[3] The New Zealand domestic standard is used as the basis for negotiating equivalence arrangements with trading partners.

The NZFSA (now part of MAF) commenced consultation on the Domestic Food Review in 2004 with a series of public discussion papers.

This consultation has included forums and consumer groups, discussion papers and public submission processes.

During the public consultation on the Food Bill by the Primary Production Committee from 22 July to 2 September 2010, 66 submissions were received.

More information on the Consumers Forum is here: Staying in touch with people Archived 10 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine Concerns have been raised about a number of different aspects of the proposed Food Bill 160-2.