Vote Food Safety
The output expenses within Vote Food Safety contribute to the following MAF intermediate outcomes:
- Policies and interventions to foster innovation and growth in the sectors.
- Effective and efficient regulatory regimes for the sectors.
- Maintained and enhanced market access for agricultural, food and forestry products and reduced market distortions resulting from trade rules and market interventions.
- Credible and trusted animal and plant product assurance.
- Balanced export and import regime covering the safety and suitability aspects of trade in animal and plant products.
- Safe and suitable food for New Zealanders.
Food Safety Policy Advice
This output expense includes purchasing policy advice and decision-making support for the Minister and the Government on food safety and related issues. It includes analysis and advice on legislation and policy to be applied to all aspects of food administration ensuring a robust, modern, comprehensive legislative base, implementation tools, and mechanisms to measure its effectiveness. Services to assist the Minister are also included.
Performance Measures
All policy advice conforms with criteria set out in Schedule A of the SOI to provide a whole-of-government approach to strategic food policy issues; whether they be responding to Ministerial Services, the lifecycle of policy development (reviews, amendments, implementation, regulation and cost recovery), advice to delegations for bilateral and international forums, or joint food standards setting with Australia (including contributing to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand).
Cost
Outputs will be provided within the appropriated sum of $2.444 million. The appropriation is funded by $2.423 million revenue Crown and estimated third-party revenue of $0.021 million.
Regulatory Standards
Food and food-related products must be produced in accordance with New Zealand legislation and, where appropriate, meet the requirements negotiated with countries importing New Zealand products to enable official assurances necessary for market access. This output expense covers the setting of technical standards to achieve this and to otherwise meet "agreed levels of consumer protection". Standards for ancillary legislation associated with controls on inputs into food protection are included. The output expense covers the setting of operational standards, the development of monitoring and review mechanisms to measure performance and to support reports to the Minister, as well as providing official assurances.
Performance Measures
All standards and accreditation programmes are reviewed according to a schedule agreed with the Director accountable for the particular area or legislation.
Cost
Outputs will be provided within the appropriated sum of $33.969 million. The appropriation is funded by $15.419 million revenue Crown and estimated third-party revenue of $18.550 million.
Response to Food Safety Emergencies
Food safety emergencies are to be expected and need to be handled in a systematic manner. The setting of standards for this purpose is covered in this output expense. It covers food safety emergencies where there is a need to be prepared for such emergencies and to handle events in a systematic manner to reduce threats to human health and/or impacts on the integrity of the programme. It includes the co-ordination of routine food recalls and communication with affected parties and those at risk, as well as responses to food safety emergencies. Responses are demand driven and budgeted for on a case-by-case basis.
Performance Measures
- Systems and measures to limit the impact of events that pose a threat to human health or to the integrity of the New Zealand food safety programme are maintained. This is achieved through the provision of standards, systems and arrangements to manage food recalls effectively, and to show preparedness in response to routine and/or emergency situations.
- Emergency responses are managed in an effective manner limiting adverse impacts on health and the integrity of New Zealand food safety programmes.
Cost
Outputs will be provided within the appropriated sum of $0.236 million. This appropriation is fully funded by revenue Crown.
Systems Audit and Enforcement
This output expense covers the audit of component systems and specific areas within the regulatory programme, as well as investigations of problems and complaints and suspected breaches of legislation. It covers obtaining the necessary evidence that the programme is effective in meeting policy objectives and is being enforced.
Performance Measures
- Audit reports produced for each audit.
- Assurances provided that delivery is in accordance with NZFSA or other relevant standard.
Cost
Outputs will be provided within the appropriated sum of $3.866 million. The appropriation is funded by $2.448 million revenue Crown and estimated third-party revenue of $1.418 million.
Consultation and Food Safety Information
This output expense covers consultation with stakeholders (including the public) and involves the Food Safety Advisory Board, the Consumers' Forum and the Officials' Committee on Food Safety. It covers communication of food safety information including all regulatory and other relevant matters to stakeholders and managing issues from a communication perspective.
Performance Measures
- Consultation and food safety information provided in line with agreed programmes and meets the needs of the majority of stakeholders.
Cost
Outputs will be provided within the appropriated sum of $2.375 million. The appropriation is funded by $2.016 million revenue Crown and estimated third-party revenue of $0.359 million.
Regulatory Programmes
This output expense covers primary components of the regulatory programme where arrangements exist to contract out regulatory services. District Health Boards are jointly contracted with the MoH to provide a range of functions across the public health continuum. District Health Boards provide NZFSA with oversight of parts of the programme at a local level, investigate possible cases of food-borne illness and provide a linkage to wider public health areas. The NZFSA Verification Agency provides verification functions to the meat and seafood industries.
Performance Measures
- Technical compliance with relevant standards and food legislation.
- Effective and efficient verification services delivered by NZFSA Verification Agency.
- Integrity of the New Zealand official assurance programme is maintained and enhanced.
Cost
Outputs will be provided within the appropriated sum of $36.027 million. The appropriation is funded by $2.207 million revenue Crown and estimated third-party revenue of $33.820 million.
Contact for Enquiries
Strategy and Performance Group
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0738
Contact this person
