Public consultation is now open for the development of the Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations.
Submissions must be received by 5:00 PM (AEST) on Friday 19 December 2025.
These are proposed regulations only (including the fee structure) and remain open to change based on stakeholder input.
Draft Regulations
Consultation Draft Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations 2025 (PDF 736Kb)
Explanatory Paper
Explanatory Paper draft Horticulture Produce Regulations (PDF 233Kb)
Background
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) have developed national Primary Production and Processing Standards for Berries, Leafy Vegetables and Melons which came into effect on 12 February 2025.
This was the outcome of assessments by FSANZ which included an analysis of the current regulatory and non-regulatory environment in Australia and overseas, a microbiological assessment, cost-benefit analysis, two public calls for submissions and a survey of primary producers and processors.
Implementation of these standards in Tasmania supports nationally consistent food safety practices that are detailed in the Chapter 4, Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
To implement these standards in Tasmania, new regulations are required.
The draft regulations propose:
the adoption of the FSANZ Primary Production and Processing (PPP) Standards in Tasmania
establishment of new food safety schemes for berries, leafy greens, and melons – similar to the ones already in place for meat, poultry, seed sprouts, eggs, pet food, and seafood.
compliance requirements including a notification/accreditation scheme and audited food safety program
suggested fees and penalties
Without regulations providing for compliance with the Standards, Tasmanian growers risk losing market access compared to their mainland counterparts.
Feedback from industry and interested stakeholders has indicated that there is strong interest in tiered accreditation and fee models. More information has been sought in relation to what such options might look like. Read more about this on the additional information page.
Have your say
Submissions received through this consultation process will be reviewed to help inform the final regulations.
Horticulture Produce Regulations Submission:
Berry Produce Regulations Submission:
For more information, please contact:
Email: product.integrity@nre.tas.gov.au
Mail: Product Integrity Branch, NRE Tas, PO Box 46, Kings Meadows TAS 7249
About your submission
Privacy and copyright information
Other than indicated below, submissions will be treated as public information and will be published on our website.
No personal information other than an individual's name or the organisation making a submission will be published.
Important information to note
Your name (or the name of the organisation) will be published unless you request otherwise.
In the absence of a clear indication that a submission is intended to be treated as confidential (or parts of the submission), the submission will be treated as public.
If you would like your submission treated as confidential, whether in whole or in part, please indicate this in writing at the time of making your submission that you want to remain confidential and the reasons why. In this case, your submission will not be published, to the extent of your request.
Copyright in submissions remains with the auhtor(s), not with the Tasmanian Government.
Submissions containing defamatory or offensive material, in whole or in part, will not be published.
If your submission includes information that could enable the identification of other individuals then either all or parts of the submission will not be published.
The Right to Information Act 2009 and confidentiality
Information provided to the Government may be provided to an applicant under the provisions of the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI).
If you have indicated that you wish all or part of your submission to be treated as confidential, your statement detailing the reasons may be taken into account in determining whether or not to release the information in the event of an RTI application for assessed disclosure. You may also be contacted to provide any further comment.