The newly-formed Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) undertook a comprehensive exercise in the North Island last month.
Operation Nevada was designed to demonstrate its range of work and introduce officers to some new duties.
MPI was formed last year from the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Fisheries and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
The operation saw more than 50 MPI compliance officers spend two days in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coromandel regions inspecting for compliance with the numerous regulations under its watch.
An emphasis was placed on targeting the black market for meat and fish.
They also visited sale yards across the Waikato to make sure the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and National Animal Identification and Tracing (Nait) were being met.
They checked some farms to ensure adherence to the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act codes of welfare.
More than 120 food premises dealing in fish were inspected to ensure they were keeping accurate records, complying with all regulations and selling fish and other animal products legally.
They checked butchers and home-kill operators in the region, as well.
Food premises were reminded of their obligations under the Biosecurity Act 1993 to comply with rules and regulations about feeding meat and food waste to pigs and so minimise the risk of spreading animal diseases.
Waikato/Bay of Plenty district compliance manager Brendon Mikkelsen said overall there was a high level of compliance.
The operation had not only been an opportunity to demonstrate the wide range of compliance work undertaken by MPI, but it also gave compliance officers new to the team the chance to experience working in areas unfamiliar to them, he said.
''Many people are unaware of the scope of expertise our compliance officers are required to have in dealing with such a diverse range of Acts and associated regulations - including but by no means restricted to fisheries, biosecurity, animal products, and animal welfare,.'
He said MPI relied on information from within industry and the public to help it monitor compliance.
''If anyone has any information that they think MPI should know about, we encourage them to contact us.
''All information will be treated in confidence.''
For further information on the range of responsibilities MPI has and what you can do to help, please visit the MPI website at: www.mpi.govt.nz or call 0800-008-333. You can also follow MPI on Twitter @MPI-NZ