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Food Focus August 2008

NZFSA news

Look for the sticker – Food Control Plans are here!

An off-the-peg Food Control Plan is one of a suite of tools developed for the new Food Bill. It’s designed to help small businesses manage food safety in a risk-based way

Food Safety Minister Lianne Dalziel said it all on July 21 at Parliament, “I pronounce the Food Control Plan and its associated systems and processes launched and wish you all well in its implementation”.

The food safety management system described in the Food Control Plan (FCP) gives food service and catering businesses a set of procedures and records to help them manage food safety in their businesses.

NZFSA, in partnership with local councils, is encouraging business operators in the food service and catering sectors to try it out. Of the 73 local councils in New Zealand, 45 are taking part in the early roll-out of Food Control Plans, with more keen to join in a second round later this year. Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) from participating councils have been trained in the new system and are able to advise operators about the ins and outs of the new system. They can also provide ongoing support once operators have signed up and received their FCP pack.

The FCP contains a series of action sheets and associated information outlining good practice for each step in the process, including food preparation, storage, display and cleaning. The operator must confirm that the step applies to their process and that they have followed it. A separate diary records daily, weekly and four-weekly checks.

When operators register their FCP, their business gets an exemption from the Food Hygiene Regulations1974 and their FCP sets the ‘rules’ for their business. During audit/verification visits, local council EHOs will check that the FCP is appropriate for that business and that it’s being followed properly.

Consumers should start looking out for businesses displaying a window sticker or certificate showing they have a Food Control Plan in place.

View the Food Control Plan and find out more about the new domestic food regime here.

Hard copies are available from participating local councils. FCPs will be available later this year in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Hindi.

‘Safe food is your business’

Start making your travel plans now for NZFSA’s annual conference to be held in Rotorua this September

Registrations are now open for NZFSA’s conference to be held on 17–18 September at the Distinction Hotel in Rotorua. If you are involved in any aspect of the food industry you will want to be there. The programme includes keynote speakers and workshops on topical issues for the industry. Two special workshops held either side of the conference will be of particular interest to local government staff and scientists.

There will be keynote speakers from food safety regulators in the US, EU and UK, including Dr Riitta Maijala, Director Risk Assessment at the European Food Safety Authority, and Bryce Quick from the US Department of Agriculture.

NZFSA staff will give presentations on the challenges facing food exporters and the Marae Food Safety Project. There will be an update on the Campylobacter strategy, and another on possible concerns of E. coli serotypes other than O157:H7, this last of some relevance for our beef trade. One session will cover our changing regulatory environment, highlighting experiences around the voluntary implementation of Food Control Plans and what is happening in New South Wales. Toxins in food and nutrition also feature, the Food Safety Minister Lianne Dalziel will be speaking and NZFSA CE Andrew McKenzie will round out the conference at the close. All in all, plenty of food for thought, especially in today’s challenging environment.

The programme has three workshops scheduled each day. These will discuss

issues for food exporters, the new rules around importing food, and what determines whether a product is a food or a medicine.

Territorial Authorities workshop

A workshop for Territorial Authorities will be held on 16 September at the same venue as the NZFSA conference. This free, full-day programme is only open to Territorial Authority staff and environmental health officers.

Topics include the voluntary implementation of Food Control Plans, the New South Wales perspective on regulatory programmes, audit inspections, and procedures around foodborne illnesses. There will also be a session on planning strategies around training, accreditation assistance and communication.

If you wish to register please contact Bob Hutchinson on (04) 894 2628 or email bob.hutchinson@nzfsa.govt.nz.

Satellite Science Class

This workshop is on 19 September at the conference venue. The topic under discussion is NZFSA’s risk management framework in action, using toxins in honey as a worked example.

Presentations will cover the generic framework and then work through preliminary risk management activities (including risk profiling), risk management options, and monitoring and review. Speakers include toxicologists, a risk assessor and manager, a consumer representative and a chemist.

You do not have to attend the conference to participate in this workshop, but you will need to register on the conference registration form. There is a separate fee for this workshop.

Indonesian delegation

NZFSA recently hosted a New Zealand government-sponsored three-day visit to New Zealand by two directors from the Indonesian National Drug and Food Agency

Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM) is responsible for setting food safety standards and product registration for processed foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and traditional medicines sold in Indonesia. Importantly it is responsible for the safety of imported dairy products. New Zealand dairy food exports to Indonesia were worth more than $300 million in 2007 and represent 45% of New Zealand’s exports to Indonesia.

The main purpose of the visit was to build a solid relationship with key Indonesian regulators in the context of safeguarding New Zealand’s interests against potential non-tariff barriers.

