NZFSA risk management review underway

The initial stage of a review of New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) risk management processes is nearing completion.

In mid-December last year, Food Safety Minister Lianne Dalziel announced that internationally renowned food safety expert Dr Stuart Slorach would be undertaking the review.

Slorach has been in New Zealand for the past two weeks, evaluating NZFSA’s systems and processes. He also met with Dalziel and a wide range of interested parties, including scientists, members of special-interest groups and representatives of the food industry and consumer organisations.

“I have had an opportunity to meet with people from a range of backgrounds and over the next month will be assessing the material I have gathered during my time here,” Slorach said.

“My next step will be to undertake an assessment of NZFSA’s decision-making processes compared with those of the other food safety agencies.”

During February, Slorach will visit the government food safety agencies of Ireland, Denmark and Sweden to compare their highly regarded methods to New Zealand’s.

Slorach is expected to return to New Zealand in late March to finalise his review, with Ministerial consideration of the final report and recommendations in the second quarter of the year.