Following a 2022–2023 hepatitis A outbreak linked to contaminated frozen berries, New Zealand Food Safety has issued new import rules for frozen berries to better ensure food safety. The changes will come into effect on August 1, 2024, and importers will have until January 31, 2026 to comply with the new requirements.
A first for New Zealand, the new regulation requires third-party certification to ensure that overseas producers are meeting the food safety standards upheld in New Zealand. Other changes include: