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Green light for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority

On Tuesday 15 May, the Governmentannounced its decision to create the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. The Authority will integrate the food regulatory functions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) with those of the Ministry of Health. It will be a semi-autonomous body attached to MAF.

At present, the Ministry of Health is responsible for administering regulations covering food sold within New Zealand, while MAF is responsible for primary production and export food. The new Authority will take on both responsibilities.

"We are really pleased to have this  opportunity to create a food safety programme that meets the needs of New Zealand consumers and producers as well as those of our overseas trading partners. At a time of increasing emphasis on food safety everywhere, it has the potential to become a model for the rest of the world," said Andrew McKenzie, current Group Director of MAF Food Assurance Authority.

"Ensuring the safety of New Zealand food has always been MAF Food’s primary objective, although our focus until now has been on primary production up to the point of retail sale, and on exports. The reputation of New Zealand’s primary produce and exported food is without equal and we are looking forward to using the experience we have gained in some of the world’s most discerning markets for all New Zealand food."

MAF Food and the Ministry of Healthhave been working together for some time to integrate their approach to food safety regulation, so we are expecting the transition to the new Authority to be a smooth one. The Authority will bring together an impressive pool of expertise from both MAF and the Ministry of Health.

The Authority will have its own Vote, a new Ministerial portfolio and an advisory board.

A Food Implementation Team has been established to set up the new organisation, which is expected to be launched within the next twelve months. Food Focus will keep you in touch with developments over that period.

MRLS and the New ZealandFood Standard

Prospective applicants wishing to register trade name products under the ACVMAct are reminded that active ingredients in trade name products used as agricultural compounds may need an assessment for a maximum residue limit (MRL) to be determined. Once an MRL is determined it must be notified in the New Zealand Gazette and entered into the Mandatory Food Standard Table of MRLs prior to the registration of any product containing that ingredient.

MRLs in the New Zealand Food Standard should not to be confused with those   gazetted by the Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA). The latter apply only in Australia. Applications for an MRL are made to the ACVM Group, Food Assurance Authority of MAF.

The New Zealand Food Standard may be viewed through the Ministry of Health website (see instructions below). Not all active ingredients approved for use in agricultural compounds used in New Zealand are currently entered into the Food Standard Table of MRLs. If you have any queries in this regard contact John Reeve, National Manager, Toxicology and Residues.

www.moh.govt.nz

• go to Search, enter Mandatory Food Standard
• click New and Issues-Regulation of Food in New Zealand
• go to heading The New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Mandatory Food Standard 1999
• open PDF file nzmrlmfs1999.PDF