LEVELLING the playing field for imported and domestic food safety is essential, according to independent Senator Nick Xenophon.
Senator Xenophon last week backed the auditor-general’s findings that Australia’s imported food safety regime was seriously flawed and has called for root-and-branch reform of the system, foreshadowing legislative changes.
The auditor-general’s report on the administration of the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) found that it was applied inconsistently across the country and lacked performance benchmarks.
“It’s clear from the auditor-general’s report that there’s a double standard. Australian food manufacturers have to comply with the highest standards of health and safety in their food production, yet the same high standards are not applied to imported foods,” Senator Xenophon said.
“If a local food manufacturer produces unsafe food they can be shut down overnight – as they should be. If an importer brings in unsafe food they can simply set up another business and merrily carry on without the same consequences.”
Senator Xenophon will release an exposure draft next month of legislative changes to the IFIS, which will include proposals to require full traceability of imported food; a registration system for food importers similar to the European approach, and warranties from importers guaranteeing the safety of food, with heavy penalties for any breaches.
“The auditor-general’s report has confirmed that the government’s imported food safety system is seriously flawed – something Australia’s primary producers have been saying for years,” Senator Xenophon said.
The auditor-general’s report cited two health scares this year involving imported frozen berries and imported fish. The contaminated berries were blamed for an outbreak of hepatitis A that infected more than 20 people and the imported fish caused scombroid poisoning.
The outbreaks “highlighted the need to appropriately assess and target food safety risks while facilitating the efficient entry of safe and compliant products into Australia”, the report says.
Senator Xenophon said the current lax imported food safety regime was costing many thousands of jobs in farming and food manufacturing sectors.
Close the loopholes: Greens
The auditor-general's report confirmed community concerns that processes for checking imported products - like frozen berries - are not working properly and must be re-evaluated.
“The audit of the Imported Food Inspection Scheme has confirmed that the system for checking imported products are ‘incomplete and inconsistent’, this must prompt a shakeup of the sector,” Australian Greens spokesperson on agriculture Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“With the recent Hepatitis A scare it is clear that the Department of Agriculture has its hands tied when it comes to ramping up consignment checks for products that continue to come in once a potential contamination has been identified.
“I welcome the three recommendations by the auditor-general, which would ensure a more systematic approach towards monitoring the operation of risk profiles and the referral of imported food for inspection. Improved management around inspection related activities and developing performance measures are a step in the right direction.
“However, we must go one step further to ensure that products aren’t coming through a bureaucratic loophole.
“It is clear there needs to be an amendment to the Imported Food Control Act. Whilst Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) carries out its risk assessment, the Department must have the capacity to implement an elevated rate of testing.
“This increase level of testing must apply from when a problem is identified until FSANZ delivers its risk assessment. Australian consumers are entitled to a precautionary approach.
“This loophole for contaminated products to enter the country must be closed. I will be closely scrutinising the implementation of these recommendations”.
