COVID-19 Important Updates

AsureQuality COVID-19 Pandemic Plan and Actions Update #18

Following the announcement on Tuesday evening by the New Zealand Government, we wish to reiterate that we are committed to providing a safe environment for our teams and to ensure business continuity in service of our customers, partners, and other stakeholders. The following provides further detail on how we are responding to the latest lockdown.

Essential Service Status

As per the previous lockdowns, the services AsureQuality deliver to the food and primary industries are considered essential services. This means we will continue to operate under the “COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order (No. 9) 2021” during Alert Level 4.

Continuity Of Service

We are opting to take a precautionary approach while we see what happens over the few days. We will work closely with customers as needed to ensure we are able to maintain supply of essential services. We’ll endeavour to minimise any potential disruptions working with customers as they navigate scenarios that may be affecting their businesses, and respecting policies they put in place.

Business Continuity Plans

We have re-enacted our Business Continuity Plans (BCP) specifically for COVID-19, with close reference to the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s Pandemic Plan.

Here’s an overview of our current plans, actions, and status:

Audit, Inspection And Certification Services

• All our people who can work from home will be doing so for at least the next three days outside Auckland, and at least the next week in Auckland.
• We are reviewing all activities scheduled in the coming week and will be in direct contact with customers to align on an agreed plan for these activities. We are committed to being as flexible and supportive as possible.
• All of our programmes will implement reviewed plans and practices for Alert Level 4, including PPE, social distancing, strict hygiene protocols, and contact tracing.
• If our people need to continue to travel domestically in order to deliver essential services to customers, every Government recommendation and guideline is being followed to minimise the risks to our people and customers as we do this.
• We will endeavour to minimise the need for inter-regional travel to deliver services. We are obtaining any needed approvals to allow inter-regional travel if there are no other viable alternatives.
• If needed, we are well prepared to revert to the alternative audit delivery models previously established and delivered.

Meat Inspection Services

• In alignment with our meat processing customers, meat inspection services will continue. We will work closely with the MIA and customers to review and enact the agreed protocols for Alert Level 4 along with any additional requirements customers may have.
• The wearing of face masks by our meat inspectors will be compulsory. We understand that a number of meat processing sites are already requiring this.

Laboratory Services

• All our people who can work from home will be doing so for at least the next three days outside Auckland, and at least the next week in Auckland.
• All our laboratories have reviewed and implemented their COVID-19 plans and practices for Alert Level 4 taking into account the nature of the Delta variant. This includes PPE, split shifts, social distancing, strict hygiene protocols and contact tracing.
• We are working hard to manage the challenges that the COVID-19 situation is presenting in order to continue to deliver testing services without material customer impacts.
• Given the uncertainty of the situation, there may be some service interruptions to some testing in the future. We are focused on minimising these wherever possible and keeping customers informed if significant issues develop.

We will be continuously monitoring the situation as it evolves and will adjust our plans and actions accordingly. We will be in direct communication with our customers if we believe there are material changes.

If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our customer services team at customerservices@asurequality.com or your usual point of contact within AsureQuality.