Terms of Reference
Dairy Product Safety Advisory Council DPSAC

To:

• provide comprehensive and balanced advice to MAF on matters relating to the regulatory control of dairy products;

• promote the two way exchange of information and views as a vital part of the consultation process; and
• assist in the development of policies, standards, and operational procedures, adequate to administer the regulatory functions of the Dairy Industry Act 1952 and the Dairy Industry Regulations 1990, in line with Government policy and the MAF Food: Dairy & Plants Strategic and Operational plans.
• Assist in the transition to the Animal Products Act.

Director

Director, MAF Food: Dairy and Plant Products Group

DPSAC

Dairy Product Safety Advisory Council

MAF Food

Food Assurance Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

 MAF Food: Dairy & Plants

All of the MAF Food staff reporting directly or indirectly to the Director, MAF Food: Dairy and Plant Products Group

• MAF gets important input from industry stakeholders.
• Industry feels well represented on the Council.
• Industry is kept well informed of the Council's work.

5.1 Council

5.1.1

5.1.2

The Council will normally meet four times per year.

5.1.3

MAF will reimburse members of the Council for actual and reasonable expenses incurred through attendance at formal meetings. This will not include the time spent by representatives at the meetings. 

5.1.4

The Council and any working groups it sets up will maximise the use of available technologies, such as the MAF website, as a means of communication and to advance DPSAC's work programme.

5.1.5

Any expenditure or financial commitment for the Council or the working groups must have the prior approval of the Director.

5.1.6

Review of membership, Terms of Reference, and procedures of the Council will be conducted on an annual basis.

5.1.7

The Council will be a consensus-seeking forum.

4.1.8

The Council will seek transparency and consistency in the methods used for developing recommendations.

5.2 Working Groups

5.2.1

The Council may establish working groups to address specific issues and to provide advice and recommendations. This may include the use of expertise from outside DPSAC.

5.2.2

The terms of reference for each working group are to be established by the team leader and agreed with the group and with DPSAC, with sign off for any financial implications by the Director.

5.2.3

Working group papers should be treated as confidential and not made available for general release outside of DPSAC.

5.3 MAF

5.3.1

MAF will establish a consultation network of parties known to be interested in or affected by the Dairy Industry Act and Regulations, and who are not represented on DPSAC. All matters considered by DPSAC will be bought to the attention of these interested or affected parties, and their comment invited.  

5.3.2 

MAF will provide a secretariat (technical and administrative) to service the Council and coordinate wider consultation.  

6.1 Membership

6.1.1

The Council will consist of a designated representative from each of the invited organisations (refer to Attachment No. 1 for a list of invited member and observer organisations). The member organisations are selected to cover as wide a range of sector views as possible from groups directly impacted by the Dairy Industry Act and Regulations.

6.1.2

The Director will contribute the appropriate support staff from the Dairy & Plants Group and from other areas within MAF to ensure that the Council is provided with the technical advice required to perform its functions. The Director will formally represent the other MAF Food Directors. MAF will also provide secretarial support to the Council.

6.1.3

Observer organisations may be invited because of the overlap and inter-relationship between Council business and their own areas of authority. Each will provide a designated representative. They are distinguished from member organisations only in that they are not directly impacted by the dairy industry legislation.

6.2 Roles

6.2.1 Council

• Maintain an overview of sectorial views and opinions;

• Advise the council on matters that are of particular concern relating to the impact of regulations, policies and standards;

• Review and critique proposed policy and standards proposals and recommend modifications to ensure that risks are managed and regulatory controls are no more nor less than necessary to effectively manage the risks;

• Participate in endorsing strategic direction and operational plans for MAF Food: Dairy & Plants; and

• Advise on and participate in (as appropriate) the implementation of strategies for international harmonisation.

6.2.2 Members

• Represent the views of their organisation to the Council;
• Ensure that their organisation's views are represented via personal
  attendance or ensuring that another delegate is fully briefed;
• Provide a contact point for their own member organisations, disseminating relevant information from the meetings to their members; and
• Take part in free and frank discussion that will at times involve challenging other views put forward. Members are expected to respect the perspectives of other members and the confidentiality of opinions expressed in open discussions.
• Outcomes from the meetings are to be circulated to interested and affected parties; therefore it will be necessary for members to sign off on these within ten working days of their receipt.

6.2.3 Observers

• Any observer organisations will be expected to take a full part in the meeting and have the same role as members.
• Observers may be requested to be members of working groups.

