In line with the Overarching Ministerial Guidelines for the development of primary production and processing standards, implementation of controm measures by government designed to mitigate food safety hazards should not put undue burden on industry.
Regulatory burden on yabby industry in Victoria threatens to outweigh the profits of the entire sector and therefore is in conflict with the principles of the COAG agreement and the Guidelines.
States that in their views, the measures do not enhance the safety of the yabby product when sold in the live state.
Aquaculture sector of the seafood industry needs to comply with several state regulatory authorities. From 1 July 204, Primesafe under the auspices of the Victorian Seafood Safety Act 2003 are requiring yabby growers to be licensed and have an approved food safety program. The cost of licensing with Primesafe is in addition to the cost associated with a Victorian Fisheries aquaculture licence which in itself is due to increase substantially in the next 12 months. Growers wishing to adopt the option of a multi-waters licence will pay over 400% increase in this fee.
Current Fee for multiwater licence =approx $300 + $30 for addition applications to add other waters to the Aquaculture licence.
New fee soon to be introduced $1300
Proposed cost recovery over the next four years fee = $4000 per annum
[Editorial Note: The abovementioned fees relate to fisheries resource management and not to food safety standards.]
Although these fees are proposed by Fisheries Victoria and out of FSANZ’s jurisdiction they are another yearly cost in addition to Primesafe regulatory costs which mandate annual fees and 3rd party audits fees associated with the verification of on farm food safety programs.
From July 1st 2004 yabby farmers who stock farm dams with juvenile yabbies to supplement naturally occurring stock are required to pay State government mandated levies for commercial use of dams.
