On September 18, 2020, Australia amended the imported Food Control Order 2019 to update the foods that are classified as risk foods. They also made changes to the way we inspect and test some of these foods at the border and will require certification for some foods. The certification requirements for some foods will include having a Food Safety Management Certificate or a recognised foreign government certificate for importation and won’t take effect until 24 months after the Order is amended. These foods include:

1. Berries that are ready-to-eat will be classified as risk food. Consignments must be covered by food safety management certificates for importation. This change won’t be enforced/take effect until 24 months after legislation is amended. Analytical testing remains unchanged.

2. All poultry that is cooked and is ready-to-eat will be classified as risk food (scope extended from chicken meat). Consignments will be referred for at-border inspection and tested at a rate of 100% until a compliance history is established. Listeria monocytogenes test will apply.
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3. Crustaceans and crustacean products that are cooked and ready-to-eat will remain as risk foods but the tests applied will change. Tests that will apply:

    Listeria monocytogenes (consignments will be referred for at-border inspection and tested at a rate of 100% until a compliance history is established)

    Salmonella (consignments will be referred for at-border inspection and tested at a rate of 5%)

    Seafood antimicrobial tests (existing tests applied to farmed product at the rate of 5% of consignments).

Tests that will no longer apply:

    Coagulase-positive staphylococci

    Standard Plate Count (SPC)

The amendment will take effect after 24 months.

For more details, see: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/food/notices/ifn06-20

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