Lecture 9: Food safety standards in Australia

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A.Food Safety and H.A.C.C.P.1.Food Safety
Requirements
9. Food Safety Standards in Australia
2
Food Safety Standards in Australia

• The four food safety standards are
• Interpretation and Application
• Food Safety Programs
• Food Safety Practices and General Requirements
• Food Premises and Equipment.

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Objective

• The objective of the food safety standards is to
  ensure that only safe and suitable food is sold
  in Australia.

4
Food Safety Organizations

• Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Food
  Regulation Agreement included the transfer of
  responsibility for the development of primary
  production standards from the Agriculture and
  Resource Management Council of Australia and New
  Zealand (ARMCANZ) to Food Standards Australia New
  Zealand (FSANZ). This was a key component of the
  new food regulation system in Australia.

5
The role and responsibilities of FSANZ

• The responsibilities of FSANZ include
• developing, varying and reviewing standards for
  food available in Australia and New Zealand
  these are set out in the Australia New Zealand
  Food Standards Code
• developing codes of conduct in collaboration with
  industry.

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Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

• The Australia New Zealand food standards system
  is a cooperative arrangement between Australia
  and New Zealand to develop and implement uniform
  food standards.
• The commencement of the Australia New Zealand
  Food Standards Code provides industry with
  greater choice in manufacturing new products
  while balancing that innovation with the
  provision of necessary consumer information.

7
Food Safety standards and food business

• A food business is any business or activity that
  involves the handling of any type of food for
  sale, or the sale of food in Australia.
• The requirements apply to all commercial,
  charitable or community activities including
  once-only projects that involve the handling or
  sale of food.

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Food Labelling (part I)

• The Food Standards Code currently mandates
  country of origin labelling for all packaged food
  and unpackaged fresh and processed fruit,
  vegetables, seafood and pork.

9
Food Labelling (part II)

• The Australian Government is committed to
  ensuring food labels are clear and accurate to
  enable consumers to make informed choices about
  the food they buy and is taking further action
  to improve the clarity of food labels for
  consumers.

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Food Labelling (part II)

• As part of these improvements, mandatory country
  of origin labelling requirements for unpackaged
  beef, sheep and chicken meat will come into
  effect in July 2013

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Summary of 9th Lecture

• Food Safety Standards in Australia
• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
• Food Labelling in Australia