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AFSA and the VFMA call for food safety regulators to be accountable

February 18, 2015 by Nick Rose

AFSA and the Victorian Farmers Markets Association have today released a joint public statement, calling on the Victorian Government to work with AFSA, VFMA and small producers to engage in open and constructive discussions about how to support the rapidly emerging local and fair food economy in Victoria.

Public statement – Cancellation of Regulator-Producer Forum

18TH FEBRUARY 2015

Regulatory costs and compliance have a major impact on the viability of all producers and food businesses. The need to ensure the flexibility to innovate is recognised by the Inquiry into the impact of food regulation on farms and other businesses (2013). In the same document the Victorian Government emphasises the value it places on the contributions of producers in policy-making.

Accordingly, the cancellation of the public multi-stakeholder discussion forum on regulation at Monash University on February 24 is a serious blow to public engagement and transparency.

This event, hosted by Monash University Law Faculty and co-sponsored by AFSA and the Victorian Farmers Markets Association (VFMA), was to be a landmark forum addressing the regulatory challenges in enabling the production and provision of safe, transparent, innovative, fair and local food in Victoria. Producers, regulators, industry representatives and certification agencies were invited to participate in two panels addressing the challenges and opportunities of ensuring safety and transparency in small scale food production and retailing.

The aim of this ground-breaking day was to generate a productive dialogue around the potential and opportunities for improving food regulation to build consumer confidence in and access to fair local food. This dialogue is essential to the co-creation of an effective, coherent and evidence-based regulatory environment that enables a strong and thriving local and fair food economy.

Shortly before the forum was due to take place, AFSA and the VFMA were informed that it was being cancelled, and replaced with a closed invite-only workshop focused just on food labeling issues. AFSA and the VFMA are deeply disappointed that a unique opportunity for a constructive and productive dialogue between regulators and producers has been lost. Many producers were excited by the opportunity for this dialogue and were prepared to travel long distances, at their own time and expense, to take part in it.

We believe it is the public duty of these regulators to engage in open and constructive dialogue with producers. As publicly-funded agencies with significant enforcement powers conferred by legislation, we are concerned that this last-minute cancellation of a public event demonstrates disregard for public accountability and openness to scrutiny.

Further, we believe this stance to be inconsistent with the publicly-stated values and missions of each regulator. Dairy Food Safety Victoria states its values as follows (emphasis added):

Respect

We value diverse opinions, strengths and ideas, and consider the feelings of others.

Integrity
We are honest, open and transparent in our dealings with all stakeholders and will match our behaviours to our words

‘Can do’
We are always willing to help stakeholders and each other and strive to continually improve the way we work whilst remaining adaptable and open to change

Fairness
We are fair, objective and courteous in all dealings with industry, stakeholders and our employees

The mission of Prime Safe is (emphasis added):

To regulate and advance food safety in the Victorian meat, poultry and seafood industries through a credible, effective and efficient quality assurance system that facilitates opportunities for industry growth and innovation

Despite the opportunity lost with the cancellation of the forum, AFSA and the VFMA will continue our efforts to engage regulators in a constructive dialogue of how they might work within the existing regulatory framework to best support and enable the producers and communities who are building local, transparent and fair food systems.

At the same time, accumulated experience from many producers does, in our view, make a powerful case of the need for a simplified and coherent regulatory framework that enables the emerging local and fair food system to flourish. Anecdotal evidence from many producers reveals that such costs and compliance, and at times heavy-handed enforcement, has a crushing and at times terminal effect on viability.

A case in point is the summary closure of the Giles Family Abattoir in Trafalgar, Gippsland, at the end of 2012, after images of a pig escaping on the slaughterhouse floor were passed by Animals Australia to PrimeSafe. The business employed 30 locals and contributed $7 mn to the local economy, yet its licence was cancelled in a manner that owner Colin Giles felt was most unfair:

Colin Giles says that PrimeSafe’s [Deputy Chief Brendan] Ryan told him at the Melbourne meeting that it was an “open-and-shut case” of cruelty and that he was cancelling their abattoir licence permanently. They were also warned that any animal cruelty charges, if proven, could carry a jail sentence.

“Then PrimeSafe told us that if we surrendered our licence to them that afternoon, there would be no further investigation,” Giles recalled this week.

“And then they asked us what we thought. But I don’t think we said much at all. We were devastated, dumbfounded — we certainly felt like we were being forced to hand our licence in.”[1]

Therefore:

We call on the Victorian government to ensure that food safety regulators are held accountable to the Victorian public as a whole, and in particular the industries they are established to regulate and support.

We also call on the Victorian government to work with stakeholders across the food system to understand the need for regulatory reform and explore options for the most suitable and effective way this can be achieved. Such reforms must be guided by the need to balance the principles of:

Ensuring public safety
Supporting a thriving and diverse local and fair food economy
Promoting open consultation
Enhancing transparency and accountability
Building food literacy and guaranteeing the public’s right to know

* * * *

For comment / interviews, contact Tammi Jonas, AFSA President, M: 0422 429 362 / Wayne Shields, VFMA President, M: 0400 643 341

About the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

AFSA is a national alliance of farmers, food entrepreneurs, public health professionals, community gardeners, farmers market coordinators, journalists, researchers and local food advocates who share the vision of a fair food future for all Australians. AFSA draws inspiration from and is founded on the principles of food sovereignty.

