BUSINESS new standards

By the time you are reading this article, the new FSANZ Primary Production & Processing Standards (for Leafy Vegetables, Melons and Berries) are in effect.

Words Joel Dinsdale, Quality Assurance Coordinator, vegetablesWA

AS of 12 February 2025, producers and processors of Leafy Vegetables, Melons and/or Berries, will be considered a “Food business” under Western Australia’s Food Act 2008 and will need to comply with the legislation.

If you produce and/or process leafy vegetables, melons and/or berries in WA, you will need to contact your local government (LG) to obtain the relevant registration/ notification forms.

They will be able to assist you with the information you need to provide and to guide you in the implementation of the new standards.

Leafy vegetable and melon

For leafy vegetable and melon producers/processors, there are two pathways to comply with the food safety requirements in the new standards:

1. Compliance via a Global Food Safety Initiative Program (e.g. Freshcare, SQF or GlobalG.A.P.), or

2. Implement and document a food safety management program that is approved by your LG Environmental Health Officer (EHO).

For producers/processors that choose the second compliance pathway, vegetablesWA in conjunction with the Department of Health have developed comprehensive guides, checklists, and support videos that can assist you to comply with the new standards. To access these resources, visit vegetablesWA website: https:// vegetableswa.com.au/

Berries

If you are a berry grower/processor, contact Berries Australia for further information: https://berries.net.au/ home/about/berries-australia/meetthe-team/wa/

There are also several external resources that you can access (for free) to assist you to improve food safety within your business (which will assist you to meet the assessment criteria used by LG EHOs):

• Safe Horticulture Australia: www.foodstandards. gov.au/publications/safehorticultureaustralia

• Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety (2022): https://fpsc-anz. com/food-safety-guidelines-2022/

More information on the new standards here: www.health.wa.gov.au/articles/n_r/
primary-production-and-processingstandards-
for-leafy-vegetablesmelons-
and-berries

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