1 September 2003
NATIONAL STANDARD FOR SEAFOOD SAFETY TAKES SHAPE
New food safety regulations being developed for the seafood industry by Food Standards Australia New Zealand will help to maintain Australia’s reputation as a producer of high-quality, safe seafood.
Food-borne illnesses are generally on the rise around the world. The revised seafood safety laws, designed to address critical points in the production and processing of the food, will provide consumers with added measures of safety against these illnesses.
FSANZ’s General Manager Food Safety, Greg Roche, said a new national seafood standard would draw on the best of existing State by State approaches and industry initiatives aimed at producing national uniformity for the sector.
‘We are working with the seafood industry and the jurisdictions to design regulations which will achieve our safety goals while not imposing an undue compliance burden on the industry,’ Mr Roche said.
‘The new seafood standard will be based on international risk management principles which will enable Australia to provide levels of seafood safety equal to the best in the world.
‘The standard will be mandatory in all states and territories and will apply to the harvesting, processing, handling and storage of seafood, including aquaculture production. It will also apply to imported seafood.’
Mr Roche said FSANZ had established a Standards Development Committee to assist it in its work, with representatives from consumer groups, peak seafood industry associations and from Commonwealth and state agencies that have an interest in the new regulations.
He believed that the involvement of industry and the jurisdictions in the planning stages of the seafood standard would result in a smooth transition to the new standard, which is likely to pass into law in mid-2004 and become effective a year later.
‘The next milestone in the process will be the release of a Draft Assessment in December, including a draft standard, and a second opportunity for interested parties to comment on the proposed regulations,’ Mr Roche said.
‘The new national seafood standard will be an important step in enhancing Australia’s growing reputation as a source of seafood that is safe and healthy.’
He reflected that progress to date had been greatly assisted by the willingness of the Seafood Standards Development Committee to provide advice and guidance.
‘The expertise around the table has been instrumental in scoping future directions in this field,’ Mr Roche said.
Media contact: Arrangements for interviewing Mr Roche can be made through Dr Michael Dack on 02 6271 2239 or 0401 144 440 (mobile).