G/TBT/N/NZL/93  
9 December 2019  
(19-8461) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  NEW ZEALAND   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment  
PO Box 1473  
Wellington 6140  
NEW ZEALAND  
Email: consumer@mbie.govt.nz  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or autho rity designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Standards New Zealand  
Phone: +64 4 498 5990  
Email: wto@standards.co.nz   
Website: www.standards.govt.nz  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Imported 
and domestically produced fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and seafood which are fresh or 
frozen and no more than minimally processed; and cured pork.; Food products in general 
(ICS 67.040)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Consumer 
Information Standards (Origin of Food) Regulations 2019, 8 pages, English. Exposure 
draft consultation: Consumer Information Standards (Origin of Food) Regulations 2019, 
15 pages, English.  
6. Description of c ontent:  The Consumer Information Standards (Origin of Food) 
Regulations 2019 ( the Regulations ) prescribe requirements for the disclosure of a 
regulated food's country or place of origin.  
The Consumers' Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Act 2018,  requires the 
New   Zealand Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to recommend the making of 
regulations prescribing a consumer information standard for  the disclosure of a regulated 
food's country or place of origin.  
To that end the proposed Regulations  provide that regulated foods are the following:  
1. food that  
1. is only 1 type of fruit, vegetable, meat, fish or seafood; and  
2. is fresh or frozen (but would otherwise be fresh); and  G/TBT/N/NZL/93  
 
- 2 - 
 
  3. is no more than minimally processed (for example, by being cut, minced, 
filleted, or surface treated);  
2. cured pork.  
There are certain exceptions to the requirements of the Regulations for the following:  
1. food that is supplied, offered or advertised for supply  
1. at a fundraising event; or  
2. by any of the following for immedi ate consumption: a restaurant, cafeteria, 
takeaway shop, canteen or similar place, or a caterer.  
The Regulations provide examples of processes that do not prevent a food from being 
fresh or minimally processed.  
The Regulations also provide definitions of k ey terms such as fruit, vegetables, fish and 
seafood, and cured pork.  
They also set out key requirements for the manner in which disclosure must be made. In 
particular, disclosure must be made as follows for the following foods:  
1. The origin of fruit and vegetables must be disclosed by reference to the country 
where the food was grown.  
2. The origin of meat or cured pork must be disclosed by reference to the country 
where the animal was raised.  
3. The origin of fish or seafood must be disclosed by reference to e ither the 
national fisheries jurisdiction OR the ocean in whose high seas the food was 
caught or harvested.  
The Regulations provide for alternative disclosure requirements for foods supplied, offered 
for supply, or advertised for supply in certain circumst ances.   
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The purpose is to provide a mandatory labelling system that provides 
consumers with accurate information about the country of origin of certain single -
ingredient , minimally processed foods, and cured pork, to enable consumers to make 
informed food purchasing decisions.; Consumer information, labelling; Prevention of 
deceptive practices and consumer protection  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Consumer Information Standards (origin of Food) Regulations 2019  
• Exposure draft consultation: Consumer Information Standards (Origin of Food) 
Regulations 2019  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  The proposed date of adoption of the consumer information 
standard is not yet set but will be by 1 June 2020.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  The consumer information standard will enter into 
force 6 months after adoption, and will not apply to frozen food until 18 months after the 
standard commences (i.e. 24 months after adoption).  
10. Final date for comments:  10 February 2020  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have -your-say/exposure -draft-consultation -consumer -
information -standards -origin -of-food-regulations -2019