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Changes in the Association
Chief Executive
After 3 years with the Association, Rachel Harvie has decided to return to her consultancy business full time and will be leaving the position of Chief Executive in the coming weeks. Please refer to this letter from the Association's Executive which is in the process of finding a replacement.
Executive Members
At the Annual General Meeting last year, the resignation from the Executive by Wayne Grattan, led to the nomination and subsequent election of Dion Abrahams as the new Executive member. Dion is General Manager of Woodland Management Ltd in the Bay of Plenty. His skills and enthusiasm will be add much to the Executive - the full list of Executive Members can be found here.
Review of Strategic Direction
At a recent meeting, the Executive agreed that there is a need for the Association to review its priorities. There have been many changes over the last few years and with the current economic climate, it is seen as important that all members see a range of benefits for their membership.
A "Strategic Priorities" document has been prepared by the Executive and can be downloaded here. Your comments and reaction to the directions outlined would be welcomed by the Executive and can be sent directly to Executive members (see above) or via the Wellington office at nzcoldstorage@xtra.co.nz.
E-cert: Compulsory XML from 1 June 2009
Following feedback from a variety of industry members (including several from the cold storage sector), NZ Food Safety Authority have allowed the use of "proprietary code" batch files until the end of May. After this date, all e-certs submitted using batch files must be in XML format.
A tutorial has been developed by NZFSA to help people who are not sure how to change from the "old" batch file format to XML. This document is available for download here.
In addition NZFSA is planning to run some half day workshops around this topic within the next month. We will let you know the details once a programme has been finalised.
In the mean time, if you need any help with XML batch files, use the help person at NZFSA who can be contacted on the following email - ecert.admin@nzfsa.govt.nz
Conference 2009
Work has begun on organising this years conference which will be held in the Garden City - Christchurch - from 17 - 20 October. Petrol heads will be pleased to know that this is the weekend after Bathurst!
A final decision about the venue for the conference will be made this week but it will be a hotel in the city centre with all conference sessions, the trade exhibition and accommodation all at the same place.
An outline for the programme is taking shape but your input would also be welcomed. What would you like to have included as part of the conference this year?
Do you have any feedback from last year's conference? - Good or bad, it is important to let us know so that we can continue with the good things or make improvements where they are needed.
Send any comments to nzcoldstorage@xtra.co.nz
Upcoming Events & Courses
IRHACE Conference
The annual IRHACE Conference is being held in Dunedin this year from 16 - 19 April. The theme is Heating and Energy Efficiency.
If you are interest in more detail, go to the IRHACE website: www.irhace.org.nz
Refrigeration Plant Operator Training
IRHACE and AIRAH are proposing to run course(s) in Refrigeration Plant operators in July of this year. We would like to gauge your interest on the following scenarios: (draft timetables are available) - 3 day accredited course training in ammonia plant operations
- 1 day ammonia emergency response theory workshop
- 3 day Refrigeration Plant Optimisation course
- 1 day energy efficiency workshop.
- Return of the 5 ½ course Plant operators course that IRHACE has run for several years
If you would be interested in any of the above, rate them in order of preference (1 = 1 st choice etc) and contact Debbie Fielder at IRHACE: debbie@irhace.org.nz
Debbie is also seeking feedback on whether an approved handler’s certificate would be of additional interest if it was incorporated into one of the programmes?
Cost Effective Refrigeration Workshop
This popular 5 day course, run by Professor Don Cleland at Massey University has been scheduled again for 2009. It will be held from 31st August to 4th September at the university.
This workshop covers the following topics:
- food refrigeration - energy efficiency
- the customer/contractor interface - heat load estimation
- chilling and freezing calculations - absorption refrigeration
- refrigerant & equipment selection - operational efficiency
- refrigeration plant layout & design - water vapour effects
The workshop is designed for a variety of people including:
- users of refrigeration equipment
- refrigeration equipment suppliers
- refrigeration system designers
- consultants
- contractors
For information contact:
Fiona Falconer
School of Engineering and Advanced Technology
F.M.Falconer@massey.ac.nz
Ph: (06) 350 5526
Heads Up - New EU Certification for Seafood
Last week the Seafood Standards Council held a 2 day workshop in Wellington covering a range of topics from E-cert to shellfish viruses. There was a great deal of useful information presented and discussed but there was once piece of news that sent ripples of shock and frustration throughout the group of attendees.
From 1 January 2010, all consignments of seafood exported to the EU must be accompanied by "Catch Certification". That is, a certificate that confirms that the fish have been caught according to all local and international laws. The scheme applies only to wild caught fish and excludes most shellfish (although paua/abalone is included).
The purpose of these new certificates is to prevent entry into the EU of IUU fish (illegal, unregulated and unreported).
The shock arises from the fact that there has been no significant notification by the EU to trading nations. Most seafood industry members are only just finding out about this requirement thanks to the vigilence of SeaFIC's Trade and Information GM, Alastair Macfarlane.
The frustration arises because the EU authorities requiring this certification will not accept an amended health certificate which could easily be provided though the exisitng e-cert system. A new certificate will be required.
Details of the new certificates are yet to be developed but SeaFIC is working with NZFSA with the hope that e-cert will be able to be used, albeit with a separate document.
This new requirement is likely to impact on all operators that handle fish products for export, including cold stores.
Further information will be provided through this Newsletter as it becomes available. However, there is a Seafood Standards Council Newsletter which would also be useful for you to receive if you don't already. To register for this Newsletter, contact Cathy Webb - Executive Office of SSC at cathy.webb@seafood.co.nz
Funny Story
 Did you hear about the fugitive running around Canterbury? He managed to get into a house at Tai Tapu, steal keys and make off with a lovely purple Ford Falcon XR6.
Guess who it belonged to?
None other than Luke Silcock - our Vice President and Manager of Christchurch Coolstores!
I don't think Luke saw the funny side.
Any questions or feedback?
If you have any questions or comments about anything in this newsletter, please contact me at nzcoldstorage@xtra.co.nz.
Also - if you know anyone who may not be receiving these newsletters but who would benefit from the updates, please let me know.
All the best
Rachel Harvie
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