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Explain and operate the New Zealand Food Safety Authority's Electronic Certification system of Official Assurance

Level / 4
Credits / 10

PurposePeople with this unit standard are able to in a seafood context: explain the ethics and responsibilities associated with the Certification Operator role; the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s certification system; certification requirements for seafood products and confirmation procedures in accordance with legislative and company requirements; and complete E-cert documents for an animal product in accordance with legislative and company requirements.

Subfield / Seafood
Domain / Seafood Risk Management
Status / Registered
Status date / 16 April 2010
Date version published / 16 April 2010
Planned review date / 31 December 2015
Entry information / Open.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0123

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

Definitions

Approval refers to confirmation by an official assurance verifier that an E-Cert document meets all legislative and market access requirements.

Certification covers all procedures and activities associated with issuance of Official Assurance for consignments of animal material or animal product where Official Assurance is required. It includes eligibility documents, eligibility declarations and export certificates.

Electronic certification is referred to as E-cert in this unit standard.

Legislative requirements in this unit standard refer to legislation, regulations and standards that include but are not limited to the Animal Products Act 1999, Animal Products (Official Assurance Specifications) Notice, Official Assurances Programme (OAP), Technical Directives (TDs), Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMARs), General Requirements for Exporters (GREXs), New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) E-cert Help Files, and subsequent updates and amendments.

Linked document refers to any document or record that provides information to support an E-cert document.

Company requirements referto instructions to staff on policy and procedures that are communicated in an oral or written form. These requirements must include legislation requirements and company safety procedures, and may include but are not limited to industry codes of practice and standards.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Explain the ethics and responsibilities associated with the Certification Operator role.

Performance criteria

1.1The explanation includes the role of certification in New Zealand’s trade.

Rangeinternational and domestic.

1.2The explanation includes the potential impact of inaccurate and fraudulent certification.

Rangeindividual, company, seafood industry, trade of other animal material or products, regulatory authority.

1.3The explanation includes the ethical requirements of certification for the Certification Operator.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – section 2 (Certification) of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinarians, Animal Products Act 1999, Statement of Policy – Ethical Basis of Certification, NZFSA Conditions for Use of web applications.

1.4The responsibilities of the Certification Operator are maintained in accordance with legislative requirements.

RangeE-cert security, company requirements, ethical requirements.

Element 2

Explain the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s certification system.

Performance criteria

2.1Legislative requirements and websites relevant to certification are located.

2.2The explanation includes the key features of the legislative requirements that apply to certification.

2.3The explanation includes the rules associated with login identifications and passwords.

RangeNew Zealand Food Safety Authority, company.

2.4The explanation includes an outline of the terms associated with E-cert.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – raise, amend, approved, cancel, revoke, resubmit, request amendment, exhaust, search, history, request replacement, official assurance, eligibility document, eligibility declaration.

2.5The explanation includes the record keeping requirements in accordance with company and legislative requirements.

2.6The explanation includes the elements to be included in a Business Continuity Plan (BCP).

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – identification of factors that prevent normal use of E-cert, corrective action procedures, equipment requirements, communication.

Element 3

Explain certification requirements for seafood products and confirmation procedures in accordance with legislative and company requirements.

Performance criteria

3.1The explanation includes the certification requirements for a range of seafood products and markets.

Rangeevidence is required for three products and three markets.

3.2The explanation includes the range of products produced, and processes carried out at the certification operator’s premises.

3.3The explanation includes the procedures used by the premises to confirm compliance with New Zealand standards and overseas market access requirements.

3.4The explanation includes the records generated as part of the confirmation procedures in accordance with company requirements.

Element 4

Complete E-cert documents for a seafood product in accordance with legislative and company requirements.

Performance criteria

4.1Data is entered accurately and submitted in accordance with company and legislative requirements.

4.2Information to support product eligibility is confirmed and records kept in accordance with company and legislative requirements.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – product reception records, production records, records of company checks, incoming eligibility documents and inventory records.

4.3Requests for amendment of E-cert documents are responded to in an accurate and timely manner.

4.4Approval is obtained for submitted E-cert documents.

Rangeevidence includes – Health Certificates, Eligibility Documents.

4.5Record keeping requirements are maintained in accordance with company and legislative requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – certificate numbers, approved certificates, cancelled or revoked certificates, linked documents.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Primary Industry Training you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018