Founded in 2010, AFSA has provided national vision and leadership through collaboratively creating Australia’s first Peoples Food Plan, and in coordinating Australia’s first Fair Food Week. In 2015 AFSA is launching Australia’s first Fair Food feature documentary, which tells the stories of Australian farmers, social entrepreneurs, and urban agriculturalists who are transforming Australia’s food future.

About the Victorian Farmers Markets Association

The Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association (VFMA) is a not for profit organisation, founded in 2002, that supports and promotes authentic farmers’ markets throughout Victoria by:

a) Representing members on a range of industry issues.

b) Providing a central information point for shoppers and industry alike. We support 40 accredited farmers markets around Victoria.

The VFMA represents myriad types of Victorian farmers and food producers who trade at our accredited markets. VFMA accreditation aims to ensure our farmers’ market customers are buying what they expect, with genuine informed choice, as well as providing a fair environment for local small-medium scale food growers and producers to prosper. The VFMA accredited farmers’ markets provide a reliable benchmark distinct from non-accredited markets – primarily no middle men/re-selling – only the genuine growers and their production staff, reconnecting people with their food sources and producers with their consumers.

The VFMA and our stakeholders share the vision of a fair food future for all, from farmers and along the food production chain to consumers. The VFMA has collaboratively consulted with AFSA regarding Australia’s first Peoples Food Plan, and in promoting Australia’s Fair Food Week.

[1] Reproduced from the 22 March 2012 Australian story by Rural Reporter Sue Neales – for the full story see http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/piggy-in-the-middle/story-e6frg6z6-1226306631801.

To read the full statement, follow this link

AFSA VFMA Joint Public Statement Cancellation of Regulator-Producer Forum 18.2.15

Fair Food — the documentary has arrived

November 24, 2014 by Nick Rose

It’s finally arrived!

Australia’s first feature-length documentary, telling the stories of our fair food pioneers.

Fair Food premieres at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne on 2 December, in Sydney at the Golden Age Cinema and Bar on 3rd December and 7th December.

Visit www.justfoodfilms.com to get your ticket!

We also want AFSA members and supporters to use this film as an awareness-raising resource and fundraiser for your own work locally. You can leave your details the justfoodfilms.com or send us an email: admin@afsa.org.au.

And please spread the word – share this link with your friends and colleagues in the Fair Food movement around the country!

[button_link url=”https://afsa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/FAIR-FOOD-FILM-MEDIA-RELEASE-.pdf” target=”blank” style=”” title=”” class=”” id=”” onclick=””] Download Fair Food documentary media release [/button_link]

AFSA Welcomes Food Sovereignty Day 2014

October 16, 2014 by Nick Rose

Food Sovereignty Day 2014 recognises pioneers of the fair food movement

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) welcomes the awarding of the Food Sovereignty Prize to the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and Community to Community Development (C2C).

The UAWC is a grassroots small farmer organization in Palestine that builds farmer cooperatives and seed banks and supports the leadership of women. The C2C supports immigrant farm workers in the US in developing worker-owned cooperatives and promotes domestic fair trade exchanges.

The sixth annual awards were made by the United States Food Sovereignty Alliance. First made in 2009 as an alternative to the production-focused World Food Prize, they are made to organisations developing solutions to the injustices in the global food system. According to the USFSA, the award honours those reclaiming and democratising their food systems and contributes to ending hunger.

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[quote author=”” image=”https://afsa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/nick-200.jpg” w=”200″ h=”199″ image_align=”right”]The UAWC and the C2C embody the vision of a democratic and fair food system for all, which is at the heart of food sovereignty”, said AFSA National Coordinator, Dr Nick Rose.

This is the vision that inspires our work here in Australia. In particular, during this International Year of the Family Farmer, we want to highlight the vital role played by innovative Australian producers who are working hard to feed their local communities and regions in ecologically sustainable ways, often in very difficult market conditions.

This is why AFSA launched a dedicated farmers’ chapter, Fair Food Farmers United (FFFU), in March this year.

Dr Nick Rose, AFSA National Coordinator[/quote][/message_box]

Some of the 97 events currently taking place around Australia during the AFSA’s annual Fair Food Week are workshops and tours organised by FFFU farmers.

For interview:

Dr Nick Rose (AFSA): 0414 497 819
Tammi Jonas (FFFU): 0422 429 362

Fair Food Week: fairfoodweek.org.au
Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance: afsa.org.au.au

Fair Food Week 2014 reflects surge in interest in Fair Food

July 19, 2014 by

More and more people are embracing Fair Food – healthy nutritious food that is produced locally – at an affordable price for consumers and with a fair return to farmers. Fair Food Week 2014 will run from 10-19 October and will celebrate the International Year of Family Farming.

Michael Croft, President of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) said that Fair Food Week this year builds on a highly successful inaugural event last year.

