Food policy

MPI applies a risk management framework to ensure any response or regulation is proportional to the risk a situation presents. This is consistent with the New Zealand Biotechnology Strategy which promotes innovation to benefit the wealth, health and environment of New Zealanders.

MPI generally does not regulate non-commercial food. This means that non-commercial food and related activities are generally not subject to legal requirements for food safety. MPI manages safety risks of non-commercial food by carrying out non-regulatory intervention. This includes providing information, messages and advice (‘risk communication’) that support safe food practices, decisions and consumption within the community, home, and marae. MPI also monitors certain food safety hazards.

This paper examines how one particular aspect of government regulatory activity is now
undertaken: the setting and operation of the regulatory framework in which food producers,
manufacturers and retailers operate.

It is widely acknowledged that the existing regulatory arrangements for dietary supplements in New Zealand under the Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 (the Regulations) do not provide adequate coverage for the range of such products currently available.

This policy statement signals high level policy expectations for the production, manufacture and sale of novel foods cultured from animal cells. It sits alongside the New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) regulatory statement for any business proposing to import, manufacture or sell an animal cell-cultured food product for human consumption in the New Zealand market under New Zealand food legislation.

When undertaking cost recovery the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) will base its decisions on Government guidelines and high level principles as set out in the Treasury-produced ‘Guidelines for Setting Charges in the Public Sector’ and the Audit Office’s ‘Guidelines on Costing and Charging for Public Sector Goods and Services’. NZFSA takes into account constitutional principles as set out in Parliament’s Standing Orders and guidance received from reports of the Regulations Review Committee.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (MPI) generally does not regulate non-commercial food. This means that non-commercial food and related activities are generally not subject to legal requirements for food safety. ‘Non commercial' food is food not intended for sale. Non-commercial food activities include wild food gathering, hunting, and recreational catch; and home vegetable gardening, fruit cultivation, rearing domestic animals for food, homekill slaughter, and home cooking.

Organic food is treated in the same way as all other foods by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

This paper provides an introduction to organic food in New Zealand and a background to NZFSA’s policy position on organic food.