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FURTHER PROCESSING CODE OF PRACTICE

MEMORANDUM

Background and update

In consultation with industry stakeholders, work has been underway for a number of years on the development of the Further Processing Code of Practice. This COP was initially intended to be part of the Meat COP under the Animal Products Act 1999 and applicable to meat operators. However, as the COP has developed, it has found a broader application to processors under both the Animal Products Act and the Food Act where it is appropriate to those operations.

In March 2007, four sections were released for consultation; commercial sterilisation, heat treatment, acidification and hurdle technology. Following on from this in September 2007, the smoking section was consulted on and in November 2008, the drying and concentration section was consulted on. The draft sections have remained on the NZFSA website and available for use in the intervening years. The submissions received during the various consultation periods have now been incorporated into the relevant sections and the COP is being issued.

The Further Processing COP currently includes the following processing operations:

• Commercial Sterilisation

• Acidification

• Hurdle Technology

• Smoking

• Drying and Concentration

The heat treatment section will be finalised following the completion of an ESR project “Standardisation of Parameters for Pathogen Control in Foods” later this year. NZFSA intends to develop further sections as time permits, such as modified atmosphere packaging.

The Further Processing COP contains references to the legislation that is applicable under the Animal Products Act as directly relevant to each section of the COP. It also contains guidance material which if applied is considered to be a means of meeting those legal requirements. Each chapter is presented in the following way:

• Purpose and Scope

• Regulatory requirements

• Procedures (for compliance)

• Guidance (boxed text)

• References.

An operator under the Animal Products Act is expected to follow the Procedures (for compliance) unless an alternative method is validated in the risk management programme (RMP). The text in the boxes is guidance material only which the operator may or may not choose to follow. For operators under the Food Act (Food Safety Programme operators and businesses registered under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974), this COP provides a good source of guidance. The Further Processing COP should also be used by recognised evaluators and verifiers under the Animal Products Act and Food Safety Programme auditors under the Food Act when checking the adequacy of risk based management programmes whose operations fit within the scope of the COP.

It is recommended that operators review their programmes and either confirm that they follow the good operating practice in the COP or identify any changes that need to be made. For RMP operators, a change may or may not require a significant amendment. To determine whether a significant amendment is needed please refer to Appendix G “Guidance on Difference Between Significant and Minor Amendments” of the Risk Management Programme Manual.

Judy Barker
Assistant Director (Production & Processing)
New Zealand Standards

New Zealand Food Safety Authority.