Category: Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

This consultation is being led by the Australian Government, on behalf of the Food Regulation Standing Committee.

New Zealand and Australia share a joint food regulation system for the composition and labelling of foods.

In November 2020, the trans-Tasman Food Ministers agreed to progress work to consider options to improve the composition of the food supply in relation to trans fats.

The desired outcome is to ensure industrially produced trans fats are eliminated or reduced as much as possible from the food supply in Australia and New Zealand to support all population groups to minimise consumption of trans fats.  

Three policy options (in addition to the status quo) have been proposed to achieve the desired outcome.

1. Voluntary reformulation.
2. Regulatory limits for industrial trans fats in processed foods.
3. Prohibiting use of partially hydrogenated oils in processed foods.

We want to know your views on:

• these potential options
• their potential impact
• whether there are any alternate options.

Your feedback will be used to identify a preferred policy option to recommend to the Food Ministers’ Meeting regarding potential changes to the food supply in relation to industrially produced trans fats.

The consultation will run for 6 weeks. It opened on 4 August and will close on 15 September 2023.

How to make a submission

All consultation documents, further information, and instructions for making a submission are on the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Industrially produced trans fats in processed foods – Australian Department of Health and Aged Care

Join a webinar to learn more

The Ministry for Primary Industries will be co-hosting a webinar for public health stakeholders and a webinar for the food industry at the end of August. The purpose of each webinar is to outline the information in the consultation materials. To register your interest in attending a webinar, send your name and the sector you represent to food.policy@mpi.govt.nz

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Proposed changes to the M. bovis programme

A proposal is being made to change to how the Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) Eradication Programme is administered.

The key changes of the proposal include:

• moving management of the programme from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to OSPRI
• establishing a new framework – a National Pest Management Plan – to enable OSPRI to administer the programme and manage disease
• recalculation of the farmer levy to finance the programme.

Full details will be in the consultation documents that will be published on 14 August. Submissions will close at 5pm on 25 September 2023.

Background to the proposed changes

The programme is currently managed and funded under a Government Industry Agreement (GIA) between programme partners MPI, DairyNZ Incorporated (DairyNZ) and Beef+Lamb New Zealand Limited (B+LNZ). It was set up shortly after M. bovis was first detected in New Zealand in 2017 when it was assessed that eradication was possible. During this phase of eradication, it was appropriate for the GIA partners to mount a timely response for disease management to be primarily delivered by MPI.

Now half-way through an estimated 10-year programme, the eradication effort is entering a phase where it is expected to find fewer cases of infection. The success to date means the work in coming years will centre on surveillance of the national herd through continued milk and abattoir testing.

The proposal will ensure the programme continues to adapt to the work that remains ahead and make the most of the significant gains made to date. It is also intended to strengthen the national biosecurity system.

The programme partners support a change from the current GIA framework to a National Pest Management Plan. It will enable an agency to carry out eradication of M. bovis, and put in place measures for public transparency.

A National Pest Management Plan or national plan is a regulatory approach under the Biosecurity Act 1993 designed to provide coordinated, long-term management, and eradication of pests and disease.

While this is a new framework for M. bovis, it is a familiar approach for farmers in that it has been used to manage and fund the bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication for several decades.

Making a submission

Details of how to make a submission will be published on this page on 14 August 2023.

What will happen after you submit feedback

All feedback will be analysed and considered by the M. bovis Programme partners MPI, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ. The draft proposal for the national plan will be updated as appropriate.

All feedback, including the analysis and how this has been considered will be published and it is expected the final proposal will be submitted to the Minister for Biosecurity in late 2023 for review.

If satisfied with the proposal, the minister may then approve the preparation of the national plan consistent with the proposal. Once satisfied that the new plan meets the requirements of the Biosecurity Act, the minister would need to seek Cabinet approval for the national plan to take effect.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

In a change that will make imported food safer for consumers, strengthened requirements for all New Zealand food importers came into effect yesterday.

“The changes clarify the role and responsibilities of food importers when they bring food into New Zealand, to ensure that the food is safe and suitable for Kiwi consumers,” said New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“Most food importers won’t have to make any changes to comply with the new rules, some will have to make minor tweaks, and a small number will have to dramatically improve their procedures.

“We encourage all registered food importers to go and check the Ministry for Primary Industries website to make sure they are following the updated rules.”

Food importing requirements

The rule changes are detailed in a Food Notice that was issued in February 2023, and they provide detailed requirements for 4 key areas for food importers. The food importer must conduct a safety and suitability assessment before the food is brought to New Zealand, make sure the food is stored and transported in a safe way, keep proper records, and have a recall plan in case anything goes wrong.

Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale [PDF, 339 KB]

“Food importers have always had to ensure their food is safe and suitable; the new rules provide them with clarity on what they need to do to meet their responsibilities,” said Mr Arbuckle.

“We’re sure importers and retailers would like to avoid expensive recalls, like those seen recently with frozen berries and tahini, and complying with these new rules will help them to ensure their food is safe and minimise the likelihood of things going wrong.

“This means that consumers can be confident that all imported food is subject to consistently high safety standards.”

New Zealand Food Safety began consultations with the industry about the new rules in June 2022 and has been in regular contact with food importers about the strengthened rules, so that they have had plenty of time to prepare.

Food importers who fail to follow safety rules can face fines of up to $500,000 for a company, while an individual can be fined up to $100,000 and be jailed for up to 2 years.

