Sausage sizzles saved

The Herald reports:

The humble sausage sizzle has been saved.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye today announced changes to the Food Bill that would ensure communities would still be able to continue fundraising involving the sale of food.

“Since the Food Bill had its first reading, people have expressed concerns that it could have placed unnecessary regulation and compliance on community and fundraising groups. We have listened to those concerns and the relevant changes to the bill will go back to select committee for consideration,” Ms Kaye said today.

The changes relate to community activities including ‘Kiwiana’ activities such as sausage sizzles and school fairs.

The changes to the legislation were to provide a flexible, risk-based food safety system that would accommodate about 85,000 food premises and more than 250,000 jobs, Ms Kaye said.

“The Food Bill is comprehensive and replaces the current legislation and regulations plus at least 34 separate sets of food safety bylaws around New Zealand.

The original bill had concerned many community groups that activities such as sausage sizzles would have to jump through hoops and get licenses. Good to see the Government agree on a more flexible approach where a restaurant and a sausage sizzle do not have the same requirements placed on them.