6.2.4 MAF

• Provides an independent chair / facilitator. It will be the responsibility of the Chair to summarise the discussion and views at the end of any agenda item and to confirm this with the meeting so the Council secretary can ensure that the minutes are a true reflection of the final outcome of the discussion.

• Provide secretariat support to DPSAC, including circulation of the agenda and papers (at least 10 working days prior to each meeting), circulation of draft DPSAC minutes (within 15 working days of each meeting), communication of the DPSAC report, and arrangements for any travel required (upon request);
• Provides team leadership for any working groups that are established;
• Represents the views of MAF Food, MAF Policy, and Government policy; and
• Provides technical and administrative support as decided by the Director.

6.3 Attendance

• Members are expected to treat the DPSAC meetings as high priority and attend as often as possible.

• If members are not able to attend a meeting, it is expected that they will advise the Council secretary and arrange another representative from their organisation to attend. They should ensure that the delegate is fully briefed on any background information so they are able to take a full part in the meeting.

• From time to time, other organisations or staff may be invited to attend to make presentations or for other purposes. Arrangements are to be made through the Council secretary.

7.1

The Council's Working Groups will work to an eight-step process (see Attachment No. 2 for details). This process may be "fast-tracked" on instructions from the Director. 

7.2

Time frames for the steps on the process will be set as part of the initial "project" set up for each of the working groups.

7.3

Priority setting is, ultimately, the responsibility of the Director.

Organisation

Dairy Goat Cooperative (NZ) Ltd

Representative

Keith Arnold, Operations Manager

The Cooperative is the sole New Zealand dairy goat farmers' cooperative. It organises the collection, manufacture, and marketing of the shareholders' milk. DGC's product range is built around niche nutritional markets where goat's milk can offer special benefits.

Organisation

Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc

Representative

Kevin Wooding

Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) is New Zealand's principal landowners' sector organisation and represents arable, dairy, meat, and wool farmers. Among other missions, Federated Farmers promotes responsible farm management and environmental practices. As such, Federated Farmers represents a large sector of farmers impacted by dairy industry legislation.

Organisation

Fonterra

Representatives

Mike Willing & Brendon Radford

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd is owned by nearly 14,000 New Zealand Dairy Farmers. It is the ninth largest dairy company in the world, with 20,000 staff operating in 120 countries around the world. It is New Zealand's largest company. About one dollar in every five that NZ country earns overseas will be earned by Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, and about seven percent of the country's GDP.

Organisation

Mainland Products Ltd

Representative

Clive Bleaken, Group Technical Manager - Dairy

Domestic market manufacturer - representing the views of a major local market manufacturer of a wide range of food products, predominantly dairy and meat products.

Mainland Products Ltd is part of the Fonterra Cooperative Group (via New Zealand Milk, and Australasian Food Holdings Ltd).

Mainland produces a range of dairy and meat products primarily for the NZ domestic market, but also export to Australia, Asia, and other markets. Product brands include: Mainland, Tararua, Galaxy, Ferndale, Meadow Fresh, Huttons, Kiwi, Brooks, Top Hat, Frasers.

Organisation

Meyer Gouda Cheeses

Representative

Ben Meyer, Owner

The NZSCA is a group of 15 independent cheesemakers who produce primarily exotic cheeses for the local market, with some export activity. Members are the main contributors to the annual National Cheese Awards, and have had great success. The Association's purposes are to provide support to members, to promote their cheeses, and to facilitate unified communication for the sector.

Organisation

Ministry of Health

Representative

Jim Sim, Leader, Food Safety Team, Safety & Regulation Branch Implementation Group

The Ministry of Health is an observer member of DPSAC to ensure that there is a seamless interface between the Dairy Industry Act and Food Act jurisdictions, particularly with regard to food safety standards and systems.

Organisation

New Zealand Cold Storage Association

Representative

Murray Angell, Executive Manager

This organisation has been in existence since 1932. 51 of its members are owners of independent coolstores, 31 are service companies and related organisations. The Association was originally convened to discuss issues relating to the storage an export of dairy products, but the scope has been expanded to include meat, fish and vegetables.

Organisation

NZ Dairy Foods

Representative

Dr Laurence Eyres, GM Technical & Development

NZDF produces yoghurts, dairy foods, flavoured milks and lots more under a variety of brand names.

