Time’s running out for the Food Bill to have its second reading before the upcoming general election.
Although the much anticipated modernisation of New Zealand’s food safety legislation is on the Order Paper awaiting the second reading in the House, factors such as the Christchurch earthquakes have reduced the time available for the Government’s legislative programme in what is already a short sitting year for the House.
MAF Biosecurity and food policy director Julie Collins says despite the anticipated delay, there is a strong commitment to both the Food Bill and the food safety regime it proposes.
“The Food Bill heralds a major change in how the food sector is regulated with regulation moving from an inspection-based system to a risk-based approach where the operators take responsibility for ensuring safe and suitable food,” Julie says.
The Bill includes three different tools to help operators produce safe and suitable food: Food Control Plans, National Programmes and Food Handler Guidance. The exact tool a particular sector would use would depend on factors such as risk, the likely impact of an adverse food safety event and the capability of regulated parties to develop and implement the tools.
Julie emphasises that despite the Bill’s second reading being delayed work continues to ensure everything is in place for a smooth implementation process. As such MAF last month signed up the 2000th business to an off-the-peg Food Control Plan, which provides operators with a ready-written food safety management system.
The retail food sector has an estimated annual turnover of $17 billion with hospitality contributing around a further $5 billion. In addition, the food industry employs more than 20 per cent of working New Zealanders and provides more than 50 per cent of New Zealand’s export revenue.
