The Food Bill - questions & answers
Date: 20 Jan 2012
MAF (the NZ Food safety Authority) has published a new set of questions and answers to help clarify and explain the the Food Bill, as it will affect anyone producing or selling food in New Zealand.
The Food Bill was introduced to Parliament on 26 May 2010. It has been through a public submission process and is now waiting to proceed through the House.
This is a comprehensive piece of legislation that needs to cover all food produced and sold in New Zealand, including imported food. It has been drafted to set out obligations and requirements of those who trade in food. However it has always been intended that the Act, once passed by Parliament, would be supported by regulations that would set out in more detail specific requirements for businesses.
The Bill does not take a one size fits all approach, as with the current Food Act 1981. Rather it provides a range of tools that can be applied depending on the risk posed by the particular food or food business. To help people know what risk based tool will apply to them, the Bill includes a series of schedules.
The Food Act 1981 is now 30 years old and needs updating. The Food Bill updates and modernises the Food Act 1981. The main purpose is to ensure that the food people buy is safe to eat.
The Food Bill has also been written to ensure that businesses are aware of their responsibilities and do not avoid necessary regulation.
There will be a transitional period prior to the new Act coming into force and during this time guidance and informational material will be developed and made available so that people know what is expected of them and how they are affected.
The new set of Q&A's explains the implications of the Bill for food seeds, bartering and swapping of food, farmers markets, fundraising (cake stalls and sausage sizzles), small growers, butchers, and much more.
www.foodsafety.govt.nz/policy-law/reform-nz-food-regulations/food-bill/questions-answers.htm
