No extra US scrutiny for Australian exporters

No extra US scrutiny for Australian exporters

2-May-2017

Australia and the United States signed a Food Safety Recognition Agreement last month.

Citrus Australia Market Access Manager, David Daniels, said: “When the Obama administration introduced the Food Safety Modernisation Act, we were very concerned about what it could mean for our exporters and the level of monitoring and compliance that may have been required.

“We raised several submissions with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and made representations through the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

“Subsequent to those discussions, Citrus Australia hosted a visit by USFDA auditors who visited our orchards and packing houses.

“As a result of that visit, the US regulator has recognised that Australia’s food safety systems are equivalent to standards in the USA and that no additional oversight is required by the USA food safety authorities”.

David said that while the status quo has essentially been maintained, it is really pleasing that Australian exporters will not be subject to any greater level of scrutiny than they are already are.

“It is also worth pointing out that the USFDA was particularly impressed with Citrus Australia’s residue monitoring program which certainly assisted in getting this arrangement over the line,” David said.