seafood.net.au
Ph: 1300 130 321 Fax: 1300 130 743
ssa@seafoodservices.com.au
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seafood.net.au
Ph: 1300 130 321 Fax: 1300 130 743
ssa@seafoodservices.com.au
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The Australian Seafood StandardThe Australian Seafood Standard Simplifying audit and certification Who should comply with the Standard
The Australian Seafood Standard The Australian Seafood Standard (the Standard) reflects the seafood industry's commitment to providing seafood for human consumption that is produced in accordance with internationally recognised standards and meets the requirements of domestic and international customers and food safety authorities. The seafood industry contributes significantly to Australia’s national and regional economies, employing more than 100,000 people in the wild catch production, aquaculture, seafood processing and wholesaling, marketing and retail sectors, and in support industries. Australia has a proud reputation as a producer of high quality seafood that attracts premium prices in domestic and export markets. In the 2000-2001 financial year Australia exported twenty-eight percent (28%) of its domestically produced seafood earning $2.17 billion in export revenue. During the 2000-2001 financial year, Australia
Figure 1 Value and volume of seafood produced domestically, exported and imported
Australia imports more than twice the volume of seafood that it exports, however in value terms, the ratio is reversed with exports worth twice the value of imports. Public and consumer confidence in seafood is supremely important. Loss of consumer confidence — even if only based on perceptions — would be devastating for the industry, more than 100,000 people that it supports, and Australia’s regional and national economies. Consumer confidence that seafood is ‘safe’, ‘clean’ and ‘green’, is vital to the well-being of seafood industry, the tens of thousands of jobs it supports, and regional coastal communities around Australia. The Standard will enhance consumer confidence in seafood for human consumption that is produced or traded commercially in Australia, while also providing the flexibility for seafood businesses to implement cost efficient, relevant and innovative management systems to achieve the required seafood safety and suitability outcomes. The Australian Seafood Industry Council (ASIC), Seafood Directions 99 and Seafood Directions 2001 identified the need for a single standard for the safety and suitability of seafood produced or traded commercially in Australia as a high priority. The Standard has been developed by Seafood Services Australia in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The Standard defines outcomes that are consistent with the principles and objectives of:
Table 1: Australian Seafood Standard - Harmonisation
Simplifying audit and certification Agreement on national standards for seafood safety and suitability paves the way for the establishment of a nationally compatible auditing and certification framework that enables seafood businesses to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements in all relevant jurisdictions, through a single audit. SSA is working with the Joint Accreditation System Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ), and participating in the intergovernmental process for developing a National framework for food safety auditing, to help develop an accreditation and certification system that enjoys the confidence of the public, seafood consumers, the industry and government. The SSA Network plays a critical role in facilitating the consultation and, fostering the cooperative working relationships between industry, governments and other seafood stakeholders, that is necessary to achieve this outcome. Who should comply with the Standard All businesses that commercially produce or trade seafood for human consumption including, but not restricted to, commercial fishers, aquaculturists, seafood processors, exporters, importers, retailers, restaurants, transport and storage companies, food service sector. The Standard requires seafood businesses to take a risk based approach to managing seafood safety and suitability, and to adopt management systems, practices and procedures commensurate with their associated risks to seafood safety and suitability. The Standard is not prescriptive about how seafood businesses should achieve the required seafood safety and suitability outcomes, thereby providing the flexibility for seafood businesses to implement management systems that incorporate innovation, technology, practices and procedures relevant to their particular needs, circumstances and risk. SSA is working with industry and food safety authorities to develop customised, industry based, Good Management Practice (GMP) Guidelines that provide clear, user friendly guidance on how seafood businesses may achieve compliance with the Standard. The guidelines will be continually improved so they always reflect contemporary Good Management Practice. The Standard is continually improved in consultation stakeholders, through the SSA Network and ASIC. The current version of the Standard will always be available for download from the SSA website Download a PDF copy of the Australian Seafood Standard now. For more information about the Standard, GMP Guidelines and associated publications and tools to help seafood businesses comply with the Standard contact Seafood Services Australia on ssa@seafoodservices.com.au or visit this web page.
Seafood Services Australia is a not for profit company supported by the Australian seafood industry and the Australian Government through funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
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