This is great news for the consumer, says Tony Zohrab, MAF's Director of the Animal Products Group. A risk management approach applied across primary processing is the driving force for the need for change. Removing the prescriptive nature of the law will give industry huge opportunities to be innovative, flexible and produce a broader range of consumer goods. It will also align our processors internationally with what is being done overseas. MAF has been working with industry over the past 12 months to put in place many of the tools needed for industry to develop risk management programmes.
Many businesses already have a lot of the parts required for risk management programmes.
This includes systems such as identification and control of risks, sanitation, personnel hygiene and record keeping. Existing animal product businesses have until October 2002 to have risk management programmes in place. New businesses planning to start after 20 November 2000 need to have a risk management programme in place before they can start trading. In the lead up to 20 November 2000, MAF will continue to provide information to relevant industries. Current licensees can expect some information directly.