Food Safety & Security

Food Safety

Food safety means the extent to which a food is safe to eat to ensure the prevention of food borne illness. Maintenance of food safety is critical so that the community has the confidence to consume food. This is achieved by mitigating risks of biological and chemical contamination along the food supply chain. Access to food that is safe to eat is a fundamental expectation of the community and government has a key role.

Since producers, processors and consumers of food can not see if a food is safe to eat, systems to maintain hygiene are implemented. These systems address key points of risk or hazard.

For foods with a low risk these systems may be voluntary. However, for foods that can easily become contaminated, such as dairy and meat products, government legislates to ensure hazards are minimised. Food safety has an inherent market failure for government since the costs of food borne illness are predominantly met by the health sector and not the agri-food sector.

Food safety is a component of food security

Food Regulation

Biosecurity Victoria oversees food safety requirements in accordance with legislation such as the Dairy Act, 2000, Meat Industry Act, 1993 and Seafood Safety Act, 2003.

Dairy Food Safety Victoria (DFSV) is the Statutory Authority that implements food safety requirements for dairy farmers, transporters and processors.

PrimeSafe is the Statutory Authority that implements food safety requirements for meat processors, wholesalers, transporters and butchers, commercial fishermen and seafood manufacturers and businesses, along with the pet meat industry.

The Department of Human Services oversees food safety requirements in accordance with the Food Act, 1984 that is implemented by Local Government.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (external link) - FSANZ is a bi-national Government agency who's main responsibility is to develop and administer the "Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code", which lists requirements for foods such as additives, food safety, labelling and GM foods.

Lamb Description and Identification Requirements – Options Paper. Lamb branding requirements within the Victorian Meat Industry Regulations (2005) will sunset on 16 June 2010. This means that after that date, new arrangements need to be in place to assist industry with ensuring both the integrity and marketing of Victorian lamb. More information, including how to participate in the process to develop appropriate arrangements, can be found in the Options Paper.

Food Safety Information

Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (external link) - A national science based association representing all sectors of the agri-food industry.

Australian Meat Food Safety (Safemeat) (external link) - Safemeat is a partner between the Australian Meat and Livestock Industry and State and Federal Governments.

Egg Food Safety - advice for Consumers, Producers, Food Service Industry & Retailers - These sites look at food safety tips related to storing and cooking eggs.

Food Law and Policy Australia (external link) - provides links to sites focused on food safety, food standards, food laws, commerce and distribution.

Food Safety Centre (FSC) (external link) - The FSC site has links to sites with related information on Food Safety for the Australian food industry.

Food Safety Victoria (external link) - The Food Safety Unit is a section of the Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Division within the Department of Human Services. It is responsible for food regulation in Victoria through administration of the Food Act (1984) and, as a consequence, the Food Standards Code.

OzFoodNet (external link) - An Australian based program for the surveillance of foodborne disease.

Food Security

At its broadest, food security is the ability of a country to produce sufficient food to meet the nutritional needs of its population. As Australia’s rate of food self sufficiency is over 150%, we have sufficient food required to feed all Australians. Therefore, a lack of food for our population is a relatively low risk, even given climate change scenarios.

Calculations of national food self sufficiency do not account for potential restrictions to food supply from changes to economic or environmental conditions and this is an area where governments have an active role. While Australia produces sufficient food, it operates in international markets and trade in food products is a key component of our economy and lifestyle. The realities of economics and markets mean that unfortunately, some people are not able to afford to buy food. This creates a food security issue from a welfare perspective.

Current activity of Australian governments also addresses security risks to our food supply associated with malicious attack or other emergencies. In Victoria, DPI has a major role in managing the Food Supply Security and Continuity Network that involves collaboration between the food industry and government to ensure appropriate mitigation of risks and ensure rapid recovery of food supply from catastrophic events and emergencies.

Biosecurity Victoria is responsible for implementing the Victorian Framework for Critical Infrastructure Protection, including the administration of Part 6 of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act, 2003 for the food sector

The government implementation of this framework has recently been audited by the Victorian Auditor General.

Biosecurity Victoria also works to assist the development and implementation of the National Food Supply Security and Pandemic Preparedness Strategies
- Current Influenza update - Swine Flu.

Pantry List (external link) - This site looks as providing details on how the food industry works to ensure continued supply of critical food and what can be done to prepare for a severe emergency or incident.

Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner (OESC) (external link) - This site looks at the safety of all Victorians by providing independent leadership for the emergency management sector and encouraging partnerships across a wide range of organisations and communities.

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