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National Programme for Monitoring Chemical Contaminants and Residues in Raw Milk and

2 Competent Authority Infrastructure

The independent competent authority in New Zealand responsible for managing the risks to human, animal health and welfare and biosecurity is divided between the New Zealand Food Safety Authority and Biosecurity New Zealand.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) - manages food safety and other related risks through regulation and provides official assurances (health certification) on exports of all animal products including milk products. NZFSA is also responsible for imported foods and related products. There are at the time of this report ten groups within NZFSA: Export Standards and Systems, Market Access, New Zealand Standards, Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines and Approvals (ACVM), Compliance and Investigation, Science, Policy and Law, Food Standards, Communications and the Verification Agency.

NZFSA is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the national programme which assures the safety, wholesomeness and truth of labelling of milk and dairy products for the domestic and export markets. This programme is outlined in section 4.

The ACVM group assesses, approves and registers agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines for use in New Zealand,

Biosecurity New Zealand manages biosecurity risks and animal welfare, In this capacity it administers animal disease control programmes, animal health surveillance and sets import animal and animal product health standards. Biosecurity New Zealand also provides official zoosanitary assurances for live animals and germplasm.

2.1 NZFSA Export Standards and Systems Group

The Export Standards and Systems Group is responsible for the overall administration and implementation of the National Chemical Contaminants Programme (NCCP). The NCCP is given legal effect through the Dairy Industry (National Residue Monitoring Programme) Regulations 2002.

The Export Standard and Systems Group also provides official assurances concerning New Zealand dairy products to overseas competent authorities.

The Export Standards and Systems Group works closely with the ACVM Group and has representation on the NZFSA Food Residues Co-ordination Group to ensure the appropriate control of chemical residues in milk and dairy products. The NCCP programme for the control and monitoring of chemical residues in milk and dairy products is outlined in sections 5, 6 and 7.

National co-ordination and control of the NCCP programme occurs within NZFSA, under the direction of the Senior Programme Manager (Primary Production). This person is responsible to the Director, Export Standards and Systems.