Reports & Research
Food Safety
As part of its commitment to providing consumers at supermarkets and restaurants with safe, nutritious products, the fresh fruit and vegetable industry has devoted considerable attention to food safety. We encourage our members to have thorough food safety programs.
Legislation and Standards
Food Acts by State/Region: Australia & New Zealand
Links to current legislation for each Australian State and Territory, and New Zealand can be found here.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority Legislation: Policy and Law
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority is responsible for food regulation in the domestic and export sectors. This site contains links to current New Zealand Food Safety Policy and Law.
Official Food Standards Code – Gazette
The Code published in the Gazette is the official legal documentation for the Food Standards Code that is given legal force via State, Territory, Commonwealth and New Zealand food legislation. You are advised to refer to the Code published in the Gazette for legal purposes.
Primary Production & Processing Standards
In order to improve public health and safety Australian Governments have agreed that food safety should be managed throughout all parts of the food supply chain, from paddock to plate.
Australian Guidance Documents & Initiatives
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Study 2009: Performance Benchmarking of Australian and New Zealand Business Regulation – Food Safety
This study aimed to identify unnecessary compliance costs, enhance regulatory consistency across jurisdictions and reduce regulatory duplication and overlap, in order to benchmark indicators of regulatory burdens associated with food safety regulatory regimes across the COAG jurisdictions (including New Zealand). The results are outlined here.
CSIRO Food Safety Information
Includes Food Safety and Hygiene bulletin, Issues updates and links to useful food safety information.
CSIRO Food Safety Fact Sheets
This site provides a cache of CSIRO fact sheets related to food safety, addressing issues such as refrigerated storage of perishable foods, food safety and the storage life of foods.
CSIRO From farm to fork: safer food and lasting longer (Vodcast)
In this vodcast, the CSIRO visits its Food Processing Centre in Werribee to meet scientists who show us the very latest food processing technologies they work on that can make better - and better tasting - foods than ever before.
DAFF International Food Standards Initiative
The International Food Standards program (IFS) contributes to the maintenance and development of international market access opportunities for the Australian food and beverage industries.
Food Act FAQs 2006
Outlines answers to some of the frequently asked questions associated with the Food Act.
Food Standards Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ): Navigating the Food Standards Code
FSANZ are a bi-national Government agency, whose main responsibility is to develop and administer the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). This is an unofficial consolidated version of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) provided for your convenience only, the focus being to provide you with assistance in navigating the Code.
FSANZ User Guides
The user guides listed on this site have been developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in consultation with Australian and New Zealand government and industry representatives, to help manufacturers, retailers and food officers interpret and apply the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Food Safety Centre Capability Map
The Capability Map is a tool designed to help Australia’s food companies efficiently locate researchers, consultants and trainers to solve problems across the food supply chain.
Food Standards Advice
Food Standards Australia New Zealand have Standards Advisors on hand to offer free advice and assistance in understanding the requirement of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, to food businesses and individuals who manufacture, process, cater or handle food. Their contact form can be found at this site.
Government of South Australia Food Safety Index
Contains useful links to both general and SA-specific Food Safety Resources.
HAL Horticulture Industry Crisis Management Guidelines
These Guidelines have been developed under the auspices of the Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) Across Industry Program Industry Management Committee (IMC) in order to assist members of the horticulture industry to respond to a crisis or uncontained situation. Attached to this document is a self assessment tool that Peak Industry Bodies (PIBs) and individual companies can use to determine their own level of preparedness to manage an uncontained situation. It should be noted that this document operates in parallel to, not in place of, horticulture sector Industry Biosecurity Plans (IBPs).
HealthInsite
A comprehensive Government resource providing practical information ranging from how to prepare, store and reheat certain foods, to an explanation of Australian food labelling standards. There's also information on specific Food Safety topics, such as Food Irradiation and Listeria and Pregnancy.
OzFoodNet
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing established OzFoodNet in 2000 as a collaborative initiative with Australia’s State and Territory health authorities to provide better understanding of the causes and incidence of foodborne disease in the community and to provide an evidence base for policy formulation. This site contains information and links, as well as reports and publications.
Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) (Citrus Industry) Regulations 2006)%20(Citrus%20Industry)%20Regulations%202006.aspx
Outlines Food Safety information for the Citrus industry.
Australian State and Territory Information
ACT Health food safety information
New South Wales (NSW) Food Authority
Northern Territory Government food safety information
Queensland Government food safety information
South Australian Government food safety information
Tasmanian Government food safety information
Victorian Government food safety information
Western Australian Government food safety information
New Zealand Guidance Documents, Initiatives and State Reports
AsureQuality
AsureQuality is a commercial company 100% owned by the New Zealand government. We provide food safety and biosecurity services to the food and primary production sectors.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority protects consumers by providing an effective food regulatory programme covering food produced and consumed in New Zealand as well as imports and exports of food products. This site provides information for both consumers and food industry members on topics such as policy and law, science and food safety alerts, as well as publications and relevant food safety application forms.
NZFSA: Fresh Produce & Food Safety
This site contains information on the health hazards associated with fresh produce, and on safe storage and handling.
NZFSA Official Grade Assurance Standard
This standard describes the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s requirements for the registration of industry quality grade management plans. The standard enables industry bodies, packhouses, or other industry operators to establish quality grade management plans that, if registered with NZFSA, can be the basis for provision of official quality grade assurances for fresh plant produce.
NZFSA Horticulture information source
A resource for food safety in the horticulture sector.
NZFSA Regulation of Food in New Zealand
Contains useful information and links to further resources.
Local Government Online – for Territorial Authority contacts
Local government information resources by region.
Global Industry & Food Safety Guidance Documents and Programs
Codex Alimentarius Commission
Codex Alimentarius is an international food standards code developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). The CAC is an international food standards agency that was established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1963. The CAC develops standards for use by all member nations. Codex standards are designed to protect the health of consumers and promote fair practices in food trade. Information about the Codex and Official Standards can be found here.
Food Safety Net (FS Net) – Canada
Food Safety Network (FSN) is a centre of information and research on food safety issues for Canada. As an independent, non-profit organization, the FSN uses current food safety knowledge to help consumers and health professionals make informed decisions.
Food Standards Agency UK
The FSA is an independent Government department set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the UK public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food. This site contains information on a broad range of topics including nutrition, safety, hygiene, food industries and GM.
