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Filleting of fish onboard inshore fishing vessels for sale on NZ market – requirement for Risk Management Programme

18 May 2009

Dear Fishing Vessel Operator

Based on information available to the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), we believe that you may be filleting fish on board your inshore fishing vessel for sale on the New Zealand market.

The Animal Products (Definition of Primary Processor) Notice 2000 classifies the filleting of finfish at sea as primary processing. The Animal Products Act 1999 requires all primary processors of seafood products intended for human or animal consumption to operate under a registered Risk Management Programme (RMP).

If you wish to fillet fish on board your fishing vessel and sell the filleted fish on the New Zealand Market, you must now apply to register an RMP. To help you set up and operate under an RMP, the Seafood Standards Council and NZFSA have developed a Risk Management Programme Template for Inshore Vessels – Fish Filleting. We have also developed guidelines to explain the process and help you complete your RMP template.

Here is a list of the documents attached to this letter.

• Risk Management Programme Template for Inshore Vessels – Fish Filleting

• Guidelines for Risk Management Programme Template – Inshore Vessels Fish Filleting

• Application Form – AP4 Risk Management Programme Form

• Application Guidelines for Approvals (applies to AP4)

• Principle Categories of Processing Form – AP49

If you have any questions about the RMP application or process, please contact the relevant person named on page 5 of the “Guidelines for Risk Management Programme Template – Inshore Vessels Fish Filleting” attached to this letter.

You must send your completed RMP template and accompanying documents to NZFSA by
31 August 2009 (see guidelines for details).

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Peter Fairless

Senior Programme Manager (Production & Processing)
Approvals & ACVM Group
NZFSA