Dar seafood ppp standard

5. Objective

The objective of the measures proposed in this draft assessment is to effectively address the public health and safety risks associated with seafood through the development of a single, nationally consistent, set of risk management measures that address food safety issues across the food chain, are preventive, outcomes-based and cost-effective.

6. Regulatory options

6.1 Scope of the Standard and Definition of Seafood

Any mandatory regulatory approach for managing public health risks associated with seafood will be defined by the scope of the Standard and the definition of seafood. After consideration of issues raised by responses to the Initial Assessment Report and advice from the SDC and the Ministerial Council, it was determined that:

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  The scope of the Standard should cover all aspects of primary production and processing, from harvest/capture (whether wild-catch or aquaculture) up to the point at which Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the Code currently apply.
  
  
  
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  The Standard should not cover indigenous/traditional fishers or recreational fishers, as the Standard applies only if the seafood is intended for sale.
  
  
  
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  The Standard should be outcome-based, developed by utilising a risk-based approach, with the level of regulatory intervention to be commensurate with the level of public health risk.
  
  
  
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  The Standard should apply to both imported and domestically produced seafood, and should avoid duplication of existing food safety Standards, such as Standards 3.2.2 and 3.2.3.
  

Options 2 and 3 are considered to be feasible and address the objectives of this proposal. Option 1 is included in the Impact Analysis for comparative purposes.

Option 1: The status quo - continuing the current regulatory arrangements.

Option 2: A Primary Production and Processing Standard targeting high-risk seafood activities only.

Option 3: A risk-based Primary Production and Processing Standard to improve the overall safety of the seafood supply chain.