SEAFOOD STANDARD ( Australia only )
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is some useful information, in a frequently asked questions (FAQ) format, to help you understand the process used to develop a nationally enforceable government seafood standard that will focus on protecting public health and safety
1. Why are we developing a standard for seafood?
The proposed standard for seafood is aimed at protecting public health and safety along the entire seafood production and supply chain. It will also assist the industry by providing guidance on how to produce safe seafood, and will serve to build consumer confidence in seafood safety.
2. What will this standard mean to businesses that produce and handle seafood?
The standard will mean that all sectors of the seafood industry will be regulated in terms of food safety from ‘boat to belly’. At present only retail, wholesale and food service businesses that process and sell seafood are regulated under the Food Standards Code. In the future there will be a consistent, through-chain approach to ensure safe and hygienic processing and handling of seafood.
3. The standard will be risk-based – what does that mean?
The standard will ensure that regulations will focus on managing demonstrated public health and safety risks. Where there is no risk – there will be no regulation.
Risks are assessed using a scientific process with input from experts. Under this process, hazards are identified and characterised, and the exposure of the population is estimated, enabling the risk assessor to characterise the public health risk. The outputs from a risk assessment contribute to policy decisions on how to manage and control the risk.
4. How can I make an input during this process?
FSANZ is committed to asking all stakeholders for their views on the best possible seafood standard. You may become involved by input to representatives on the Seafood Standard Development Committee (SDC) or through public forums FSANZ, state regulators or industry arrange during the standard development process.
FSANZ has released an Issues Paper on the development of the seafood standard ( Proposal P265 ) and is requesting public comment by 28 February 2003. The paper raises issues for consideration, including the scope of the proposed standard, the scientific process used, options for food safety management systems and regulatory compliance issues. Written submissions are invited from interested individuals and organisations on any aspect of the standard, and these will assist FSANZ in preparing the Draft Assessment for a Primary Production and Processing Standard for seafood.
A second round of public consultation will occur at the Draft Assessment stage during which further comment will be sought on the proposed standard and other risk management options.
5. Where can I obtain further information?
Updates will be provided to stakeholders and consumers by FSANZ via the following sources:
- FSANZ website http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/primaryproductionprocessingstandards/ ;
- FSANZ subscriber database, articles in Food Standards News, and FSANZ Fact Sheets;
- published news articles in major seafood industry publications; and
- State Fishing Industry Councils and State Governments
6. Where do I send written submissions:
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Australia New Zealand
PO Box 7186 PO Box 10559 The Terrace
Canberra BC ACT 2610 Australia Wellington 6036 New Zealand
Submissions may also be submitted electronically through the FSANZ website located at www.foodstandards.gov.au . Click on the ‘Standards Development’ tab then click on ‘Documents for Public Comment’. Questions relating to making submissions on the Issues Paper can be directed to the Standards Liaison Officer at the above address or by emailing slo@foodstandards.gov.au .
7. Who can I contact for further information?
| Australian Capital Territory | Tasmania |
| Western Australia | New South Wales |
| Queensland | Victoria |
| South Australia | Northern Territory |
| New Zealand |
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
| Deon Mahoney – FSANZ | deon.mahoney@foodstandards.gov.au |
| Russ Neal - Industry (ASIC) | |
| Richard Souness - AFFA (Seafood SDC) | richard.souness@affa.gov.au |
| Caroline Martin – AQIS | Caroline.Martin@aqis.gov.au |
Jenny Barnes - AQIS |
Tasmania
Colin Dyke - Industry (Seafood SDC) | coldyke@bigpond.com |
Craig Midgley – Dept Primary Industries, | craig.midgley@dpiwe.tas.gov.au |
| Phillip Walsh - Industry (Seafood SDC) | phillip.walsh@aquatas.com |
| Ralph Mitchell – Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council | rmitchell@tfic.com.au |
| Eric Johnson – Dept Health & Human Services | eric.johnson@dhhs.tas.gov.au |
Rod Gobbey – Dept Primary Industries, |
Western Australia
| Don Nicholls - Dept. Fisheries (Seafood SDC) | dnicholls@fish.wa.gov.au |
| Richard Stevens - Industry (Seafood SDC) | R&D@wafic.org.au |
Kim Leighton – Dept. Health | |
New South Wales
| Bryan Skepper – Industry (Seafood SDC) | bryans@sydneyfishmarket.com.au |
| Chris Chan - SafeFood NSW | chris.chan@safefood.nsw.gov.au |
Bill Porter – Dept. Health, Food Branch | |
Queensland
| Martin Perkins – Industry (Seafood SDC) | |
| Ted Loveday - Seafood Services Aust. Ltd (Seafood SDC) | tedloveday@seafoodservices.com.au |
| Kerry Bell - Health Dept. (Seafood SDC) | Kerry_Bell@health.qld.gov.au |
| Peter Merrell - SafeFood QLD | pmerrell@safefood.qld.gov.au |
| Neil Smith – Dept. Primary Industries | Neil.Smith@dpi.qld.gov.au |
Phil Pond - SafeFood QLD |
Victoria
Margaret Darton – Dept of Primary Industries | |
| Garry Smith - Food Safety Victoria | gary.smith@dhs.vic.gov.au |
| Kaye Coates – Dept of Primary Industries | kaye.coates@nre.vic.gov.au |
| Mark Gooley - Industry (Seafood SDC) | mark.ho@austrimi.com.au |
Joy Gregory – Dept. Human Services |
South Australia
Geoff Raven – Primary Industry & Resources | |
| Paul Dowsett - Primary Industry & Resources | dowsett.paul@saugov.sa.gov.au |
Garry Clarke - Environmental Health, |
Northern Territory
John McCartie - NT Seafood Council | |
Tracy Ward – Dept of Health & |
New Zealand
Derek Buckland – New Zealand Food Safety |
January 2003