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Food Safety in New Zealand: Application of a Risk Management Framework

Foreword

The last decade has seen an unprecedented level of change in the approach to food safety. The drivers for such change are diverse and have been generated from all stakeholders in the food chain including the consumer, government, industry and the academic community. As a consequence, Food Safety Authorities around the world are engaged in structural, legal and operational responses that are still incomplete in terms of charting new courses to protecting consumers against foodborne illness.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is no exception and this document describes the application of a generic Risk Management Framework (RMF) to systematically address all food safety issues. Much of the work of NZFSA is about understanding and dealing with foodborne risks to consumers, and transparent and agreed processes are needed to incorporate risk-based approaches in regulatory activities wherever practicable.

Food safety risk management can be described in general terms as the process of evaluating available food control options in consultation with interested stakeholders and then implementing standards or other regulatory activities as appropriate. Wherever possible, regulatory decisions should be based on risk assessment and all aspects of risk management should be immersed in a ‘sea of risk communication’. Systematic application of an RMF ensures that all aspects of risk analysis, ie risk assessment, risk management and risk communication, are brought together in a systematic and logical manner and this maximises the benefits available from a risk-based approach to food safety.

Robust science is a key input to all components of NZFSA’s RMF and this is provided from a range of sources including NZFSA itself, contracted science providers and international liaison. The cyclical nature of the RMF reflects the continual quest for better scientific data and the soundest scientific expert judgment as a basis for risk management decisions.

It is important to recognise that systematic application of an RMF to food safety issues will only achieve stakeholder goals if food safety control measures are underpinned by well-functioning operational systems. NZFSA is proud of its record in this area and we will continue to ensure that the outputs of the RMF are solidly supported by the routine regulatory activities of all NZFSA business groups.

Andrew McKenzie

CHIEF EXECUTIVE