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Food Importer Standards Guidance

Introduction

This guide has been prepared to explain the requirements of two Standards for importers of food for sale. These Standards have been developed to ensure that imported food is safe and suitable. They have been issued by the Minister for Food Safety under Section 11C of the Food Act 1981. They are:

• The Food (Importer Listing) Standard 2008, and

• The Food (Importer General Requirements) Standard 2008.

Importers have direct responsibility under the Food Act 1981 to ensure that the products imported by them for human consumption are safe and suitable.

Food (Importer Listing) Standard 2008 [PDF 66.8 KB]

Food (Importer General Requirements) Standard 2008 [PDF 70.4 KB]

What does this mean for importers?

From April 2009, all importers of food for sale must be listed with NZFSA before importing food into New Zealand. We strongly recommend that importers read and understand the Food Importer Standards Guidance before sourcing products to import.

When selecting products to import, importers need to:

• Ensure compliance with the New Zealand Standards, such as ingredient listing, obtaining supplier assurances and product specifications.

• Ensure appropriate arrangements are made for storage and transport to New Zealand, such as incorporating temperature check requirements into contracts with carriers.

• Obtain and keep records of all the steps taken during the ordering and transportation of the products.

This guide does not specify how importers must comply with the requirements of the Standards, but provides examples to help identify ways to comply.

For definitions of terms used in this document, refer to the ‘Helpful terms’ section at the end of this document. If you have any suggestions that would improve this guide or believe further guidance would be helpful please email: import.systems@nzfsa.govt.nz

Importers are required to comply with the Standards, which they are encouraged to read in order to fully understand their legal obligations. They can be found online or for more specific information refer to the summary of legislation applying to imported foods.

Information about import clearance procedures is available online.

Where foods are subject to additional requirements they are detailed in the import requirements for the specific foods that are available online under Import Requirements for Specific Foods.

Helpful Terms

Imported food legislation

Food standards

Import clearance procedures

Import Requirements for Specific Foods

Transition period

The Importer Standards came into effect on 16 October 2008. A six month transition (change over) period:

• Will allow importers time to list with NZFSA,

• To put arrangements into place to get the required information,

• To develop systems to ensure this information can be kept.

Importers have until 16 April 2009 to list with NZFSA and to comply with all general requirements.