Progress on the Food Bill

The Food Bill provides a much needed modernisation of New Zealand’s food safety legislation. It provides the framework for an efficient, effective and risk-based regulatory regime for managing the safety and suitability of food produced, processed, manufactured, traded, transported and imported to New Zealand.

Under the Food Bill, food businesses will be expected to be proactive, establishing safe procedures and systems ready for verification rather than the current system, which is based on ‘one size fits all’ requirements and inspections.

“Although the Food Bill is on the Order Paper awaiting the second reading in the House, it is likely that this will not now happen before the general election.  Factors such as the Christchurch earthquakes have reduced the time available for the Governments’ legislative programme in what is already a short House sitting year,” says Julie Collins, MAF Director Biosecurity and Food Policy.

There is a strong commitment in the House to both the Food Bill and the food safety regime it proposes.  Work will continue, including with territorial authorities and industry stakeholders, to ensure that everything is in place for a smooth implementation process.