Tasmanian Bills Fact Sheets

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PRIMARY PRODUCE SAFETY BILL 46 OF 2011

                PRIMARY PRODUCE SAFETY BILL 2011
                                         FACT SHEET



·   The Bill will complement the Food Act 2003 to achieve a consistent regulatory framework
    for food safety covering the whole food chain. It replaces the Egg Industry Act 2002 and
    Meat Hygiene Act 1985.

·   Section 3 of the Bill states that its statutory objectives are ­
    a. to provide for the application in Tasmania of the (national) Food Standards Code as it
       relates to primary production activities; and
    b. to develop food safety schemes for primary industries that reduce risks to consumers
       associated with unsafe or unsuitable produce; and
    c. to promote consumer confidence in the safety and integrity of Tasmanian primary
       produce; and
    d. to facilitate the trade of Tasmanian primary produce by ensuring it meets national
       and international food safety standards.

·   The Bill will establish the overarching legal framework for primary produce safety.
    However it will be regulations made subsequently under the Act that determines which
    industry sectors will be subject to direct regulation (initially only the egg, meat and
    seafood sectors). In particular, the regulations will specify which primary producers
    will need accreditation under the new Act.
·   The Bill will establish an accreditation and certification system for primary producers. An
    accreditation system is crucial for primary industry. Apart from its value as a flexible
    enforcement mechanism, accreditation enables producers to demonstrate compliance
    with statutory Primary Production and Processing (PPP) Standards in order to gain
    access to domestic and international markets.

·   The Bill will establish the position of Chief Inspector of Primary Produce Safety to
    centrally administer the Act's producer accreditation, auditing and certification system.


·   The Bill will create offences which better reflect its focus on the primary production and
    supply end of the food chain, and which complement the retail focused offences in the
    Food Act.


·   The Bill will allow for the creation of industry specific regulations to bring new national
    PPP Standards into force.


·   The Bill will allow the Tasmanian Dairy Industry Authority (TDIA) to regulate dairy food
    safety under the new legislation should it decide to do so in the future.

·   The Economic Reform Unit in the Department of Treasury and Finance has certified that
    the proposed Bill will not restrict competition or have a significant negative impact on
    business.
 
 

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