Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

Fair food for all Australians

Call for submissions on changes to raw milk rules

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DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE GREATER AVAILABILITY OF RAW MILK PRODUCTS IN AUSTRALIA?

Call for submissions
Call for submissions

The Food Standards Authority, FSANZ, is calling for submissions on a review of the regulations relating to the sale of raw milk products.

Submissions close on 10 January 2014.

Michelle Dyer and Jonathan Cooper from   Harvest Feast explain the background:

"Thanks for posting. This came out of FSANZ's original proposal P1022, which effectively led the Chief Scientist to declare that raw milk is too unsafe. Reps on that proposal's SDC were largely from big dairy industry (vested interest) who also submitted that the risks of raw milk are too great for what big industry considers is a safe quality product. There were 75 submissions, most by industry & also from WA, SA, Qld & NSW regulatory authorities in favour of banning raw milk. There was only one consumer rep (from the CWA, bless them) on that SDC. It's time we used our networks (so thank you for posting!) to ensure wider awareness of the opportunity to comment & have input into the shape of our food systems. Rather than continue with the anti-food sovereignty path of large industry & regulatory authorities reducing food rights via large supply-chain processes which not only ignore/exclude small producers, but actually hurt them as well (either intentionally or not).

What is a submission? It can just be an email stating your view, that's perfectly acceptable. So if you don't have time to go through the online submission process, have a read of what's proposed, then email your comments to submissions@foodstandards.gov.au, with heading "Submission Proposal P1022". Simple. Have your say!!"

raw milk

Here are some questions/issues that you may wish to think about/include when putting together a submission (with thanks to Alanna Linn):
- Do you drink raw milk/eat raw milk cheese? or do you want to be able to buy raw milk?
- Why do you do, or want to do, this?
- How do you decide if it is safe to consume?
- Do you think the same requirements and rules should apply to all types of producers, or should they be different for farms of different sizes, methods etc?
- Are the health and safety risks the same for all types are producers?For producers:

- If you are a producer, how onerous are the proposed rules?
- Will they be able to be easily applied, or will they cost too much?
- How compatible are they with your production approach?
- If you are a producer, how do you think health and safety could be best ensured?
- Should it be the same rules for all producers or do different production methods/farm sizes etc need different forms of regulation?
Bearing in mind that the community had very little say the last time there was a consultation on this issue, it's very important that as many voices are heard now as possible. Please take a few minutes to put together a submission, even if it's only brief.
Please go to the following link for the details about the consultation and how to make a submission online:
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/changes/circulars/Pages/Notification-Circular-21-13.aspx

AFSA Submission to the Green Paper for a National Food Plan

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The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance has issued its submission to the Federal government’s National Food Plan Green Paper.

To download the submission, please use the following link:

AFSA Submission to the National Food Plan Green Paper

Our concluding remarks are reproduced below:

In short, contrary to the Government’s claims, the green paper is a recipe for increasing vulnerability, lack of resilience, and heightened inequality in our food system. A different approach, based on a different set of values and priorities, is required.

In the absence of leadership and vision on these issues from the Government, the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance is inviting all concerned members of the public to join us in a truly participatory and democratic conversation to develop an authentic and representative food system that is truly fit for the food and nutrition challenges of this century.

We have produced a draft discussion paper of Values, Principles and Best Practices for a People’s Food Plan for Australia (attached as Appendix A), which is currently receiving an enthusiastic reception at public forums and kitchen table talks around the country.

We will be continuing to support this process over the coming months and years, and would urge the Government to take note of the fact that this process, resourced only by the dedicated volunteer labour of dozens of committed supporters around the country, evidences the existence of a growing constituency for a fair, sustainable and resilient food system for Australia.

 

Minister Ludwig responds to concerns about the National Food Plan

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On 31st October 2011, the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance was joined by 18 organisations and a further 10 individuals in expressing our collective concerns about the limited nature of the process being undertaken by the Federal Government for the development of Australia's first-ever National Food Plan. On 5 December 2011 the Minister responded to our concerns. Read his reply here: Hon. Joe Ludwig Response 5 Dec 2011

AFSA Comments on the City of Melbourne Food Policy Discussion Paper

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On 5 December, the City of Melbourne concluded its first consultation phase for its proposed Food Policy. The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance has welcomed this initiative, recommending that the Policy be firmly based in the principles of democratic participation, the human right to adequate food, and with the highest priority accorded to guaranteeing the viability of local and regional farmers, who will form the backbone of a thriving and fair food system.

Read our comments by clicking on the following link: AFSA Comments Melbourne Food Policy 9 Dec 2011

AFSA and 28 Co-Signatories Insist on Need for a Participatory National Food Plan

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On 27th October the Federal Agriculture Minister, Joe Ludwig, announced that his Department was reviewing the submissions made to its Issues Paper for the development of a National Food Plan. At a date yet to be specified, the Government will release a Green Paper, which ‘will outline the government’s vision and approach to food policy and canvas potential changes to policy, programs and governance arrangements’.

In an Open Letter to the Minister, AFSA and 28 co-signatories expressed our continuing concerns about the limited nature of the development of the Plan to date, including the refusal to make the workings of the industry-dominated Advisory Group  transparent. This can only lead to misgivings that the main purpose of the Plan will, as the emphasis of the Issues Paper suggested, on making the food industry more ‘competitive and productive’, rather than on delivering a food system for all Australians that is fair, sustainable and resilient. That sort of food system has to be developed in a more directly democratic and participatory way, as opposed to the top-down and narrow nature of the consultation that the Government is presently engaged in.

Download the Open Letter to Minister Regarding National Food Plan - Oct 2011

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