Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Food Act 2014

Food imported for purpose of sale - Suspension of registered importer’s operations

122: Mandatory suspension

You could also call this:

"Stopping food importers who sell bad food to keep people safe"

Illustration for Food Act 2014

The chief executive can stop a registered importer's operations at any time. You need to know this can happen if the chief executive thinks the food imported is bad for people's health. The chief executive can also stop operations if the importer has failed badly or done something that makes people doubt the food's safety.

The chief executive must follow the rules in clause 4 of Schedule 4 when stopping operations. The chief executive can stop all or just part of the importer's operations. This stop can last for up to 3 months.

The chief executive makes this decision to keep people safe from bad food. The importer must not operate during this time. The stop is to protect human life and public health.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2996234.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Food and water safetyBusiness > Industry rules
Previous

121: Registered importers must notify chief executive of significant change in circumstances, or

"Registered importers must tell the chief executive about big changes in their business within 10 working days."

Next

123: Chief executive may extend mandatory suspension, or

"The boss can make a food company stop working for a longer time if it's necessary."

Part 3Food imported for purpose of sale
Suspension of registered importer’s operations

122Mandatory suspension

  1. The chief executive may, at any time, suspend all or any specified part of a registered importer’s operations in accordance with clause 4 of Schedule 4 if the chief executive considers that—

  2. the food imported by the importer may pose a risk to human life or public health; or
    1. there is or has been a serious failure of operations or there are or have been other matters that cast doubt on the safety and suitability of the food imported by the importer.

      1. The maximum period of suspension under this section is 3 months.