Food Bill

Comment on the Food Bill featured heavily in the media over the holiday period. Particular concerns have been raised over the effect of the Bill on small businesses such as those running roadside stalls or operating farmers markets.

The Food Bill is essentially designed to replace the Food Act 1981 which covers all food offered for sale in New Zealand. Its main purpose is to ensure that the food people buy is safe to eat. The Food Bill aims to provide a risk-based approach to food safety while improving business certainty and minimising compliance costs.

The Food Bill is currently awaiting its second reading in Parliament having been through a formal Select Committee process. Consultation has been extensive. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (now part of MAF) commenced public discussion groups in 2004 as part of the Domestic Food Review. Active public consultation was carried out from 2007 to 2010.

The Association has largely supported the review of food safety on the basis that we expected the standards and controls regulating food to be realistic, practical and understandable for all sectors of the industry. We were also supportive of the framework established by the Bill which provided for a mix of food control plans, national programmes as well as food guidance educational material which was particularly designed for one off events or small food activities posing minimal risk to consumers.

Whilst we were supportive of the increased regulatory compliance powers provided for under the Bill, we considered they should be used as a matter of last resort and that special monetary provision should be established for educating the business community about the new food safety regime that would be implemented once the Bill is passed into law.

It is possible that some changes may be made to the Bill by way of a Supplementary Order Paper to reflect how it will be implemented and the likely timing for its implementation, but it is unlikely the Bill will be referred back to the Select Committee for further consideration.

For further information, including Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson’s response to the concerns raised relative to small traders click here. For more detail click here.