent industry estimates as gross values. NZFSA will not make adjustment to recognise expected net changes (arising from changes in product lines produced or exported). NZFSA will use aggregate estimates to maintain confidentiality. |
Outcome 3: Consumer food practices and choices that support better health | |
Increased confidence of consumers in their ability to make an informed food choice from food labels |
NZFSA will measure the increase by comparing the data from the FSANZ Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007 (number of New Zealanders sampled = 800) against the baseline measure of 70% of consumers being confident (rating of 5, 6 and 7). |
Increased consumer knowledge about food hygiene/ food safety in the home |
NZFSA will measure the increase through NZFSA-commissioned surveys and the data from the FSANZ Consumer Attitudes Survey 2007 baseline measure from 2007 of 83% of consumers being confident of their knowledge (rating of 5, 6 and 7). |
NZFSA will develop further indicators for Outcome 3 in 2008/09 as part of NZFSA’s collaborative work with the Ministry of Health to develop a strategy addressing nutrition-related illnesses. | |
13 Glossary
CODEX Commission – develops international food standards, guidelines and related texts such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
Domestic Food Review – addressed problems in food industry regulation, roles of the regulators (NZFSA, Public Health Units and Local Authorities) and the level of foodborne illness in New Zealand.
Food Act, new – draft includes development of education and training requirements for food operators and risk-based tools to help food operators manage food safety and suitability.
EpiSurv – database primarily composed of General Practitioner based notifications of diseases.
ESR – Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
FAO – international Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Food – anything that is used or represented for use as food or drink for humans.
Foodborne illness – diseases, usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through the ingestion of food.
Food-related products – products involved in growing and processing animal and plant products and other goods produced from animals and plants.
FSANZ – Food Standards Australia New Zealand develops food standards (primarily composition and labelling) for food sold or prepared for sale in New Zealand and/or Australia or imported into New Zealand and/or Australia.
Functional foods – food that has added nutrients or other substances.
Nutraceuticals – nutritional supplements.
OIE – international World Organisation for Animal Health.
Pathogens – organisms that can cause a foodborne illness.
SPS – WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, setting out basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards. It allows countries to set their own standards, which must be based on science.
Suitability – product attributes that include aesthetic characteristics or defects, composition and labelling, that are not related to food safety.
Total Diet Survey – assesses exposure to chemical residues, contaminant elements and selected nutrients from about 120 representative foods across the average diet of different age-sex groups in New Zealand.
Verification Agency – the part of NZFSA that verifies food safety programmes are followed at processing premises, employing veterinarians to inspect animals, animal welfare and provides export certification.
WHO – World Health Organization.
WTO – the World Trade Organization, which deals with rules of trade between nations globally.
www.nzfsa.govt.nz
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
86 Jervois Quay, PO Box 2835, Wellington
New Zealand
Telephone 04 894 2500
Facsimile 04 894 2501
ISSN 1178-3168 (Print)
ISSN 1178-3176 (Online)
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501
Contact
NZFSA about this page