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Primary Production and Processing Standard for Poultry Meat

(Australia only)

FSANZ began developing a Primary Production and Processing Standard for Poultry Meat (Proposal P282) in February 2004.  FSANZ established a Standard Development Committee (SDC) to assist with the work, with membership drawn from relevant national, State and Territory government agencies, poultry growers and processors.   A consumer representative is also on the Committee.

An Initial Assessment Report was released in May 2004 for a round of public consultation. This report contained:

• an overview of the Australian poultry meat industry;
• a discussion of food safety hazards associated with poultry meat and the relevant foodborne human illnesses in Australia; and
• the current control measures in place that manage poultry meat safety in Australia.

The Australian poultry industry raised concerns that it may not be feasible to consistently comply with an existing requirement in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code relating to the amount of fluid that can be lost when frozen poultry is thawed. In response, FSANZ released a Discussion Paper in October 2005 to obtain further information and comment on the issue from stakeholders.

Following consideration of the comments received on the Initial Assessment Report and the Discussion Paper, FSANZ, with input from the poultry meat SDC, released a Draft Assessment Report in December 2005 for an eight-week period of public consultation.  This report included:

• a scientific assessment of the public health and safety of poultry meat in Australia;
• recommended risk management measures; and
• a draft Primary Production and Processing Standard for Poultry Meat.

In 2006, FSANZ initiated a national baseline survey to obtain data on the prevalence and levels of Salmonella and Campylobacter throughout the poultry supply chain. The survey – coordinated by FSANZ in association with a number of State government agencies (Department of Primary Industry and Water, Tasmania, Department of Health Western Australia, New South Wales Food Authority, Safe Food Production Queensland, South Australian Research & Development Institute and Primary Industries and Resources South Australia) – is now completed and a report is currently being finalised.

A Final Assessment Report for P282, including the proposed Primary Production and Processing Standard for Poultry Meat, will be submitted to the FSANZ Board for consideration in early 2010.

As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Australia is obligated to notify WTO member nations about proposed mandatory regulatory measures under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.  FSANZ has notified WTO of the proposed standard.

FSANZ is proposing to prepare a Guideline to assist with the interpretation and implementation of the poultry meat standard within 12 months of the gazettal of the standard. The standard will have a 2 year phase in period from the date of the gazettal.