Introduction to dairy manufacturing requirements

RMP updates

By 1 November 2023, all Risk Management Programme (RMP) operators were required to have updated their RMP. This was to align with the new regulations and notices introduced as a part of the Regulatory Redesign programme.

Animal Products Regulations 2021 – NZ Legislation

Risk management programmes

About Regulatory Redesign

Regulatory Redesign aims to make it easier for businesses operating under the Animal Products Act 1999 to find and comply with their requirements.

Redesign of animal products and wine regulations and notices

Changes to animal products regulations and notices

Manufacturing for sale on the domestic market

If you make dairy products for sale in New Zealand or Australia (the domestic market), you must meet the requirements of the Animal Products Act 1999 (APA).

This means you must have:

a food control plan (FCP), or
a risk management programme (RMP).

Find out about choosing the right food safety programme for your dairy business

Exemptions from operating under the APA

If you make dairy products that will be consumed on site, you may be exempt from operating under the APA. For example, if you make ice cream in your restaurant kitchen and serve it to customers in the restaurant, then you're exempt.

Schedule 2 of the Animal Products Regulations 2021 has more information about how this works.

Animal Products Regulations 2021 – NZ Legislation

Manufacturing for export

If you make dairy products that will be exported, you must operate under a registered RMP. As well as meeting the requirements for products made for the New Zealand and Australian markets, you'll also need to meet some export-related requirements.

Find out more about exporting dairy

Requirements if you milk animals and manufacture dairy products

If you milk animals and also manufacture dairy products, any products you sell must be made using milk that has been harvested under an RMP.

You can either have an:

RMP that covers both your milking and manufacturing operations, or
RMP for your milking operation and an FCP for your manufacturing operation.

Note: The second option is likely to cost more, as it will involve more than one verification.

Manufacturing specific or specialist dairy products

There are specific food safety requirements if you make:

dairy products such as yoghurt, ice cream, cheese or liquid milk, or
products from raw (unpasteurised) milk.

Find out about the requirements for manufacturing yoghurt, ice cream, cheese, liquid milk, and raw milk products

Selling raw drinking milk

Farmers, depot operators, and people transporting raw drinking milk must meet certain requirements to minimise risks to public health.

Find out about selling raw drinking milk to consumers

Dairy testing requirements

Dairy products (including raw drinking milk) are tested to prove they conform with regulations and domestic and overseas food safety requirements.

This testing must be done by a recognised laboratory.

Find out more about the Recognised Laboratory Programme

Manufacturing dairy products for animals

Dairy products for animal consumption have the same requirements as dairy products for human consumption. There are very few dedicated animal feed processors, so the production standards to follow are similar or the same.

Find out about pet food, animal feed, and nutritional supplements