NZ country of origin labelling rules now in place

New Zealand has now instituted rules requiring that fresh and thawed foods are labelled with the information of their source. The rules came in force from 12 February that these foods must be labelled to indicate their country of origin.

The regulations apply to fruits, vegetables, meat, finfish and shellfish that are either fresh or thawed, are minimally processed (that is, they are blended, chopped, cut, minced, etc without chemical alteration) and are of a single type. Foods in these categories must now be labelled with the location that they were produced, grown, raised or harvested in.

There are no specific criteria for the words used or how they must be displayed but consumers must be able to clearly recognise the country of origin, as written in English or Māori text. Failing to adhere to the regulations will see fines of up to $30,000 applied for each instance of failing to disclose the relevant information. False information about the country of origin can see a hefty fine.

In May, the regulations will be expanded to include frozen food in addition to those mentioned above.

Further details about legislation covering New Zealand’s country of origin rules can be read here. A handy FAQ has also been provided at this link.

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