By Susannah Roelofsz, Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia & New Zealand

The Horticulture Food Safety Initiative (HFSI), led by the Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia New Zealand (FPSC), is a three-year project dedicated to advancing food safety standards across the Australian and New Zealand fresh produce industries.

Horticulture Standards Webinar hosted by Agriculture Victoria featured updates on the PPP Standards for melons, berries and leafy vegetables

With an initial focus on melons, berries, and leafy vegetables, the initiative encompasses five key phases, and is currently on phase four:

1. Project start-up: Establishing governance structures, a project reference group and project plan.
2. Food safety stocktake and Community of Practice (COP) establishment: Conducting a stocktake of existing resources and creating the Fresh Produce Safety COP.
3. Industry survey and gap analysis: Engaging stakeholders through surveys to identify gaps in food safety knowledge, resources and research.
4. Industry engagement and outreach: Delivering tailored training, resources, and engagement activities to prepare growers for compliance with food safety standards.
5. Implementation model and evaluation: Developing a sustainable food safety framework and conducting final project evaluations

The project not only addresses compliance with new primary production and processing (PPP) standards taking effect in February 2025 in Australia, but also focuses on building long-term food safety capacity and capability across the fresh produce supply chain.

Community of practice and collaboration

The Fresh Produce Safety COP has grown to over 80 members since the start of the project, fostering cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders across Australia and New Zealand.

The COP comprises members representing growers, industry bodies, research organisations, regulatory authorities, retailers, standard owners and service providers ensuring diverse perspectives and expertise across the fresh produce supply chain. This group provides a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge and best practices, driving innovation, and preparing industry members for future challenges.

Sub-COPs focusing on targeted food safety topics are being planned to further enhance collaboration. To join our highly engaged community of food safety professionals, please email technical@fpsc-anz.com

Industry engagement and outreach activities

Initial outreach activities have focused on preparing producers and processors for the PPP standards (4.2.7 for berries, 4.2.8 for leafy vegetables, and 4.2.9 for melons).

These efforts include in-person roadshows, online events, and targeted training sessions for industry and regional development officers in building our food safety extension network. Resources such as checklists and best practice guidance are being developed to support implementation and compliance.

Compliance and resources for growers

The PPP standards for berries, melons and leafy vegetables outline critical compliance areas for food safety, including growing sites, inputs, premises and equipment, animals and pests, traceability, washing and sanitising, weather event responses, health and hygiene.

FPSC offers free resources to help growers implement effective food safety practices, support compliance and manage risks across operations, including:

• Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety: Comprehensive best practice guidance for minimising food safety risks in fresh produce supply chains.
• Food Safety Grower Guides: Visual and simple guides to help growers implement the basic requirements for pre- and post-harvest management. Available in six languages.
• Factsheets: Easy to understand downloadable fact sheets. Quick reference information on key food safety topics.
• Multi-lingual website: Our website features Google Translate for easy access in multiple languages.

What do you need to do if the new PPP standards apply to you?

VegNET 2025 Safe Leafy Vegetable Standard Roadshows in Victoria provided practical guidance on new requirements and compliance preparedness

STEP 1
Visit the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) website for more information and guidance on PPP standards at: foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety-horticulture

STEP 2
Contact your state/territory food regulatory authority or peak industry body for more advice:

• AUSVEG
• Berries Australia
• Fresh Markets Australia
• Melons Australia(including access to Safe Melons toolkit and resources)

STEP 3
Register your business with your state/territory food regulatory authority. Find out more on possible recognition pathways for Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) food safety certification schemes, such as Freshcare.

STEP 4
Contact FPSC via our free online helpdesk if you have any questions.

Fresh produce food safety helpdesk

Launched in August 2024, the fresh produce food safety helpdesk offers free technical support, especially for small to medium growers and those not currently on a food safety certification scheme. Services include online chat, email support, and a mobile hotline to address food safety inquiries.

CONTACT US AT
Email: helpdesk@fpsc-anz.com
Phone: +61 407 814 730 or +64 27 620 2729
Visit: fpsc-anz.com

Looking ahead

As we start 2025, FPSC remains committed to supporting food safety excellence. Join us at the International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium in Sydney (29-30 July 2025) to discuss fresh produce food safety challenges, innovations and collaborate on solutions.

Subscribe to our Fresh & Safe newsletter via our website, to connect with our COP, and help us build a robust and safe fresh produce industry. For any inquiries or to learn more, visit our website fpsc-anz.com or reach out via technical@fpsc-anz.com