Flavour supplier for New Zealand
VKA Australia (AFF-VK Aromatics Int Australia Pty Ltd) is part of VKA, a multinational flavour house with sites in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. In Southport, Queensland, it develops and makes custom flavours for food and beverage makers across Australia and New Zealand, and has operated since 1998.
VKA Australia supplies New Zealand food and beverage makers from Southport, Queensland.
A shared Food Standards Code
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code applies in both countries, except provisions not adopted in New Zealand. Those include Chapters 3 and 4 and Standards 1.4.2, 1.6.2 and 2.9.1, listed in the note to section 1.1.1-3(1). MPI implements the Code in New Zealand under the Food Act 2014.
Importing flavouring into New Zealand
A food importer must be registered and resident in New Zealand. MPI's importer registration page sets out the process and can advise on a specific import. Under Food Act 2014 section 108, food for sale must be imported by a registered importer or through an agent who is a registered importer. For flavouring supplied from Southport, the New Zealand buyer imports it as a registered importer, or uses an agent who is a registered importer.
Declaring flavouring and the supplier address
Under section 1.2.4-7(4), a flavouring substance is declared in the statement of ingredients as 'flavour' or 'flavouring', or a more specific name or description, the same as in Australia. Under section 1.2.2-4, the supplier name and business address may be in Australia or New Zealand.
Country-of-origin labelling
New Zealand's country-of-origin labelling regulations cover only the listed fresh and minimally processed foods, including specified frozen or thawed foods and cured pork, supplied at retail. Flavourings are outside that scope under regulation 5 of the Consumer Information Standards (Origin of Food) Regulations 2021.
Ingredient information for the manufacturer
MPI says suppliers need to give manufacturers accurate ingredient information so manufacturers can accurately label the food products they make.
Questions about New Zealand supply
Does the same Food Standards Code apply in New Zealand?
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code applies in both countries, except provisions not adopted in New Zealand. Those include Chapters 3 and 4 and Standards 1.4.2, 1.6.2 and 2.9.1, listed in the note to section 1.1.1-3(1). MPI implements the Code in New Zealand under the Food Act 2014.
Who imports the flavouring into New Zealand?
The New Zealand buyer imports the flavouring as a registered importer, or uses an agent who is a registered importer, under Food Act 2014 section 108. MPI's importer registration page sets out the process and can advise on a specific import. A registered food importer must be resident in New Zealand.
How is flavouring declared, and can the supplier address be Australian?
A flavouring substance is declared as 'flavour' or 'flavouring', or a more specific name or description, under section 1.2.4-7(4), the same as in Australia. The supplier name and business address may be in Australia or New Zealand under section 1.2.2-4. MPI says suppliers need to give manufacturers accurate ingredient information so manufacturers can accurately label their food products.
Do New Zealand's country-of-origin labelling regulations cover flavourings?
Flavourings are outside the scope of regulation 5 of the Consumer Information Standards (Origin of Food) Regulations 2021. It covers only the listed fresh and minimally processed foods, including specified frozen or thawed foods and cured pork, supplied at retail.