VICTORIA’S Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford has called for a review of concerns raised about the actions of the state’s food safety regular, PrimeSafe.
The review follows complaints from the state’s small meat processors and boutique butchers, who have accused PrimeSafe of bullying small businesses and defying government calls to cut red tape.
They said PrimeSafe inspectors enforced regulations in a draconian manner, the opposite of government advice to make things easier.
But Ms Pulford said the government took food safety regulation very seriously’.
“Our $11 billion food and fibre industry is underpinned by food safety regulation and we are committed to promoting and protecting this vital industry,” she said.
“I am aware of the concerns of some producers regarding PrimeSafe and want to assure them that I take these very seriously.
“That's why I have requested the new PrimeSafe board undertake a comprehensive review of the issues raised and report back to me by the end of August.”
The concerns follow on from a parliamentary committee, which reported on an inquiry held into the impact of food safety regulation, just over two years ago.
The former government responded, in September of that year, with Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh pledging to ensure PrimeSafe “reduced the regulatory burden, on business, wherever possible.”
"We are also keen for them to simplify compliance by improving recognition of private sector standards and investigating opportunities to reduce the frequency of audits."
Headed by former National Party MP for Rodney, Paul Weller, the committee heard from more than 100 witnesses, received 56 submissions and carried out 10 site visits.
Mr Weller thanked business owners who had welcomed committee members onto their premises, “to learn, first hand, about the way in which they contribute to Victoria’s vibrant food economy.”
Producers believed red tape would be lifted and it would be easier for “little boutique businesses doing safe - but interesting – stuff,” as one said.
The frustration and anger among producers at PrimeSafe’s actions has been growing – as have claims there is a very real risk of strangling Victoria’s innovative food sector.
The claims come at a time when Primary Industries Minister Jaala Pulford encouraged members of the food sector to have their say about opportunities and challenges facing it.
“Agriculture sits at the heart of our rural and regional communities – to support these communities, we need to support the sector to grow and prosper,” Ms Pulford said.
“By working in partnership with industry and focusing on the whole value chain - from farm, to manufacturing and developing export markets - we can grow the sector even further.”
One of the producers prepared to speak out - Tammi Jonas, of Daylesford - said there was little point in calling for comment.
“They already know what the problems are for the growing local food economy and yet they're doing nothing about it,” Ms Jonas, of Jonai Farms and Meatsmiths. said.
“Most people are afraid to speak up about PrimeSafe's rogue behaviour, so it just continues.”
And Wangaratta smallgoods manufacturer Felix Gamze said he had been “butting heads” with PrimeSafe, for years.
He also believed things would change, as a result of the inquiry.
“It’s really disappointing, because when I did attend that particular inquiry, I thought this is great, there is something going on here, let’s hope it turns out the way we want,” Mr Gamze said.
“They look as they are going in the opposite direction, they keep moving the goalposts - the documentation is onerous and everything comes back on us.”
Mr Jonas and Mr Gamze were two of only three producers willing to speak on the record to Stock and Land.
But at least a dozen others either refused to comment, or spoke only on the condition of anonymity, for fear of what they claimed would be retribution by PrimeSafe inspectors.
They said they would be placed on intensive audits – regular checks, paid for by the processor, see their meat destroyed or be closed down.
The underlying theme of all those contacted by Stock and Land was heavy handed application of food safety regulations, one going so far as to say the regulator’s “rogue behaviour” was causing serious concerns
Producers spoke of being “monstered” by PrimeSafe and that the regulator was “strangling innovation” or making processors lives hell.
The two key areas of concern were rules around dry aging of beef and how long boxed meat could be held in cryovac, before it became unsafe.
Processors also raised what they said where examples of breaches uncovered by PrimeSafe and dealt with harshly, but which could have been dealt with by a common sense approach.
These included:
• A small water spill on a shop floor, estimated to be about the volume of one cup of liquid.
• A patch of rust on the back of a first aid box.
• A piece of fat which had not been washed out of a waste bin
• Two small holes in the ceiling of a box chiller.
Vic Wide Meat Brokers Colin Pretty said he was now 61 and had been in the industry since he was 16.
“I’ve had a couple of dealings with PrimeSafe and you wonder why you want to be in the meat game.
“I’m in my 60’s now and I don’t need to be spoken to like a school kid.”
Mr Pretty said processors should be given a chance to fix problems first.
“We should be able to talk to them more, you can’t ring PrimeSafe and ask them a question, you won’t get a specific answer,” he said.
Mr Gamze said the essential problem was each state interpreted national food safety guidelines differently.
“What people can do in New South Wales, for example, is far more lenient.”