Public consultation on the draft Primary Produce Safety (Horticulture Produce) Regulations has now closed
All the submissions received will now be reviewed, and a revised version of the Regulations will be developed in early 2026.
Prior to finalisation of the Regulations, including a tiered model for accreditation and fees, interested stakeholders will be provided a further opportunity to comment.
Berry producers who solely produce berries
Berry producers who solely produce berries only need to comply with the PPP Standard 4.2.7 (Berries) and notify NRE Tas of their compliance with the Standard.
There is no cost associated with this. NRE Tas has a dedicated form for berry producers to fill out and an officer will assist with providing further details.
Transition period for the new regulations
There will be a 12-month transition period after the new regulations start. The transition period will focus on:
- education
- helping producers comply with the changes
- recognising existing industry schemes which enable businesses to demonstrate compliance with the standards.
Tiered accreditation model
A tiered accreditation model will be developed following evaluation of industry submissions received during the consultation period.
Tiered accreditation in primary produce safety means a system where regulatory requirements vary based on the size or risk level of a primary production business.
Instead of applying uniform standards to all producers, a tiered system will allow lower-risk or smaller producers to meet simpler, less costly requirements.
Feedback received during the consultation period will enable the development of an effective tiered system that manages potential primary produce safety risks but accommodates scales of comercial horticulture production operating in Tasmania.
Tiered structure - examples
Example models
Guidance material
The Implementation Working Group for Horticulture (Berries, Leafy Vegetables and Melons) has developed documents to help Australian producers to comply with the new PPP standards:
Guideline Notification Template for Berries (PDF 519Kb)
Guideline Food Safety Management Statement for Leafy Vegetables (PDF 910Kb)
Guideline Food Safety Management Statement for Melons (PDF 919Kb)
Additional guides