​​​​​​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.

The Meat and Poultry Scheme is a food safety scheme made under the Primary Produce Safety Act 2011 and it replaces the Meat Hygiene Act 1985.

The Meat and Poultry Scheme commenced operation on 01 February 2015.

Primary Produce Safety (Meat and Poultry) Regulations 2014

Along with a range of Australian Standards that previously applied under the Meat Hygiene Act 1985, Tasmanian meat and poultry producers are now required to comply with the applicable Primary Production and Processing (PPP) standards in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  (Food Standards Code).

Each Australian State and Territory is responsible for applying the national standards through its legislation. Tasmania achieves this through  Primary Produce Safety (Meat and Poultry) Regulations 2014 which establish the Meat and Poultry Food Safety Scheme (Meat and Poultry Scheme).

The Regulations are made under the Primary Produce Safety Act 2011 and replace the Meat Hygiene Act 1985.

Scheme requirements

The Meat and Poultry Scheme requires Tasmanian meat or poultry producers to be accredited by Biosecurity Tasmania, and to operate in accordance with an approved and audited food safety program. The following types of business are subject to these requirements:

• Commercial live poultry producers (farmers and transporters)
• Meat, poultry meat and game meat processors (e.g. abattoirs, mutton bird and game processors)
• Ready-to-eat meat (smallgoods) manufacturers

Application for accreditation

  Application for accreditation as a Primary Producer   (68Kb)

Accreditation Fees and Charges

Current Accreditation Fees and Charges​​.

National Standards

The following Standards are implemented by the Meat and Poultry Scheme:   

1. PPP Standards published in the Food Standards Code by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)

• Standard 4.2.2 Primary Production and Processing Standards for Poultry Meat
• Standard 4.2.3 Primary Production and Processing Standard for Meat.

2.  Australian Standards available from CSIRO Publishing at www.publish.csiro.au or 1800 645 051.

• Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption (AS 4696:2007)
• Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Wild Game Meat for Human Consumption (AS 4464:2007)
• Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Rabbit Meat for Human Consumption (AS 4466:1997)
• Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Ratite (Emu/Ostrich) Meat for Human Consumption (AS5010:2001)
• Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Natural Casings for Human Consumption (AS 5011:2001)
  
  

Useful links

The following industry produced guideline documents may assist you to meet your regulatory and food safety requirements.

  Guidelines for the Safe Manufacture of Smallgoods 2nd Edition   (2Mb)

  Listeria Monocytogenes in Smallgoods Risks and Controls   (348Kb)

Transition and commencement

The Meat and Poultry Scheme was finalised by the Government on 22 December 2014 and commenced operation in law on 01 February 2015.

All producers who were licensed under the Meat Hygiene Act 1985 were automatically deemed to hold an accreditation under the new Scheme from this date.

Further Information

See also: 
Primary Produce Safety Act 2011
Policy Development (Food Safety)