The government has confirmed a new rule change expected to help small-scale meat processors cut costs and more effectively deliver safe food to their customers.
The new rules allow processors with very low throughput to undergo fewer sampling and testing requirements while still upholding the existing high food safety standards.
This means sampling a minimum of 30 carcasses during the first season, which then decreases to 12 in following seasons, compared to the current requirement of 60 samples for most animals.
“For small businesses, these changes are a big deal—they’ll make it easier to try new things and help keep local food supplies strong,” Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard said.
“These small-scale micro abattoirs are an important part of the sector. They bring farmers and consumers together, build local connections and foster small business innovation.”
The new rules are aligned with the level of food safety risk, allowing processors to focus more easily on their core work, Hoggard explained.
“They strike the right balance of food safety oversight while recognising the reality of small-scale operators.”
The changes follow thorough consultations with micro operators who told officials that the rules were overly restrictive and expensive without improving food safety.
“Our review found that we could fix what matters by making adjustments that move barriers for the processors while maintaining our risk and science-based approach.
“It will allow smaller operators to enter the sector without facing onerous and overly expensive compliance,” Hoggard said.