Food Act No. 3 of 2020. Country/Territory Tonga Document type Legislation Date 2020 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAn Act to regulate the manufacture, sale, import and export of food for commercial purposes, to guarantee food safety and fitness for human consumption, to promote fair trade practices in food and to provide for related matters. Subject Food & nutrition Keyword Fraud Authorization/permit Basic legislation Business/industry/corporations Capacity building Certification Consumer protection Disinfection/disinfestation Education Enforcement/compliance Equipment Food additives Food waste Food quality control/food safety Food security Processing/handling Hygiene/sanitary procedures Inspection Institution Internal trade International trade Packaging/labelling Nutrition Offences/penalties Policy/planning Procedural matters Public health Research Risk assessment/management Standards Transport/storage Traceability/product tracing Vending MRL-maximum residue limit Pesticides Drugs Geographical area Asia and the Pacific, Oceania, Polynesia, Small Island Developing States, South Pacific Abstract This Act lays down provisions on the functions and powers of the Minister; the development of a National Food Policy; the establishment and functions of the Food Division; the establishment of research unit; the establishment, functions and powers of the National Food Authority; application procedures for a food license or permit; requirements for food businesses in terms of food standards, hygiene, traceability, labelling, and food waste; the establishment and functions of the National Food Council; the powers of the National Food Authority during an emergency and the establishment of National Food Emergency Committee; the designation of a National Food Scientific Sub-Committee to carry out food safety risk assessments and such other scientific tasks; requirements for importation and exportation of food and inspection, sampling, re-labeling and re-conditioning of imported and exported food; the designation and powers of enforcements officers and inspection for compliance; offences and penalties, including but not limited to selling unwholesome food or food that do not meet standards, and false or misleading labelling or advertisement; and the establishment of a register including information on all food businesses. An enforcement officer appointed under this Act shall have powers to inspect (I) food businesses and their surroundings and installations, as well as means of transportation, equipment and materials; (II) food ingredients, additives, disinfectants and any substance or processes used in the production, manufacturing or handling of food; (III) employees employed at the food business; (IV) packaging material; (V) cleaning, disinfecting and maintenance at the food business; and (VI) labelling. The principal functions of the National Food Authority include: assessing the application for a food license, food permit or other such approval to operate a food business; conduct risk management in terms of the prescribed standards of food safety and food quality; coordinate and harmonize food control activities at all stages of production, manufacture and distribution; prevent and protect against fraud in connection with the sale of food; formulate strategies and policies on food, nutrition and food security, including procedures for emergency response; encourage and promote research on food matters to facilitate the development of the food industry; provide food safety and food quality inspection and certification services; provide advice, information or assistance to any public authority in relation to food control, food safety, food quality assurance and food trade; and promote consumer education regarding food safety and nutrition. The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, such as on food standards and the acceptable levels of food additives, environmental contaminants, veterinary drugs, pesticides and other residues or other chemical and microbiological contaminants in foods. Full text English Website ago.gov.to References - Legislation Repeals Food Act 2014 (No. 18 of 2014). Legislation | Tonga | 2014 Keyword: Basic legislation, Food quality control/food safety, Hygiene/sanitary procedures, Institution, Policy/planning, Internal trade, International trade, Inspection, Fraud, Traceability/product tracing, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties, Drugs, Pesticides, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Residues Source: FAO, FAOLEX