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Regulating local food businesses
A new domestic food regulatory system has been designed following four years of consultation and policy development. While a new Food Bill is being developed to enshrine the system in law, some parts of it are being implemented under the current Food Act on a voluntary basis.
NZFSA and 45 local councils have agreed to work together to promote an off-the-peg (ready to use) Food Control Plan for the food service and catering sectors.
The Voluntary Implementation Programme
NEW! The Food Control Plan[PDF: 6.4MB, 94 pages] for food service and catering businesses and diary [PDF: 2.83MB, 141 pages] are now available for downloading.
Food Control Plan information flyer – June 08 [PDF: 300KB, 2 pages]
• Simplified Chinese [PDF: 2.33MB, 2 pages]
• Korean [PDF: 2.34MB, 2 pages]
• Hindi [PDF: 2.28MB, 2 pages]
• Japanese [PDF: 2.39MB, 2 pages]
• Vietnamese [PDF: 2.27MB, 2 pages]
• Thai [PDF: 2.29MB, 2 pages]
How will the changes affect my food business?
The proposed law means food business operators will need to actively manage food safety. This will be done using a Food Control Plan.
Food Control Plans (FCPs) can be off-the-peg (ready to use) or custom-made. The particular Food Control Plan that a business uses will depend on the level of risk posed by the business.
The majority of food businesses are small, less complex operations, such as cafés, restaurants and corner dairies (ie, most businesses that are currently covered by the Food Hygiene Regulations). These businesses will use the off-the-peg Food Control Plans which NZFSA (on its own or with industry organisations) has developed and made available free of charge.
In practical terms, a Food Control Plan (FCP) is a set of procedures that your business follows to manage food safety and suitability. There are also sheets to fill in to record information such as temperatures, cleaning schedules, training etc.
Not every business will need a Food Control Plan: some businesses will instead be covered by a National Programme, or Food Handler Guidance (which is educational only).
Why make changes to New Zealand Food Law?
New Zealand’s food regulatory regime has not been thoroughly reviewed for over 30 years.
Since 2003 NZFSA has been conducting a major review of New Zealand’s domestic food laws in order to:
• address inequities in the way the food industry is regulated across the country
• clarify the roles of the regulators (NZFSA, Public Health Units and Local Councils)
• stem the continued rise in the number of reported foodborne illnesses.
NZFSA intends to move food regulation from an inspection-based system to a risk-based approach. This means that instead of the responsibility for food safety being placed on inspectors to find any problems, responsibility is moved to the person in charge of the food operation who must be proactive in the way they manage food safety and suitability and must demonstrate how they manage food safety. This will bring New Zealand practices in to line with most other developed countries.
These changes will start in mid- 2008 on a voluntary basis for some food sectors. When the new Food Bill is enacted there will be a five year change-over period for other sectors. In the lead up to a sector’s change-over there will be training, updating sessions and information materials available.
How do I find out more information?
Your local council will keep you up-to-date with developments.
• get contact details for your local council [Local Government Online]
NZFSA produces a free quarterly newsletter (4degreesC) for food retail businesses which you can subscribe to by sending an email to: 4dCEditor@nzfsa.govt.nz
Bookmark this page to read updates on the changes!
Related links
The Voluntary Implementation Programme
Domestic Food Review – frequently asked questions
Brochures and presentations about the change in domestic food regulatory system
Consultation papers from the Domestic Food Review
Research reports and terms of reference from the Domestic Food Review
Policy and implementation position paper on the change to a new domestic food regulatory system
Media releases about the Domestic Food Review and new domestic food regulatory system
Information for specific sectors:
• Early Childhood Centres – how they are affected by the new domestic food regulatory system
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501
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