Dairy Food Safety Victoria

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1. Validation and Verification
2. Validation of Food Safety Programs
3. Verification of Food Safety Programs
4. Technical Information
5. Operations Policy and Standards
6. Issues and Emergency Management

Validation and Verification

Through the verification and validation of dairy food safety systems, DFSV offers independent food safety assurance for consumers and the whole dairy industry.

Validation of Food Safety Programs

Under the Code of Practice for Dairy Food Safety (COP), all participants in the dairy industry are required to have a food safety program approved by DFSV. DFSV validates the food safety programs used in the dairy industry by obtaining evidence that the elements of the program are effective.

DFSV’s approval of food safety programs (FSP) must ensure they:

Address food safety risks;
Comply with Code Of Practice for Dairy Food Safety and legislation;
Comply with export/trade requirements; and
Can be audited for compliance with food safety standards.

Verification of Food Safety Programs

Verifying that a food safety program is effective is an ongoing process. It involves the application of methods, procedures, tests and other evaluations, in addition to monitoring, to determine compliance with the FSP. DFSV independently verifies FSP through:

Auditing licensee’s FSP;
Auditing contractors;
Managing contracts with auditors;
Conducting follow-up investigations resulting from auditing;
Conducting legal investigations;
Ensuring effective pathogen management; and
Enforcement.

Additionally, DFSV co-ordinates several testing programs that verify and enhance the strong food safety reputation of the dairy industry, and which are vital in ensuring continued access to domestic and export markets:

Australian Milk Residue Analysis Survey (AMRA) – Industry-funded national program that monitors raw milk for the presence of agricultural, veterinary and environmental chemical residues.
Product Testing Program (PTP) – independent monitoring program of the microbial food safety status of dairy products produced in Victoria.
Pathogen Prevention Program (PPP) – aims to reduce the incidents of pathogen contaminations and to minimise the risk of contaminated product entering the market place. The program establishes the balance between a preventative and reactive approach to pathogen prevention.

Technical Information

DFSV continuously monitors the latest developments, trends and research information on current and in particular emerging issues that may impact on dairy food safety. This includes:

Monitoring and managing technical issues;
Researching relevant issues;
Conducting risk assessments;
Communicating results and information to industry;
Determining risks through whole chain from inputs at the farm, animal health and welfare, microbiological, chemical, and physical residues and environmental impacts; and
Monitoring emerging new processing technologies and the development of new products, such as nutriceuticals and nutrigenomics, which may impact on dairy food safety.

Operations Policy and Standards

In addition to providing leadership for the establishment of a national dairy food safety framework based on international best principles, DFSV is:

Developing and reviewing the national dairy standard implementation policy in Victoria (e.g. National auditor competencies and standards);
Benchmarking its services;
Assisting AQIS with negotiations on product entry into overseas markets (e.g. cream into the U.S.);
Managing critical relationships with similar agencies in other States and Territories, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and other Commonwealth organisations; and
Communicating improvements in operations policy and standards to industry.

Issues and Emergency Management

DFSV is a key agency in the development and implementation of emergency management plans in the event of an outbreak of exotic diseases such as anthrax or foot and mouth disease. Additionally, DFSV:

Assists industry with the development of its emergency plans; and
Liaises with the Department of Primary Industries, the Department of Human Services, and Commonwealth and State Emergency Services agencies to ensure Victoria is well prepared to respond to an outbreak.