We want to make our food safety regulations and legal notices under the Animal Products Act 1999 and Wine Act 2003 clearer and easier to understand. These new regulations and related notices commenced on 1 July 2022. Find out what's changed and why.
New redesigned animal products regulations and wine regulations came into force on 1 July 2022.
We've now started a follow-on project. It will encompass minor and technical changes, as well as a refresh to regulated control schemes.
The redesign of the animal products and wine regulations and notices aims to make it easier for businesses operating under the Animal Products Act 1999 and Wine Act 2003 to find and comply with their requirements by:
During the regulatory redesign process, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) simplified and consolidated 1,300 pages of animal products and wine regulations, including notices, and supporting guidance documents. Redesigned notices focus on industry-specific details and technical requirements. The changes are:
The new redesigned animal products regulations and wine regulations were published and came into force on 1 July 2022.
Animal Products Regulations 2021 – NZ Legislation
Wine Regulations 2021 – NZ Legislation
Summary of submissions [PDF, 677 KB]
All new notices under the regulatory redesign project came into force on 1 July 2022 in line with the new regulations.
Find out more about changes to animal products regulations and notices
Find out more about changes to wine regulations and notices
We are identifying minor and technical changes to the new redesigned Animal Products Regulations 2021 and Wine Regulations 2021 to ensure they are working as intended.
Any proposed changes will not introduce any significant policy changes and will be finalised and published by November 2023. We will do targeted consultation with external reference group members in mid-2023 on proposed changes along with any transitional arrangements needed.
This work follows on from the regulatory redesign project because certain existing regulated control schemes (RCSs) under the Animal Products Act 1999 are impacted by changes due to the Food Safety Law Reform Act 2018. The key objective is to ensure these affected RCSs are consistent and aligned.
The RCSs being reviewed are:
Policy changes are not within scope.
Proposed legislation changes to the RCSs, including any transitional arrangements, are expected to undergo a similar consultation process as the regulatory redesign, with affected industries consulted in mid-2023. Any proposed legislation changes are expected by November 2023.
The 2014 government inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate Contamination Incident found food safety regulatory requirements were fundamentally sound, but were repetitive, complex, and inaccessible.
Subsequently, the Food Safety Law Reform Act 2018 was passed which required MPI to complete a legislative redesign.
Food Safety Law Reform Act 2018 – NZ Legislation
That Act requires MPI to redesign regulations and notices under the:
Whey protein concentrate contamination incident
Cabinet paper approving the redesign work [PDF, 658 KB]
Overall regulation redesign timeline [PDF, 105 KB]
Cabinet agreed on transitional arrangements to support a timely transition after 1 July 2022 for the newly redesigned animal products and wine regulations and related notices.
Regulatory redesign of animal products and wine regulations: Proposed transitional arrangements (Proposal) [PDF, 138 KB]
Regulatory redesign of animal products and wine regulations: Proposed transitional arrangements (Minute of decision) [PDF, 110 KB]
Engagement with the animal products and wine sectors has been ongoing since 2018.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, MPI held external reference group workshops with the animal products and wine sectors. The group brought together industry leaders and experts to help review and refine draft regulations and notices.
Consultations were held on the animal products regulations and consolidated Animal Products Notice: Animal Products Standards. Further consultation on other animal products notices are ongoing.
Consultation on the wine regulations and notices was completed, and the next stage of co-designing templates, tools, and guidance to help the wine sector meet the rules has begun.
Regulatory redesign of animal products and wine regulations (closed 8 August 2021)
Proposed Animal Products Notice: New Zealand Animal Products Standards (closed 13 September 2021)
Consultation on proposed wine notices (closed 20 September 2021)
Consultation on 6 proposed animal products notices (closed 11 November 2021)
Consultation on 2 proposed animal products notices (closed 18 November 2021)
Work to strengthen food recalls and risk-based plans and programmes (closed 7 December 2018)
New food traceability and recall policy was previously consulted and agreed to by the Government in 2019. These new regulatory requirements were incorporated into the Animal Products Regulations 2021 and Wine Regulations 2021 during the regulatory redesign process. Find out more about this work:
Work to strengthen food recalls
If you want to find out more, email food.policy@mpi.govt.nz
You can also subscribe to our emailing list for updates. Choose "regulation redesign" under the "email update topics" list.
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