The Government has launched a free “Introduction to Food Safety” course, positioning it as the first of six online training modules aimed at reducing compliance costs for food businesses.

Minister for Food Safety Andrew Hoggard said the move responds to what he heard from owners and managers during visits around the country: training was effective but often hard to access and expensive, typically costing $50–$200 per person. “This is about creating accessibility for basic food safety training for everyone,” he said. “Being free and online it certainly removes the barrier to growth.”

The module was developed with input from the Restaurant Association, Hospitality NZ, restaurants, cafes and local authorities. It forms part of a broader programme to modernise the food safety system, which Hoggard says should be “fairer, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of the food sector.” He pointed to recent changes that eased rules for low‑risk home bakers, saying “the rules need to fit the risk, and people need access to the right tools.”

Details that weren’t specified in the release include how long the course takes, whether it provides a certificate recognised by verifiers, the languages available, and whether completion will satisfy specific training expectations under different food control plans or programmes.

Five further modules are planned and will roll out this year. The release said the free course “can be completed here” but did not provide a link.