56330 (2025). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister for Food Safety

Written Question

Published date: 16 Dec 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	56330 (2025)
Question asked:	02 Dec 2025
Member asking:	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Portfolio:	Minister for Food Safety
Minister replying:	Hon Andrew Hoggard
Answer received:	10 Dec 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_56330_2025
Document guid:	7a9c6b63-1a6d-4da2-87c2-c0f911999971

56330 (2025). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister for Food Safety: Do you believe the company examiner role has the same level of responsibility as the official assessor role, if so, what authentication mechanisms ensure that company examiners are held to the same statutory obligations as official assessors when providing evidence for export assurance?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: The Ministry for Primary Industries has advised that the company examiner role does not carry the same level of responsibility as the official assessor role. Company examiners are not authorised to make food safety dispositions, which is a function reserved exclusively for official assessors.