Queensland announces new seafood safety scheme

Queensland minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Tim Mulherin has announced a new food safety scheme to minimise the safety risks associated with seafood.

Mulherin said the new scheme will implement the National Standard for Primary Production and Processing of Seafood.

He said that under the new standard, businesses will have to make sure the production of seafood is safe from the trawler to consumers and have to identify and minimise risks that could compromise the safety of seafood, like simple basic hygiene.

He said the new national seafood standard covers all areas of seafood production and processing but does not extend to retail activities such as fish and chip shops.

The minister also said Safe Food Production Queensland (SFPQ) has responsibility for implementing the new seafood food safety scheme which was developed collaboratively with industry.

He explained that the provisions of the scheme will cover commercial fishing operations, aquaculture, land-based processors and the oyster industry.

He said new monitoring provisions have been incorporated into Queensland law to alleviate compliance costs associated with audits.