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Liberals To Streamline Food SafetyA Liberal Government will reform food safety and food labelling enforcement, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today. By Phillip Davis - 1st August 2006 - Back to News The Liberal Party has outlined a plan to integrate all aspects of food safety to create a new Victorian Food Authority.
"It is imperative not only to guarantee farmers market access for their produce, but to give consumers informed choice on their purchases that the integrity of food safety and labelling is at the highest possible level," Mr Davis said.
"Currently there are three separate authorities responsible for food safety and labelling, which has proven ineffective.
"The seafood industry has suffered extreme difficulties with Primesafe, with high registration fees and unreasonable regulations forcing many out of business.
"Enforcement of Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) has been neglected, with Food Safety Victoria, a division of the Department of Human Services, failing to prosecute for any breeches in the past five years.
"A Liberal Government will streamline food safety and labelling with the establishment of the Victorian Food Authority, replacing Primesafe, Food Safety Victoria and Dairy Food Safety Victoria.
"The Victorian Food Authority will be responsible for the safety of red meat, chicken meat, seafood and dairy products, along with the compliance of CoOL.
"The authority will enable all areas of food safety and labelling to operate as a team, eliminating the possibility of particular sectors being neglected."
Mr Davis said a Liberal Government would also establish a central reporting facility for complaints.
"The Victorian Food Authority will operate a complaints reporting service, which will include a toll-free telephone number and email reporting system," he said.
"This will allow consumers to report any concerns they have about food health standards or CoOL, and these reports will be investigated.
"The Victorian Food Authority will utilise the Consumer Affairs inspectorate for CoOL inspections."
Mr Davis said the health of all Victorians relies on a proactive and affective food safety scheme, and the livelihoods of our local farmers is in jeopardy without the adequate enforcement of CoOL.
A Liberal Government is committed to a more streamlined approach to food safety.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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