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The Inter-Governmental Agreement on Food, signed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) forms the basis of a more streamlined, efficient and nationally focused food regulation system. The structure and detail of the Food Regulation Model developed to implement the agreement can be found on the Food Regulation Secretariat website. The inter-governmental agreement requires that a consultative mechanism be established to provide stakeholder views to the Standing Committee and the Ministerial Council on the development of policy guidelines for food standards development. On 9 August 2001 the South Australian Parliament passed the Food Act 2001. The Food Act 2001 and Food Regulations 2002 came into operation on 1 December 2002. The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code is adopted under these Regulations. Administration of the South Australian Food Act 2001 and Regulations is shared between the Department of Health and local council authorities (defined in the Regulations as Enforcement Agencies). The
Department of Health - Food Policy & Programs Branch
The Department's Food Policy & Programs Branch undertakes surveillance to monitor compliance with food labelling and food composition standards of the Food Standards Code adopted under the Regulations. The Food Section also works with local government officers in the investigation of food poisoning incidents. Where concerns about unsafe food involve serious food poisoning incidents or overlap council boundaries, the Food Section will generally play a major role in the investigation. Should a concern over the safety of a food be serious enough to warrant the recall of a food, the Food Section will work with the manufacturer to ensure the recall is effectively conducted and will coordinate the recall with other state authorities to prevent the food being distributed and sold. Local
Government Councils
Environmental health officers with local Councils routinely inspect food business for compliance with Food Safety Standards. If you have concerns about the following issues, the Environmental Health officer at your local council can provide advice:
The Local Government Association website will help you to locate the Council for a particular town or suburb. Primary
Industries SA (PIRSA)
Consistent with a general requirement that all food sold must be safe certain provisions of the Food Act 2001 do not apply to primary production. The Department's Newsletter for November 2002 (PDF 149k) provides information on the application of the Food Act to Primary industry businesses. On 1 July 2002, Food Standards Australia New Zealand assumed responsibility for the development of Primary Production and Processing Standards for Australia. These standards will be outcome based and focus on food safety. Food safety standards could be developed for primary production and processing sectors that include seafood, meat, dairy, grains, horticulture, honey, poultry and eggs. These standards when prepared will form Chapter 4 of the Food Standards Code and will be enforceable consistently across Australia. In South Australia PIRSA is responsible for the administration of primary industries legalisation. A PIRSA food safety website has been developed to give information on the development and management of safety in primary food production. (FoodSafetySA). The Dairy Authority of SA and Meat Hygiene unit are two PIRSA agencies with responsibilities for Meat and Dairy product safety. Dairy Authority of SA The Dairy Authority licences milk vendor, dairy food processors and dairy farmers (including goat and sheep dairy farmers). Food safety enquiries or information on codes of practice can be obtained by contacting the Authority on 8223-2277. Meat Hygiene Program The aim of the PIRSA meat hygiene program is to administer the Meat Hygiene Act 1994 which exists to ensure that all meat and meat products processed in South Australia for domestic and restricted export consumption are wholesome. All
sectors of the meat processing industry (excluding purely retail
operations) are affected by the Meat Hygiene Act 1994. Enquiries about
food businesses administered under the Meat Hygiene Act can be made on
8207-7964.
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