Changes to the Victorian Food Act

11/06/2009 - 4:16 pm by: Daniel Andrews

Businesses convicted of offences under Victoria’s Food Act will be named on an online public register as part of a raft of reforms to strengthen Victoria’s food regulatory system.  Health Minister Daniel Andrews introduced the Food Amendment (Regulation Reform) Bill 2009 into the Victorian Parliament today.

The changes will ensure the highest food safety standard will remain in place while strengthening the accountability of regulators, reducing the regulatory burden on business and community groups and enabling better use of council resources.

“The Brumby Labor Government is committed to protecting public health and promoting confidence in Victoria’s food industries,” Mr Andrews said.

The amendments provide further support to Victoria’s food industry, which employs about 370,000 people in Victoria and generates $6.8 billion in exports per year.
 
Mr Andrews said the changes were a part of the government’s response to the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission’s inquiry into food regulation.

The amendments will also mean:
•    Community groups holding low-risk activities such as sausage sizzles and cake stalls will only have to notify their local council of their activities, rather than completing onerous paperwork;
•    Local councils will have the power to issue on-the-spot fines to food outlets which breach standards, and will be able to charge for additional compliance checks on non-compliant businesses;
•    A single registration scheme will be created to enable mobile food operators such as food vans to register their business once, rather than in each municipality within which they operate; and
•    Greater consistency and clarification around the respective roles of local and state government.

Mr Andrews thanked councils, businesses, industry peak bodies, the Municipal Association of Victoria and other stakeholders for their contribution to the development of the reforms.

The majority of the changes will take effect from 1 July 2010.

Further details can be found at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety.

Minister's press release

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-health/playing-it-safe-with-changes-to-food-act.html

 

 

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