- Print Friendly - Help

NZFSA Recall Quick Reference Guide

This Quick Reference Guide supports NZFSA’s Recall PlanTemplate which may be adopted in whole or in part by food businesses. Additional information and guidance is included in the NZFSA Recall Guidance Material.

What is Recall?

Recall is the isolation and removal of food which has been released from a manufacturer’s direct control, and is under the control of others in the storage, distribution, retail, and consumer chain.

There are two levels of product recall. These are:

Recall: This is a removal of unsafe or unsuitable food from the distribution chain and extends to food sold to consumers and therefore requires effective communication with consumers.

Withdrawal (also known as Trade Recall): This is the removal of an unsafe or unsuitable foodstuff from the distribution chain but does not extend to food sold to the consumer.

Deciding to Recall Product

The decision to recall a food is based on there being a risk assessment including:

• identification of a hazard that makes a food unsafe and,

• its likelihood of affecting public health.

To ensure that public health is protected at all times a food business must adopt the precautionary principle in its risk assessment activities. In the context of this document the precautionary principle can be explained as:

Who has Responsibility for Recalls?

In accordance with the Food Act and other food legislation, the primary responsibility for the safety and suitability of the food for human consumption is borne by the food industry.

NZFSA works with food businesses taking recall action to be satisfied that all reasonable steps are being taken to protect consumers. When a recall is initiated, actions in recalling the food need to be co-ordinated with NZFSA.

A Food Act Officer at the local District Health Board/Public Health Unit, NZFSA verifier or contracted third party agency (as appropriate) should be notified as soon as a recall is likely. The company is expected to deal directly with these representatives of NZFSA during the stages of the recall as their point of contact. NZFSA will provide support and technical advice via the NZFSA representative co-ordinating the recall.

Note: NZFSA, or the Minister for Food Safety has the ability to initiate a recall and this ability is not limited to matters of food safety. The wording in the Food Act 1981 refers to "for the purpose of protecting the public" giving considerable scope for recall including matters relating to food safety, fraud, and non-compliance with food standards. In most circumstances the need to exercise this legal power will result from the failure of a business to act responsibly, and will predominantly be used with respect to matters of food safety.

Media Statements and Advertising

When a product has been distributed beyond the warehouses to consumers, there may be a need to advise or warn consumers who have the affected food in their home. This decision should be taken in consultation with the Food Act Officer at the local District Health Board/Public Health Unit, NZFSA verifier or contracted third party agency (as appropriate).

In the event of consumer recall, warnings should be placed in the media and at locations where the product has been sold. This may take the form of a media release or paid advertisement in newspapers, on radio or television. The form of media used will depend on the circumstances involved.

NZFSA recognises that the manufacturer is in a better position to manage recalls and is prepared to take a lesser role provided the business takes up their recall responsibilities in a prompt and informative manner. However, if a business fails to take up this obligation the Director General of NZFSA will make his own privileged statements. This would result in a statement that informs consumers of the issue from NZFSA’s perspective.

There is a standard format for newspaper advertisements that includes the advertisement size and its content. See the Recall Newspaper Advertisement Template – General Products or Recall Newspaper Advertisement Template – Allergen Warning.

• Minimum size of advert is 2 columns by 10 centimetres

• The advert must have a cross-hatched border

• Heading should be “Food Recall Advertisement”

• Allergen warnings may be identified with a sub-heading.

Circulation lists for a product that is distributed nationally are given in Attachment 1, Schedule of National Newspapers.

A single contact can arrange newspaper adverts in some or all of these newspapers, namely:

Newspaper Advertising Bureau
Newspaper House
2nd Floor, 93 Boulcott Street
PO Box 944
WELLINGTON
Ph (04) 472 8365 / Fax (04) 471 0987

Similarly there is a single contact that can arrange radio adverts in some or all of 130 of a possible 138 radio stations nationally:

The Radio Bureau
1st Floor, Hanimex House
Cnr. Victoria & Vivian Streets
P.O. Box 2092
WELLINGTON
Ph (04) 801 9800 / Mob (025) 455 700 / Fax (04) 384 2899

Newspaper Advertising Bureau at Newspaper Advertising Bureau.

Similarly there is a single contact that can arrange radio adverts in some or all radio stations nationally:

The Radio Bureau at The Radio Bureau

Recall information is also posted on the NZFSA website (Food Recalls for Consumers) by NZFSA.

Important Points to Note:

• Recall advertisements should exclude promotional information.

• The company logo may appear in the advertisement but it should not detract any attention from the recall message.

• The advertisement should appear in the main body of the newspaper, not in the classified section.

• Recall information will also be made available on the NZFSA website.

• Draft advertisements should be submitted to the NZFSA to ensure wording is satisfactory and avoid the NZFSA having to issue their own statement.

• This format should be used for food safety or other NZFSA sanctioned recalls only. If performing a recall for quality or other reasons an alternative format and heading should be used. This is to maximise consumer response when seeing food safety recalls.

Attachment 1

Schedule of National Newspapers

No.	Newspapers
1	Northern Advocate
2	NZ Herald
3	Waikato Times
4	Bay of Plenty Times
5	Rotorua Daily Post
6	Gisborne Herald
7	Taranaki Daily News
8	Hawkes Bay Today
9	Wanganui Chronicle
10	Manawatu Evening Standard
11	Wairarapa Times Age
12	The Dominion Post
13	Nelson Evening Mail
14	Marlborough Express
15	Westport News
16	Greymouth Evening Star
17	Timaru Herald
18	The Christchurch Press
19	Otago Daily Times
20	The Southland Times
21	Sunday Star Times
22	Sunday News

Note: In some circumstances smaller community newspapers may be a more effective way of disseminating recall information, this decision should always be made in consultation with NZFSA.