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Food Focus August 2007

New food imports programme for New Zealand

A new programme to be implemented over the next two years will bring the process of importing food more into line with the proposed domestic food regime

The way we import food into New Zealand has been changed to give more assurance to consumers about the food they eat.

A review of New Zealand’s importing system for food and food-related products recommended NZFSA update controls on imported foods. Since then, NZFSA has been developing options and working with importing industry representatives to design the new imports programme.

The key principles behind the new programme are to: manage risks at the appropriate point in the food chain; be flexible; and ensure adequate, scientific-based controls are placed on imported food and food-related products.

The new programme has four components: the import management decision-making framework, which determines the level of regulatory interest NZFSA takes in a particular food; the import system; monitoring and review; and communication mechanisms.

Under the programme, foods are grouped into one of three levels of regulatory interest (high, medium, low), each of which has differing import requirements related to the product’s potential risk.

Food in ‘low’ group

Importers of foods of low regulatory interest will operate under a National Imported Food Programme. This programme will require importers to comply with general obligations as set out in legislation, such as registering with NZFSA, keeping records of imports, and, on request, supplying this information to NZFSA.

Food in ‘medium’ group

Importers of foods of medium regulatory interest will operate under a Food Control Plan (FCP), which involves recording the steps taken to manage the food safety and suitability of their products. Operators will need to be aware of any food standards that apply to their products, and options for pre-clearance.

Food in ‘high’ group

Importers of foods of high regulatory interest will also operate under a Food Control Plan, but will only be able to import from countries/regions that have established pre-clearance arrangements with NZFSA.

General obligations of importers

Part of the new Food Bill being developed as a response to the Domestic Food Review will include requirements relating to imports. Importers will need to comply with general obligations as well as specific requirements, as outlined above.

Importers will be expected to use some of the same tools, such as FCPs, proposed for local food operators under the new Bill. Local operators who also import foods will be able to cover both their domestic and importing operations under one FCP.

The importing FCP template will be released in January 2008. There will be a one-year change-over period once the new Food Bill is enacted. NZFSA cannot control the date that the Food Bill will be passed, but hopes it will come into force in July 2008. If this happens, the transition period to the new imports programme will last until 30 June 2009.