Approval report - Proposal P1052 - Primary Production and Processing requirements for Horticulture (Berries, Leafy Vegetables and Melons)

Sep 2, 2026

Approval report for Proposal P1052 by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) assessing measures to strengthen food safety in the primary production and processing of fresh berries, leafy vegetables, and melons. The proposal results in three commodity-specific standards and a consequential variation to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, applying to Australia only. Non-regulatory support is intended to build food safety knowledge, risk management capability, and a safety culture across the sectors. FSANZ sought submissions in November 2021 and approved the drafts on 8 June 2022.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages80

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Executive summary

Introduction

The Proposal

The current situation

Reasons for preparing the proposal

Procedure for assessment

Decision

Summary of findings

Issues raised by stakeholders

Microbiological assessment

Risk management

Risk management principles

Risk management options

Rationale for option 3 as preferred approach

Proposed measures

Finalising regulatory measures

Risk communication

Public consultations

Targeted stakeholder consultations

World Trade Organization (WTO)

FSANZ Act assessment requirements

Transitional arrangements

Implementation

Attachment A – Approved draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

Attachment B - Explanatory Statements

Standard 4.2.7 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Berries

Approved draft Standard 4.2.8 – Primary Production and Processing requirements for Horticulture (Leafy Vegetables)

Approved draft Standard 4.2.9 – Primary Production and Processing requirements for Horticulture (Melons)

Attachment C – Draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code provided in 2nd call for submissions

22 June 2022 206-22 Approval report – Proposal P1052 Primary Production and Processing requirements for Horticulture (Berries, Leafy Vegetables and Melons) Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has assessed a proposal to strengthen food safety in the primary production and processing of fresh berries, leafy vegetables and melons sectors and prepared three standards (one for each commodity) and a consequential variation to the Code. These measures apply to Australia only and are to be supported by non-regulatory measures to improve food safety knowledge, risk management and culture. On 17 November 2021, FSANZ sought submissions on the three draft standards and the consequential variation, and published an associated report. FSANZ received 32 submissions. After having regard to the submissions received and the relevant matters as set out in this report, FSANZ approved the draft standards and consequential variation on 8 June 2022. The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation was notified of FSANZ’s decision on 22 June 2022. This Report is provided pursuant to paragraph 63(1)(b) of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (the FSANZ Act). Table of contents TOC \h \z \t "Heading 1,1,Heading 2,2,Heading 3,3" HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402762" Executive summary PAGEREF _Toc102402762 \h 2 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402763" Introduction PAGEREF _Toc102402763 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402764" 1.1 The Proposal PAGEREF _Toc102402764 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402765" 1.2 The current situation PAGEREF _Toc102402765 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402766" 1.3 Reasons for preparing the proposal PAGEREF _Toc102402766 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402767" 1.4 Procedure for assessment PAGEREF _Toc102402767 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402768" 1.5 Decision PAGEREF _Toc102402768 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402769" 2 Summary of findings PAGEREF _Toc102402769 \h 6 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402770" 2.1 Issues raised by stakeholders PAGEREF _Toc102402770 \h 6 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402771" 2.2 Microbiological assessment PAGEREF _Toc102402771 \h 22 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402772" 2.3 Risk management PAGEREF _Toc102402772 \h 22 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402773" 2.3.1 Risk management principles PAGEREF _Toc102402773 \h 22 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402774" 2.3.2 Risk management options PAGEREF _Toc102402774 \h 23 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402775" 2.3.3 Rationale for option 3 as preferred approach PAGEREF _Toc102402775 \h 23 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402776" 2.3.4 Proposed measures PAGEREF _Toc102402776 \h 24 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402777" 2.3.5 Finalising regulatory measures PAGEREF _Toc102402777 \h 24 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402778" 2.4 Risk communication PAGEREF _Toc102402778 \h 25 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402779" 2.4.1 Public consultations PAGEREF _Toc102402779 \h 25 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402780" 2.4.2 Targeted stakeholder consultations PAGEREF _Toc102402780 \h 26 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402781" 2.4.3 World Trade Organization (WTO) PAGEREF _Toc102402781 \h 26 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402782" 2.5 FSANZ Act assessment requirements PAGEREF _Toc102402782 \h 26 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402783" 2.5.1 Section 59 PAGEREF _Toc102402783 \h 26 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402784" 2.5.2. Subsection 18(1) PAGEREF _Toc102402784 \h 27 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402785" 3 Transitional arrangements PAGEREF _Toc102402785 \h 28 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402786" 4 Implementation PAGEREF _Toc102402786 \h 28 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402787" Attachment A – Approved draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code PAGEREF _Toc102402787 \h 30 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402788" Attachment B - Explanatory Statements PAGEREF _Toc102402788 \h 46 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402789" Standard 4.2.7 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Berries PAGEREF _Toc102402789 \h 47 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc102402790" Expl

FAQs

What does Proposal P1052 approve and which products does it cover?

FSANZ approved three draft commodity standards and a consequential variation to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The measures cover fresh berries, leafy vegetables, and melons within horticulture sectors.

When did FSANZ seek submissions and when was the decision made?

FSANZ sought submissions on the three draft standards and the consequential variation on 17 November 2021. FSANZ approved the draft standards and consequential variation on 8 June 2022, with notification on 22 June 2022.

Is the strengthened food safety framework limited to Australia?

Yes. The measures apply to Australia only and are supported by non-regulatory measures aimed at improving food safety knowledge, risk management, and culture.

Sep 2, 2026

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