Have your say on the Food Industry Recall Protocol update

The 6th Edition of the Food Industry Recall Protocol from 2008 has been updated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), in consultation with the states and territories. FSANZ says the updates will clarify the responsibilities of food businesses during a recall, as well as update references to legislations and the communication of recalls.

FSANZ is seeking industry comment on the revised Protocol.

The following changes have been made to the Protocol:

• Previously, food recalls that were undertaken voluntarily by food businesses were referred to as ‘voluntary recalls’. However, this terminology caused confusion, with some business customers and consumers interpreting it to mean that it was voluntary for them to take action in relation to the recall. In the revised Protocol, the reference to a ‘voluntary recall’ has been removed.
• References to legislations have been updated. For example, the Trades Practices Act 1974 has been replaced with the Australian Competition and Consumer Act 2010. More detail has also been included in the revised Protocol on the legal responsibilities for food businesses under the Food Standards Code and state and territory Food Acts.
• The revised Protocol sequentially steps through the responsibilities of food businesses during a recall. This section also includes clarification on whether a food should be recalled or withdrawn and refers readers to a flow diagram in an attachment to the Protocol, to assist with this decision-making process.
• The section on communicating the recall to the public has been revised to explain the different options available to food businesses, including the use of social media. Food businesses are advised to consider the best means of communicating recall information, having regard to the urgency of the food safety issue, how widely the product has been distributed and the customer base of the food being recalled.
• The importance of food businesses being able to trace food received by the business and sold by the business has been emphasised in the revised Protocol, including the legal obligations on food businesses.
• The legal requirements of food businesses with respect to recalling food - having a written food recall plan and food traceability - have been clearly explained in the revised protocol.
• The template for advertising food recalls has been updated so that it is clearer what the problem and hazard are and what action the consumer needs to take.