Meat Act 1981
Technical Directive

Meat Technical Directive Priority:  Normal
From:  Gail Mustor, National Advisor (Microbiology)
Judy Barker, Programme Manager (RMP)		 File:  91/MP/25,
Date:  12 December 2001 (1) Publication Ref:  M 250-MILAB

TD 01/186 - Laboratory Approval re Potable Water Testing at Domestic Premises and Cancellation of Circular 91/MP/25, 91/8/1

1 Background

Official potable water tests required by premises only producing meat, game and game meat and their products for the domestic market and operating under the Meat Act 1981 must be performed in laboratories that are MILAB approved for any potable water tests specified in IS3/IAS3 Part 4, Circular 86/3/2, Circular 86/3/5, and Circular 95/3/1.

Once a domestic premises operates under a registered risk management programme refer to the potable water requirements of the Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Human Consumption) Notice 2000 found at

http://www.maf.govt.nz/animalproducts/legislation/notices/hconsumpnotice2000.pdf

Any premises producing meat, game meat or game that has an export licence under the Meat Act 1981 needs to comply with OMAR 01/185; Laboratory Approval for all laboratory approval requirements including potable water.
2 Aim
2.1 To clarify which potable water tests carried out to meet the requirements of IS3/IAS3 Part 4, Circular 86/3/2, Circular 86/3/5, and Circular 95/3/1 must be conducted in a MILAB approved laboratory.
2.2 All microbiological tests, and physico-chemical and aesthetic tests (Category A and Category B) described in IS3/IAS3 part 4, Circular 86/3/5 and Circular 95/3/1, with the exception of the tests described below in 2.3, must be performed in a laboratory MILAB approved for the relevant potable water tests. The required frequency of testing and response to test results is described in IS3/IAS3 part 4, Circular 86/3/2, Circular 86/3/5, and Circular 95/3/1.
2.3 Routine chlorine, pH or turbidity measurements need not be conducted in a MILAB approved laboratory.
3 Procedures
3.1 Specifications for official tests are described in Appendix 1:Table 9; Routine Official Tests and Appendix 2: Table 10, Special Official Tests, of the MILAB scheme.

http://www.maf.govt.nz/animalproducts/milab
3.2 A MILAB approved laboratory is a laboratory that complies with the requirements of the MILAB Laboratory Approval Scheme Issue 3, dated 3 August 2001.
  • Laboratories approved for official tests are listed at :

http://www.maf.govt.nz/animalproducts/milab

  • Signatories approved for official tests are listed at :

http://www.maf.govt.nz/animalproducts/milab
 

3.3

 When premises require official potable water laboratory tests to be performed, the laboratory selected, and the signatory signing the report, must be approved for the particular official test required.
 

3.4

 Laboratory test results for official potable water tests are invalid if
  • The laboratory conducting the tests is not MILAB approved for the test; or
  • The laboratory is MILAB approved for some official tests but not for the particular official test required; or
  • The laboratory signatory signing the test report is not MILAB approved for that particular official test.
 

3.5

 Licensee Responsibility

Any licensee that is operating under IS3/IAS3 part 4, Circular 86/3/2, Circular 86/3/5 and Circular 95/3/1 for requirements relating to potable water must ensure that official potable water tests are performed in a MILAB approved laboratory. The licensee should consult with the laboratory as to the specific requirements for the test where the methodology may have a particular requirement for the collecting and handling of the test samples.
3.6 Inspectors Responsibility.

The inspector must:

  • Ensure that official potable water test results are reported from laboratories that have a current MILAB approval for the required test
  • Ensure that all results of official potable water tests have been signed by a MILAB approved signatory. Should the name not appear on the list described above, the inspector must check with the MILAB Administrator before taking further action. Any change in the name or signature of the person reporting the official test results must be verified.
4.0 Cancellation
4.1 Meat Policy Circular 91/MP/25, 91/8/1 Laboratory Approval is revoked.
5.0 Implementation

On receipt