Food Safety

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Ensuring food produced in Tasmania's primary production and processing sectors is safe to eat is an important step in ensuring the wellbeing of consumers. It is also important to the protection of Tasmania's reputation as a producer of safe and clean food to allow ongoing market access and premium prices for Tasmanian products.

Specific legislative controls exist for the following commodities:​​

In this topic

  • Dairy
    The Tasmanian Dairy Industry Authority (TDIA) is responsible for the food safety licensing, inspection and auditing of dairy processors and dairy farms.
  • Eggs
    The commercial production of eggs for human consumption is regulated under the Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2014 or the Egg Food Safety Scheme (Egg Scheme).
  • Meat and Poultry
    The commercial production of meat and poultry meat is regulated under the Meat and Poultry Food Safety Scheme, which is established by the Primary Produce Safety (Meat and Poultry) Regulations 2024.
  • Seafood
    The national Primary Production and Processing Standard for Seafood applies in Tasmania through the Seafood Food Safety Scheme established by the Primary Produce Safety (Seafood) Regulations 2023. Businesses producing regulated seafood, which includes abalone, bivalve molluscs and smoked and preserved seafood, are required to be accredited and implement a food safety program that is subject to audit.
  • Seed Sprouts
    Nationally consistent Horticulture Produce food safety requirements are currently under consideration in Tasmania. The development of new regulations is underway for leafy vegetables, berries and melons. Food safety standards, arrangements and legislation for seed sprouts in Tasmania remains unchanged.
  • Approved Food Safety Auditors
    Register of Approved Regulatory Food Safety Auditors under the Primary Produce Safety Act 2011.
  • Policy Development (Food safety)
    The Primary Produce Safety Act was passed by Parliament in September 2011.
  • Accreditation Fees and Charges
    NRE Tas has set the following standard schedule of annual accreditation fees to be applied across all food safety schemes.

​Pet Food

The Tasmanian Primary Produce Safety (Pet Food) Regulations 2024 apply to the production of pet food. As the production of petfood can involve raw and processed products, it is recommended that applicants seeking accreditation to contact the Product Integrity Branch, to determine applicable requirements

​More information​

​The regulation of food safety during the manufacture, preparation, retail and service sectors are the responsibility of the Depa​rtment of Health​ and local government. 

For food safety enquiries related to food recalls, major food safety concerns, or if you unsure who to call, please contact the Tasmanian Department of Health’s Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or email public.health@dhhs.tas.gov.au​.​

Contact

Product Integrity Branch, Primary Produce Safety Program

Phone: 03 6165 3777