Verification New Zealand

A food safety programme is a written programme designed to identify and control food safety risk factors (hazards). Hazards are anything with the potential to cause harm to the consumer. They may relate to the production, manufacture, preparation, packaging, storage, handling, transport, or distribution of food. 

To sell food on the domestic market in New Zealand or Australia operators must meet the requirements of the Food Act 1981 by either:

• Operating under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 – Local Authority or Council registration

Or

• Applying for an exemption from the Food Hygiene Regulations and operating an NZFSA approved food safety programme

To be exempt, operators of a food business must have an effective food safety programme based on the principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). This may be developed specifically for your operation or based on a template or code of practice (COP).

• More information on HACCP can be found on the Codex Alimentarius Commission website: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/index_en.jsp

• Information on the exemption certification process and how to develop a food safety programme can be found on the NZFSA website: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/industry/general/fsp/develop/index.htm

A third party audit of your food safety programme provides a retailer or manufacturer with the assurance that you operate a food safety programme according to the principles of HACCP and have controls in place to manage food safety risks.

Key Elements

• Contact us to start the inspection process
• One of our auditors will talk you through the application and audit process
• VNZ is accredited by JAS-ANZ against ISO 17020 as a Type A (third party) inspection body to undertake assessments against the Food Act and in particular, for exemption under the Food Amendment Act (No 2) (1996)
• Our food auditors are approved by the NZFSA and have an extensive knowledge across all areas of the food industry in New Zealand 
• The timing of the audits is governed by the NZFSA but is generally on an annual basis 
• VNZ would provide a certificate of inspection following the close out of any audit conditions
• The NZFSA also provides an exemption certificate once the food safety programme is approved
• VNZ can also audit your system against other published standards, codes of practices or customer requirements
• VNZ has the ability to integrate and combine audits, which provides you with the benefits of reduced time on site and costs to your company

Further Information

To make an enquiry or request a quote please email info@verification.co.nz.

To make an application, please download and complete this form (vnz-application-form.pdf).