BUSINESS FSANZ

The commencement date of 12 February 2025 is fast approaching for the Primary Producer and Processing (PPP) Standards for, leafy vegetables, melons, and berries.

Words Joel Dinsdale, Quality Assurance Coordinator, vegetablesWA

SO, what is the latest need to know information and what has happened to date?

August 2022

• Proposal P1052 —PPP Requirements for Horticulture (Berries, Leafy Vegetables and Melons) new primary production and processing standards were introduced for berries, leafy vegetables and melons.

Three new standards have been included in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code:

– Standard 4.2.7:

Primary Production and Processing Standard for Berries

– Standard 4.2.8:

Primary Production and Processing Standard for Leafy Vegetables

– Standard 4.2.9: 

Primary Production and Processing Standard for Melons

The standards aim to strengthen food safety management on-farm and during initial processing to reduce food safety risks along the supply chain from farm to fork.

The new requirements will take effect from 12 February 2025. Guidance material to support implementation will be developed in collaboration with industry and governments.

Source:www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-standardscode/proposals/P1052

February 2024

• Freshcare Berry, Leafy Greens and Melon Producers Recognised in Western Australia for Certification Achievement Growers, Packers and Supply Chain handlers of berries, leafy greens and melons who are certified to Freshcare’s Food Safety & Quality Program (on-farm or supply chain) will be recognised as meeting the requirements of the new Primary

Production and Processing (PPP) standard in WA.

Source:www.freshcare.com.au/freshcare-berry-leafy-greens-melon-producers-recognised-for-certification-achievement

• vegetablesWA delivered a grower update session for Vietnamese melon growers in Carnarvon.

• Melons Australia delivered regional workshops into WA in Carnarvon and Waroona to brief WA melon growers.

March 2024

• WA Health in partnership with WA Berries delivered an information workshop to WA Berry producers in relation to the new standards.

• vegetablesWA in partnership with WA Health delivered the first training workshop in Perth for environmental health officers (EHOs) who will be tasked with enforcing the new legislation on behalf of WA Health under WA’s Food Act 2008.

Environmental Health Officers looking at chemical application equipment during a training event in June 2024.

Practical site inspection in Harvey. Henry Tan (Department of Health), Dr Elizabeth Frankish (Food Minds Pty Ltd) and Manus Stockdale (vegetablesWA).

PPPS Waroona field training — processing facility.

• WA Health in partnership with vegetablesWA delivered two regional workshops in Manjimup and Australind in horticulture food safety training for environmental health officers (EHOs) who will be tasked with enforcing the new legislation on behalf of WA Health under WA’s Food Act 2008.

• Market West, WA Heath and vegetablesWA delivered a workshop brief to merchants and agents at Market City Canning Vale on the new standards.

• vegetablesWA in partnership with WA Health delivered regional workshops in Gingin and Manjimup to provide regional updates for industry with a focus on leafy vegetable producers.
  
  

• Representing vegetables WA, Dr Elizabeth Frankish delivered her findings, learnings and observations on a workshop panel in relation to the legislation roll-out activities undertaken in WA at the International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium in Sydney.
  
  

• WA Health and vegetablesWA have partnered to plan and prepare roll-out activities to support grower information uptake in relation to the new standards. Industry and government have been collaborating to develop the forms and information pathways to address the registration processes for those affected by the legislation changes.
  
  

vegetablesWA will be looking to conduct some grower support activities to help those that have chosen to comply via the regulatory pathway. Resources are currently being developed with the view for roll-out to industry in December 2024.