09 Oct 2026
2 weeks ago
290 views
The Government is proposing updates to New Zealand's Simply Safe & Suitable food control plan to simplify food safety obligations by reducing paperwork, focusing on key risks, and using clearer, business-friendly language. Key changes include less testing and record-keeping, a modular template tailored to operations, and clearer links between hazards and corrective actions, alongside recent measures like free online training and eased rules for certain food businesses. Consultation on these proposals runs until 15 November 2026, with further reforms such as ongoing registration expected by mid-2025.
08 Sep 2026
1 month ago
377 views
The Government’s free online Food Safety Basics training modules have benefited thousands of food business staff, with the third module on maintaining a food safe workplace now available. Developed with industry input, the course covers key topics like cleaning, pest control, and waste management, and aims to simplify food safety while saving businesses money on costly training. Additionally, recent government changes have reduced regulatory burdens and costs for various food businesses, supporting a more efficient and consistent food safety system nationwide.
09 Jul 2026
3 months ago
768 views
The Government, led by Minister Andrew Hoggard, is launching a free online food safety course to reduce costs for thousands of food businesses, which typically spend $50 to $200 per staff member on training. The course series, developed with industry input, includes modules on personal hygiene, maintaining a safe workplace, handling food safely, allergens, and traceability, all aimed at preventing foodborne illnesses. This initiative is part of broader efforts to simplify and improve food safety practices for businesses of all sizes.
13 May 2026
5 months ago
896 views
The Government is standardizing food safety verification for multi-site food businesses by implementing consistent site-sampling guidelines, reducing costs, and ensuring all sites are verified over time based on risk levels and performance. Recent measures have saved money for small food businesses through free training, relaxed testing for meat processors, eased requirements for home-based bakers, and simplified export rules. Future plans aim to further cut regulatory costs, simplify processes, and create a fairer, more efficient food safety system responsive to industry needs.
05 May 2026
5 months ago
1026 views
The Government has launched a free online food safety training module to simplify and improve accessibility for food businesses, addressing previous challenges of cost and difficulty. Developed with industry input, this module is the first of six aimed at modernizing New Zealand’s food safety system to be fairer, more efficient, and responsive to business needs. Additional modules and initiatives are planned to further support the sector with appropriate, risk-based regulations and tools.