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 Tasmania 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 (Meat and Poultry Scheme), which is established by the Primary Produce Safety (Meat and Poultry) Regulations 2014.
  • Seafood
    Tasmanian seafood is required to comply with the national Primary Production and Processing Standard for Seafood.
  • Seed Sprouts
    Information about food safety standards, arrangements and legislation for seed sprouts in Tasmania.
  • 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 Tasmania has set the following standard schedule of annual accreditation fees to be applied across all food safety schemes.

More information​

​In light of the horse meat substitution issue affecting parts of the European Union, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has confirmed that meat substitution is unlikely to occur in Australia. 

General obligations exist for all food producers under the Food Act 2003.

The Tasmanian Government is presently developing a new legislative and administrative model for primary industry food safety in Tasmania. Whilst Tasmania's present regulatory model has served it well, change is necessary to ensure continuing best practice. For more information see Policy Development.

The regulation of food safety during the manufacture, preparation and retail sale of food is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services and local government. These regulators are primarily responsible for the administration of the Food Act 2003, which places general obligation on all food producers, manufacturers and retailers.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed between Tasmanian food safety regulators to ensure that together they protect consumers in the most effective and efficient way possible.

Contact

Food Safety Program

Phone: 03 6165 3777