Food (Safety and Quality) Regulations of 2017.

The purposes of these Regulations are: (i) to protect the health of the public from unsafe food; (ii) to provide food that is fit for purpose; and (iii) to protect consumers from deception and food of unacceptable and poor quality, by establishing minimum standards for food products. These Regulations addresses the primary responsibility of the food businesses in terms of food safety; the need to ensure food safety throughout the food chain, including all stages of production, processing, distribution, handling, and sale of food; and hygiene and safety standards for food which are imported into or exported from Samoa.
Part 2 lays down general food standards, including the application of Codex Standards; limits on contaminants; maximum levels of pesticide residues and any veterinary drug residue in food; microbiological criteria; additives allowed for use in any food product; and the standards of nutrient supplements. Part 3 sets out general requirements on labelling and packaging, food specific labelling requirements, and required nutrient content labelling, to provide true and complete information to consumers and protect their health. Regulation 16 determines the prohibited claims. Regulation 17 addresses the use of nutrient content claims, nutrient comparative claims, nutrition claims and health claims.
Part 4 determines standards for eggs, fish or fisheries products, cereal or cereal product, salt and fruit drink which are produced, processed, handled, kept, distributed, displayed for sale or sold in or imported into or exported from Samoa. Part 5 deals with food safety and hygiene obligations, and lays down the duties of operators of food businesses on good hygienic practices, general requirements for places, facilities and infrastructure of food businesses, cleaning and disinfection requirements, animal or pest control, preventing microbiological cross-contamination, hygiene requirements for food workers, training of food handlers, and recall procedures. This Part also underlines the obligation of using potable water in the preparation of food or on surfaces on which food is prepared to ensure the safety of food.
Schedule 11 lists any food that is regarded as high risk food in Part 1 and any food that is regarded as food of regulatory interest in Part 2. Regulation 54 prohibits to import for sale any food listed in Schedule 11 unless intention to import food is given by the Director General. Part 7 of these Regulations lays down as regards the obligation of the application for health certificate to produce or manufacture any food for sale; general import requirements; import of raw and semi-processed food; import of food for repackaging, reprocessing or reconditioning; inspection of product identity; health or sanitary certification for imported food; food analysis certificate; sampling food for analysis; inspection of re-labelling; and the powers of the food safety officer to reject import and destruct.
Part 8 sets out miscellaneous provisions on the advertisements of certain food; record keeping obligation for food businesses; and general offences and penalties. Schedules 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 set out food standards on fruits and vegetables, noni juice, infant formula, meat and meat products, and sugar.