Food Act 2014

• MAF manages New Zealand’s participation in Codex and sets strategic priorities which ensure that Codex standards have the widest possible application.
• New Zealand attaches great importance to the work of Codex and has been a member since its formation in 1962. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), as the lead agency, is responsible for managing New Zealand’s input and participation in Codex.
• In 2009, NZFSA developed a new Statement of Intent which underlines New Zealand’s commitment to a risk-based regulatory system and standards development programme, underpinned by sound science, and an effective government role in facilitating commerce and market access. This also provides a framework for challenging protectionism and technical barriers to trade in the global trading environment. Therefore, in alignment with its domestic position, New Zealand has an interest in ensuring that Codex standards, and related texts, are risk-based and founded on sound science and that Codex is efficient and responsive to the needs of its members. Furthermore, as a trading nation, New Zealand sees the work of Codex as central to reducing technical barriers to trade and facilitating greater market access through the development of sound international standards with wide application.[4]

• Food Bill includes provisions to implement Codex Alimentarius regulations into New Zealand’s domestic food regime through two primary mechanisms:
  • Material incorporated by reference:
    • The term "incorporation by reference" is used to describe a technique that gives legal effect to provisions contained in a document without repeating those provisions in the text of the incorporating legislation.[5]
    • Food Bill section 403 Material incorporated by reference
  • By Order in Council (with no requirement for public consultation)
    • Food Bill Section 346 "The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations setting standards in relation to food that specify the criteria that all or any of the following must meet to ensure that food is safe and suitable"
    • Food Bill Section 355 "Regulations about definitions (1) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations — (a) declaring anything to be food for the purposes of this Act"
  • Domestic regulations must match export regulations
    • Food Bill SOP 276, Section 346 - "Regulations about standards in relation to food - (6) Regulations made under this section must not set a standard for food sold for export that is different from the standard set for food sold on the domestic market."

• The Food Act 2014 becomes effective on 1 March 2016 when all new business will need to conform to the new Act and there will be a three-year transition period ending 28 February 2019 for all existing food premises that are not otherwise exempted to move over to either a Food Control Plan or National Programme.

• Food Safety Modernization Act
• Text as passed by Senate Archived 14 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine

• Canada Food Safety and Inspection Act
• Reaction
• BILL C-80 (first reading)
• BILL C-27: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Enforcement Act
• Current news on food biotechnology

• Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP, or TPPA) Archived 6 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine

• HSNO protects New Zealand against biological contamination from genetically modified organisms being introduced into New Zealand’s unique island nation biodiversity.
• At least one New Zealand Minister of Parliament (Steffan Browning) has noted that the "genetic modification of food" has been deleted from the first draft of the Food Bill 160-2 as if the Minister for Food Safety is proposing that genetic modification is not a matter of food safety, which is very much as odds with the national opinion (New Zealand) on genetic modification.
• Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
• Whereas USA production as of 2011 was 94% GMO Soy beans and 88% GMO Corn, New Zealand remains unadulterated to production of genetically modified organisms within its borders

• Natural Health Products Bill 324-1

1. The costs-of-food-sickness justification for Food Bill 160-2 were grossly exaggerated, and hence the real motives have not been fully disclosed by the New Zealand government.
2. Food sovereignty will be reduced by Food- Bill 160-2.[9][10]
3. Food Bill 160-2 would restrict seed sharing and reduce biodiversity.[9]
4. Food Bill 160-2 contains legal loopholes which would allow the Food Safety minister to make significant changes without public consultation.[9]
5. Motives for Food Bill 160-2 are more about enhancing New Zealand trade than they are about food safety for New Zealanders.[9]
6. Food Bill 160-2 will erode New Zealand Civil Liberties, principally due to powers afforded Food Safety Officers.[9]
7. Food Bill 160-2 will be used to introduce additional Genetically Modified Organisms into New Zealand’s domestic food supply.[9][11]
8. New Zealand’s local food regulations will be subject to international market forces because local regulations must match export regulations.[9]
9. Compliance costs for small food producers.[9]
10. Codex Alimentarius being forced upon New Zealand’s food supply.[9][12][13]
11. Maori culture being negatively impacted by Food Bill 160-2.[9]

Critics say that once Codex standards become law, consumers will have inferior food rules imposed upon them, while food standards and trade will be completely controlled worldwide. Codex may ultimately:

• Prohibit the use of natural substances to prevent and treat disease
• Legalize genetically modified organisms
• Mandate antibiotics and hormones in animal feed
• Raise the allowable level of pesticides, toxins and drugs in foods
• Prohibit consumers from purchasing traditional herbs and medicines

• An online petition was created in August 2011, stating: "Sharing food is a basic human right. The Food Bill 160-2 will seriously impede initiatives like community gardens, food co-ops, heritage seed banks, farmers markets, bake sales, and roadside fruit & vegetable stalls. Sign this petition to show that you oppose Food Bill 160-2"
• Within 5 months it had received over 40,000 signatures. As of May 2012 it has 42303 signatures which represent almost 1% of New Zealand’s 4.36m population.
• While this demonstrates that the Food Bill is a matter of national concern, it falls far short of the requirements to trigger a citizen’s initiated referendum, which would need votes equivalent to 10% of all eligible registered electors (approx. 300,000 votes required.)
• Even if a citizen’s initiated referendum proceeded, it would be non-binding on the Government.