Organisation

Nutra-Life Health & Fitness (NZ) Ltd

Representative

Dr Shailer Cottier, Technical Manager and Nutritionist

Nutra-Life was established in Auckland in 1984, and since that time has been directly involved in the design, formulation, and production of nutritional products based on dairy ingredients. It is privately owned, and is the largest single supplier of dietary supplements, as defined under the Dietary Supplement Regulations 1985, in New Zealand. The company operates a MAF registered plant in Pakuranga, and is GMP licensed by the Ministry of Health. Nutra-Life is a significant exporter of product to Australia and other countries, including the UK, Asia, and the South Pacific. It has earned a reputation for innovative technology in product development.

Organisation

Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd

Representative

Tony Wright, Laboratory Manager

Tatua is an autonomous, independent dairy company owned entirely by 138 farmer shareholders.

The Company was established in 1914 and currently processes 100 million of milk per year, provided by our farmer suppliers.

From this raw milk, Tatua manufactures a wide range of consumer, food service and ingredient products. More than 90% of our products are exported to markets around the world, including Australia, North America, Central and South America, South East Asia and South Africa.

Organisation

Tip Top Ice Cream Ltd. & NZICM

Representative

Murray Taylor, Technical Manager and Chair, Technical Committee, NZICMA

New Zealand Ice Cream Manufacturers Association Inc - representing ice cream manufacturers, both export and local market.

The NZICMA was formed in 1928, and has acted on behalf of the ice cream industry continuously for 70 years. Most manufacturers, aside from a few small-scale operators, are members of the Association. It maintains a liaison with similar overseas associations and acts as an advocate on all industry matters, particularly those relating to standards and food and hygiene regulations.

Organisation

Westland Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd

Representative

Leo McIntyre, Quality Manager

An independent dairy co-operative covering much of the West Coast of the South Island, Westland has 365 suppliers and specialises in manufacturing milk powder, butter, MPC & casein. Westland produces approximately 30 million kg of milk solids per annum, which is increasing at a rate of 7-8%pa.

Organisation

Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)

Representative

Dr Sally Hasell, Senior Food Advisor

Providing the linkage to the food standards being set and issues considered in the context of the Australia and New Zealand joint food system.

ANZFA is a statutory authority operating under the Australia New Zealand Food Authority Act 1991. It works with a Council of Health Ministers and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC) to develop and maintain laws and systems that regulate food in Australia and New Zealand.

Organisation

Certenz

Representative

Andrew Baines, Business Manager

Certenz was established in 1999 as an independent business unit of AgriQuality New Zealand. Certenz is an accredited certification body offering Third Party Agency services to the dairy industry under the ORM. As a TPA, Certenz undertakes PSP evaluation and verification, HACCP evaluation, Pasteuriser evaluation, Pest and Pathogen management programme evaluation, farm PSP evaluation, premises assessment and approvals and manages both routine and exception reporting from industry.

Organisation

Consumers' Insitute NZ Inc

Representative

Celia Murphy, Research Writer

The Consumers' Institute provides consumer protection and information through comparative tests and surveys of consumer goods and services, research into and advice on financial, food, health, safety, welfare and environmental matters. Its findings are published monthly in Consumer magazine. The Institute also makes submissions on behalf of consumers at Parliamentary committees and public inquiries; its representatives liaise with government, business, trade and safety organisations; it is also concerned with consumer education and offers a complaints advisory service for its members.

Organisation

MAF Compliance & Investigation Group, MAF Food.

Representative

Geoff Allen, Director.

CIG provides technical auditing services to the Director, Dairy and Plant Products, providing assurance that standards/specifications and overseas market access requirements are being met. CIG assessors also respond to critical situations reported by industry to safeguard food safety and market access.

Organisation

MAF Food - providing the linkage to Government, to other agencies and within MAF generally.

Representative

Carole Inkster, Director, Policy Coordination

The Policy Co-ordination team within MAF Food ensures consistency of policy positions within the overall generic food administration framework developed in MAF Food. It supports, and proposes where necessary, policy and legislative projects for this purpose and ensures there is policy and legislative consistency in projects impacting on MAF Food.

Organisation

MAF Policy - providing the linkage to Government and MAF Policy considerations.

Representative

Bruce Burdon, Team Leader, Food and Animal Policy

MAF Policy advises the Minister of Agriculture and the Government so he can make informed decisions about policies and legislation affecting the land based sectors. MAF Policy also contributes to and comments on relevant policies and positions being developed by MAF Food, and represents Government policy both domestically and internationally.

Organisation

Telarc

Representative

Bob Pickles

Telarc is a Third Party Agency providing auditing services to the dairy industry.