“During Fair Food Week 2013, 112 events were held around the country including farmer’s markets, workshops, speakers’ forums, skills sharing and swapping, market fairs and film nights,” said Mr Croft. “Based on interest so far, it looks as if Fair Food Week 2014 will be bigger and better than last year’s event.”

“Everyone and anyone can take part in Fair Food Week – you just have to use your imagination. And AFSA will provide support, resources and a platform for you to let your community and the country know that you support a fair food system”, said Mr Croft.

Fair Food Week 2014 is built around four themes:

Beyond the Trolley – Support Local Producers and Local Food Businesses
Support Your Local Community Fair Food Projects and Groups
Grow Our Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture
Support Gasfield-free Communities.

According to Mr Croft: “’Beyond the Trolley’ focuses on supporting local farmers and food businesses — in other words, fair food shopping and eating.
“Concentrating economic power is seldom a good idea. It’s even less of a good idea when that power controls what we and our families eat. But that’s the situation we have today in Australia where two supermarket chains control more than 70 percent of the national grocery market.

“It’s not only the reality that what they offer their customers is a limited choice — a diet chosen by the supermarket buyers — it’s also that they use unfair marketing tactics to reduce small business opportunity and treat the farmers and Australian food processors that supply them in ways that are being increasingly questioned.

“A fair food system in Australia would do otherwise,” he argued.

“The second theme, ‘Supporting Your Local Community Fair Food Projects and Groups’, encourages people to organise a fundraiser for a local food project or group.
“Fair Food Week celebrates community self-help food initiatives such as food co-operatives, community supported agriculture, food rescue and farmers’ markets,” said Mr Croft. “Fair Food Week 2014 is the opportunity to raise funds for community food initiatives denied promised funding when the Federal Government cancelled the Community Food Grants scheme.

“’Grow Our Urban Agriculture’ is the third theme for this year’s Fair Food Week. It involves people encouraging their local council to establish a food policy or support campaigns for Local Food Acts in their state. One of the advantages of a Local Food Act is that it supports local agriculture, increasing the potential for cities to feed their population rather than relying on trucked-in food from factory farms.

“And finally, the fourth theme ‘Support Gasfield-free Communities’ encourages city and town dwellers to connect with farmers and rural communities who are asserting their food sovereignty in the face of government and industry demands to hand over land for coal-seam gas fracking.

“Now, farmers and urban people are saying ENOUGH! and are forming alliances to retain farmland for farming and public land for less damaging uses,” exclaimed Mr Croft.

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Media Contact: Michael Croft 0413 387 686

AFSA calls for Local Food Act and Local Food Fund for Victoria

July 6, 2014 by

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) today urged all candidates and parties for the 2014 Victorian state election to commit to a Local Food Act and Local Food Fund for Victoria. It is encouraging voters to sign an online petition which calls for a range of measures to promote food sovereignty in Victoria.

AFSA President Michael Croft said that Australia’s food system is in crisis. “Some say it’s broken.”

“Farmers are leaving the land at the rate of seven a day. Farmers are facing increased competition from cheap imports and financial impacts from the power of the supermarket duopoly, which controls 75 per cent of the grocery market and largely controls what food is available to Australians.

“People living in Victoria want to support local producers and food businesses. Look at how we rallied to support SPC when it was about to go bankrupt. We want candidates in the State election to support local food production.

“In other countries governments act on community support for local farmers and food producers, passing laws and allocating resources to help farmers become more viable. These initiatives also include support for local jobs, education of kids about healthy eating habits, and support for community gardens and urban agriculture.

“A couple of months ago the US Department of Agriculture allocated $78 million to Local Food projects like farmers markets. Late last year, the Province of Ontario passed a Local Food Act and allocated $30 million to Local Food.

“In this year’s Victorian election, we are petitioning all candidates and parties to commit to a Local Food Act and Fund for Victoria.

“We are calling for protection of high-value agricultural land from housing development and coal-seam gas fracking and other forms of mining. We are also advocating for an enabling framework for urban agriculture in Victoria’s towns and cities, and the creation of a $10 million Local Food Fund to support community and local food projects around the State.

“We also call on candidates to support an inter-departmental Ministerial Food Forum to ensure strategic and coherent thinking about food and agriculture, and a full community inquiry into the State of Victoria’s local food economy and system, leading to comprehensive law reform proposals,” said Mr Croft.

AFSA members are lending their support to the campaign. Anneline Padayachee said: “Food is central to health, sustainability, employment, family development, skills, the environment, disease prevention/control, well-being (physical, emotional and mental) – it only makes sense to invest in our local food supply.”

According to Tammi Jonas: “Food is central to everything, and we must reclaim our rights to grow it, distribute it and eat it in ways that are fair to everyone – soil, water, air, plants, animals, people.” “Forty percent of our individual eco-footprint is made by our food choices. Let’s support residents of Victoria to make choices that are good for community and good for the environment,” exclaimed Fleur Anderson.

-ENDS-

Media Contact: Michael Croft, AFSA President, 0413 387 686