Guidance for importers is available on the New Zealand Food Safety website, and food importers with any questions can contact New Zealand Food Safety on 0800 00 83 33 or info@mpi.govt.nz.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Packaged alcoholic drinks sold in stores will now need to carry labels warning that alcohol can cause harm to unborn babies.

“New Zealand Food Safety wants to support pregnant people to be able to make the right health choice for themselves and their babies,” said New Zealand Food Safety deputy-director general Vincent Arbuckle.

“Pregnant people and those supporting them need to be aware of the risk that alcohol presents for their unborn child, and the potentially life-changing consequences drinking while pregnant can have.”

Food Standards Australia New Zealand developed the new labelling requirement, which will be monitored in New Zealand by New Zealand Food Safety. Manatū Hauora/the Ministry of Health supports the new requirement.

Manatū Hauora deputy director of public health Dr Harriette Carr says: “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can have a major impact on someone’s quality of life but it’s completely preventable.”

Each year, between 1,800 and 3,000 babies are born with FASD in New Zealand, which can result in heart defects, behavioural problems, and intellectual disability. There is no cure for FASD.

“Warning labels on alcohol can support increasing public awareness and understanding of risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant,” Dr Carr says.

The new warning label is required on any packaged drink for retail sale that contains more than 1.15% alc/vol.

“The mandatory warning label is just one way to convey the message about the risk to unborn children from consuming alcohol while pregnant,” said Mr Arbuckle.

“The label supports advice from doctors, midwives, Manatū Hauora, and many other groups that there is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed while pregnant. Drinking alcohol while pregnant can have lifelong consequences for unborn babies.”

The date when the labels become mandatory, 1 August 2023, was announced in 2020. Many businesses have chosen to add the warning labels to their products well in advance of this date, so consumers may be accustomed to seeing them on alcoholic drinks already.

Alcoholic beverages packaged and labelled before the transition period ends on 31 July 2023 can be sold after the transition period without a pregnancy warning label.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has detailed requirements and examples of the warning label for businesses on its website.

Pregnancy warning labels downloadable files – Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Anyone who is pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, should not drink any alcohol. They should talk to their doctor or midwife if they have any questions about keeping their baby healthy while pregnant. You can also contact the Alcohol Drug Helpline for free, confidential information and support via their website, on 0800 787 797 or free text 8681.

Alcohol Drug Helpline

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

All packaged alcoholic drinks sold in stores must from today carry labels warning that alcohol can cause harm to unborn babies.

“New Zealand Food Safety wants to support pregnant people to be able to make the right health choice for themselves and their babies,” said New Zealand Food Safety deputy-director general Vincent Arbuckle.

“Pregnant people and those supporting them need to be aware of the risk that alcohol presents for their unborn child, and the potentially life-changing consequences drinking while pregnant can have.”

Food Standards Australia New Zealand developed the new labelling requirement, which will be monitored in New Zealand by New Zealand Food Safety. Manatū Hauora/the Ministry of Health supports the new requirement.

Manatū Hauora deputy director of public health Dr Harriette Carr says: “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can have a major impact on someone’s quality of life but it’s completely preventable.”

Each year, between 1,800 and 3,000 babies are born with FASD in New Zealand, which can result in heart defects, behavioural problems, and intellectual disability. There is no cure for FASD.

“Warning labels on alcohol can support increasing public awareness and understanding of risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant,” Dr Carr says.

The new warning label is required on any packaged drink for retail sale that contains more than 1.15% alc/vol.

“The mandatory warning label is just one way to convey the message about the risk to unborn children from consuming alcohol while pregnant,” said Mr Arbuckle.

“The label supports advice from doctors, midwives, Manatū Hauora, and many other groups that there is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed while pregnant. Drinking alcohol while pregnant can have lifelong consequences for unborn babies.”

The date when the labels become mandatory, 1 August 2023, was announced in 2020. Many businesses have chosen to add the warning labels to their products well in advance of this date, so consumers may be accustomed to seeing them on alcoholic drinks already.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has detailed requirements and examples of the warning label for businesses on its website.

Pregnancy warning labels downloadable files – Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Anyone who is pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, should not drink any alcohol. They should talk to their doctor or midwife if they have any questions about keeping their baby healthy while pregnant. You can also contact the Alcohol Drug Helpline for free, confidential information and support via their website, on 0800 787 797 or free text 8681.

Alcohol Drug Helpline

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Shellfish biotoxin alert – Bay of Plenty and Waikato region

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested from the Bay of Plenty/Waikato region from Te Ororoa Point, just north of Tairua, down to Bowentown Heads but not including Tauranga Harbour.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Shellfish biotoxin alert – Northland East Coast

The Ministry for Primary Industries today extended the public health warning against collecting shellfish in the Northland east coast region. The affected area now extends from North Cape (Outo) south to Cape Karikari (Whakapouaka). The warning includes Parengarenga, Houhoura and Rangaunu Harbours.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Shellfish biotoxin alert – between Granville Point and Cape Karikari

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested from the Northland area between Granville Point and Cape Karikari (Whakapouaka). This warning includes Houhora and Rangaunu Harbours.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Albatross protection strategy wins people’s choice award

A team from Fisheries New Zealand, the Department of Conversation (DOC) and Creative HQ has this week won the people’s choice award at the Lightning Lab GovTech programme for their innovative strategy designed to find a new way to protect the nationally critical Antipodean albatross.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Animal welfare in rodeo practices report released

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), the independent committee that advises the Minister responsible for animal welfare, has today released a report on animal welfare in rodeos, together with advice to the Minister making recommendations to improve the welfare of the animals in rodeos.