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Review of Requirements for Assessment of Dairy Heat Treatment Equipment and Systems

MEMORANDUM

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has been working with a group of industry representatives and other stakeholders to review the requirements for assessment of dairy heat treatment equipment and systems. A range of documents and requirements were identified that needed to be amended and developed as part of the work, including approved criteria and guidance documents. The intention at the end of this review was to have a set of requirements that had been simplified and aligned with other animal products. The working group has also been working on guidance documents to help with a smooth implementation and to fill information gaps identified by the working group.

The Dairy Products Safety Advisory Council endorsed the draft requirements for assessment of dairy heat treatment equipment and systems at their last meeting in August. The revised requirements are contained in Appendix One of DPC 3 Manufacturing of Dairy Material and Products, Animal Products (Dairy) Approved Criteria.

Operators of registered Risk Management Programmes will need to have their programmes amended to meet the new requirements. These amendments will require no evaluation but will be checked at the next scheduled verification visit. Persons developing an RMP for registration after implementation will have their programmes evaluated against the new requirements. Implementation will take place as soon as the reviewed approved criteria document is posted on the website.

A summary of submissions and the response to those submissions will be posted on the website so that operators can identify any changes to the original requirements.

A guideline on what constitutes a significant change for heat treatment equipment and systems will also be posted on the website.