The visitors met with representatives from NZFSA to discuss development of standards, the risk management framework and certification, as well as visiting dairy processing sites, AsureQuality and the South Auckland Independent Testing Laboratory (SAITL).

“The relationship between New Zealand and Indonesia is under the spotlight as we celebrate the 50th year of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Indonesia and work towards conclusion of the ASEAN/Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement”, says Kathy Lloyd, NZFSA Programme Manager for market access in the ASEAN region. “Two-way trade is growing rapidly, and New Zealand dairy exports have been a key feature of this trade for more than 20 years. The visit by BPOM is a step towards closer technical cooperation on food safety between New Zealand and Indonesia.”

“Understanding how the laboratory testing operations of AsureQuality assist NZFSA with providing domestic and international market access assurances was important for the visitors, especially as their agency runs a number of laboratories across Indonesia”, says Harry van Enckevort, Industry Manager Laboratory and International Services for AsureQuality.

New rules for food importers on the way

Consultation is underway on two standards for food importers

A review into New Zealand’s food importing system, which recommended NZFSA update controls on imported foods, has led to two standards being developed that give importers clear guidelines about what they need to do to ensure the food they import for sale is safe and suitable for human consumption.

Currently sampling and testing of some imported foods is done at the border but the new system will assess and recognise controls in the exporting country where the food has been produced.

Carol Barnao, NZFSA’s Standards Director says, “Since the review we have been working with industry representatives to design a more risk-based imports programme. The ultimate aim is to give consumers more assurance about the foods they eat and the new standards will go some way in allowing NZFSA to do just that”.

The two new standards are:

• Food (Importer – Listing) Standard 2008, which requires importers to list some details with NZFSA such as company name and address

• Food (Importer – General) Standard 2008, which covers product sourcing, storage, transportation, and record keeping requirements.

The standards will require importers to take reasonable steps to ensure food doesn’t deteriorate and isn’t contaminated during storage and transport to New Zealand. They will have to keep all documents relating to importing food for four years. Record keeping is essential as it enables NZFSA to verify compliance with the standards and assist with tracing products if a recall is required.

The standards get their legal basis under the Food Act 1981 and are expected to come into effect later this year once submissions have been analysed. Guidance information and workshops will be available to help importers understand the new requirements once they have been finalised.

More information on the imported food programme can be found here.

Muddled labels poison café customer

In June this year a café operator was fined more than $4000* when dishwashing liquid was mistakenly served to a customer

The need to clearly label food containers was brought home after two women were hospitalised when they drank dishwasher detergent that had been mistaken for mulled wine. One of the women had her throat badly burnt and may suffer long-term oesophageal damage as a result of the incident.

An investigation carried out by the Department of Labour showed that the two liquids were mixed up after 20 litres of dishwashing liquid was delivered in a container that had formerly been used to hold mulled wine. A detergent label placed over the mulled wine tag did not entirely cover the previous label and the container was not stored with the other chemicals in the kitchen. This led to the chemical being mistakenly served as mulled wine.

NZFSA Director of Compliance & Investigation, Geoff Allen, said he hopes the sentence will serve as a reminder to food businesses. “This was a serious case as the consequences for the two women involved could have been fatal. It clearly illustrates the care that has to be shown when handling and preparing food and the crucial need for food to be stored separately from chemical agents and labelled appropriately.”

Chico’s Restaurant Ltd which operates Queenstown’s Old Man Rock Café where the incident occurred was charged with two offences under the Food Act. The company pleaded guilty to one charge of selling food containing an extraneous thing – namely caustic soda – that is injurious to health. The café has since complied with a notice to improve the way chemicals are used in the workplace.

* The amount comprised $1000 each emotional harm, $1020 reparation, $877.50 analyst fees and $250 costs.

New appointments for FSANZ

In July, a new Chair of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) board was announced. Philippa Smith AM, a former Commonwealth Ombudsman, has been appointed and will take up the position for four years.

Ms Smith’s previous roles include those of Commonwealth Ombudsman and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.

Also announced was the appointment of former New Zealand member of Parliament Dianne Yates as a new member of the FSANZ board for four years. Ms Yates has extensive experience in government and in voluntary sector governance, across issues of international trade, health and consumer affairs.

The two retiring board members, Rob Knowles and Owen Symmans, who had both been on the board of FSANZ since its establishment in July 2002, were commended for their major contributions to food standards in Australia and New Zealand.

FSANZ is the food regulatory authority in Australia and New Zealand and develops food standards for both countries on behalf of the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council, under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991.