4.4 Emerging International Regulatory Model for Food Safety
The model for regulation of food safety that is being adopted in New Zealand is gaining acceptance with regulators throughout the world. This model is represented in Figure 1. The model for environmental management is less clear. Worldwide, legislation is moving from input regulation to management of outputs or outcomes, and is placing more responsibility on the producer. New Zealand's legislation reflects this:
- The Resource Management Act (1991)is outcome based;
- The Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992) places the onus on employers to have a safe workplace;
- The Food Amendment Act 1996 allows food handlers to operate their own FSP to deliver safe food, and if they do so exempts them from the requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974.
These trends are echoed around the globe:
- Victoria, Australia food legislation requires an approved FSP to be in place;
- The USFDA requires fish importers to the USA to demonstrate they have verified that exporters are operating a suitable FSP;
- The USDA requires meat plants to operate a HACCP based FSP.
Figure 1: New Zealand Model for Regulation of Food Safety
Standards can be compulsory (generally legislative, but also as a purchase specification) or voluntary. For example compliance with the Food Hygiene Regulations is compulsory, but having ISO 9001 is voluntary. The main voluntary standards pertinent to this paper are presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Voluntary International Standards
| Standard | Publisher | Date | Description |
| ISO 9000 | International Organisation for Standardisation | Since 1987 | A series of models for quality assurance |
| ISO 14001 | International Organisation for Standardisation | 1996 | An Environmental Management System Model. ISO 14004 is a guidance document. |
| ISO 14010 series | International Organisation for Standardisation | 1996 | Three standards dealing with environmental auditing processes and auditor qualification. |
| ISO 14020 series | International Organisation for Standardisation | Draft | Environmental Labeling series |
| ISO 14040 series | International Organisation for Standardisation | Draft | Life Cycle Analysis |
| SA8000 | Centre for Economic Priorities | 1998 | A Social Responsibility Standard supported by transnational retailers such as Nike, Avon, Bodyshop, Sainsbury, Toys'r'us, Mattel etc. |
| Forest Stewardship Council Principles and Criteria | Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) | 1995 | Principles and Criteria for management of forests. Includes social, economic and environmental criteria |
| Marine Stewardship Council | Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) | Expected by end 1998 | Principles and criteria for well managed fisheries. Sponsored by WWF and Unilever. |
| Green Globe | World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) | Expected by July 1998 | Principles and criteria for well managed tourism. Includes social, economic and environmental criteria. WTTC includes KLM, Marriott, BA, etc |
| Sainsbury Integrated Crop Management | J Sainsbury | 1995 | Guidelines for integrated crop management for Sainsbury Suppliers |
| MPS | 1994 | Dutch programme for responsible floriculture, now operating in 10 countries. 70% of Dutch flowers are now MPS certified. | |
| SQF2000 | Western Australia Dept of Agriculture | 1996 | Standard combines elements of ISO 9000 with HACCP food safety programme |
| © MAF 1999 | ||
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