Freshcare Update Focus on Global Assurance · Largest on farm food safety program in Australia...

www.freshcare.com.au

Freshcare UpdateFocus on Global Assurance

Clare Hamilton-BateGeneral Manager – Industry Development

August 2017

© Freshcare Ltd 2017

In 20 minutes………..

Freshcare Snapshot:

• Operational Focus

• Strategic Initiatives

Global Assurance – Domestic & Export Markets:

• Drivers

• Compliance Options

• Opportunity for Harmonisation


Freshcare FocusIndustry owned – Industry benefit organisation est. 2000

Largest on farm food safety program in Australia

5,000 + participating businesses(fresh produce and wine grape industries)

Prescriptive Standard - HACCP based + Good Agricultural Practice (GAP)

Accredited Certification – ISO/IEC17065

Sectors: Growing, Packing + Storage, Ripening, Transport & Distribution, Brokerage and Wholesaling

Scope: Food Safety, Quality, Environmental, Fair Work Compliance


Freshcare Facts and Figures

Code Members Certified

Food Safety & Quality(grower/packer)

3560 76%

Environmental 335 72%

Environmental Viticulture 876 30%

Environmental Winery 52 40%

Food Safety & Quality(supply chain)

Est. 300 Est.100%


…multiple requirements and multiple audits to supply multiple retail customers…

GFSI- BENCHMARKED STANDARD

(GLOBALG.A.P. or Freshcare or BRC

or SQF)

HARPS

(Harmonised Australian Retailer

Produce Scheme)

DIFFERENT STANDARDS

DIFFERENT ADDITIONAL

REQUIREMENTS+

+

Domestic Market - HARPS


GFSI Benchmarking• Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) v7.1 (April 2017)

• Timeline:• September – updated pre-benchmark completed and

submitted for review • October – review of benchmark feedback + finalise• December 2017 – formal benchmark submission to GFSI

(12 month accredited certification – January 2018)

• All existing CBs Freshcare accredited (FSQ) by 31 December 2017

• All new Freshcare CBs accredited within 6 months of application to Freshcare


Freshcare Supply Chain Standard• To include key supply chain steps of Packing, Storage,

Ripening, Transport & Distribution, Brokerage and Wholesaling

• Supported by FMA and key supply chain businesses

• Timeline:• July– initial draft to review committee and limited trials• July – presentation to retailers + HARPS• August / Sept – Ongoing review / industry trials• October - JAS-ANZ + trial GFSI B’mark• Sept to Dec – development of training module• Late 2017 – available to industry• 2018 – ‘smart standard format’ + eLearning


Freshcare eLearning

• Freshcare owned & developed interactive platform

• Training options:• FSQ4 (available now)

• Freshcare Supply Chain Standard (late 2017)

• ENV3 (2018)

• GLOBALG.A.P. bolt-on (2018)

• Stand alone training + component of blended training

• Basis of Trainer / Auditor refresher training (annual)


Freshcare eLearning


GLOBALG.A.P. Benchmarking• Removing Barriers of Food Safety Certification for

Vegetable Exporters through GLOBALG.A.P Co-certification – AUSVEG / Hort Innovation

• Review of export market requirements – Oct 2016

• Preliminary benchmark – Dec 2016• Resembling v Full Benchmark

• Full benchmark and development of Freshcare ‘bolt-on’ module – completed July 2017

• Benchmark submission to GLOBALG.A.P. – August 2017

• Project completion late 2017


Partnering for Global Assurance

GLOBALG.A.P. (IFA)Integrated Farm

Assurance Certification Freshcare

Freshcare Plus (fully benchmarked)

Fertiliser Standard

Freshcare Environmental

Fair Farms


Fair Farms Initiative• Fair Farms Initiative 2017-2020 (Growcom/Freshcare)

‘Supporting ethical employment practices in the Australian horticulture industry’

• Recruitment & Consulting Services Limited (RCSA) -Employment Services Provider Certification

‘A single point of trust for the fresh produce industry’

• Both initiatives are:• Projects supporting ethical employment practices in Australian

Horticultural Businesses

• Focused on fair work practices

• Provide information / resources for compliance

• Provide a mechanism for verification

Clean, Green and Not Mean


Salad Producers Forum• Fertiliser Standard for producers of leafy greens

• Written in ‘Freshcare format’ as a ‘bolt-on’ / ‘alternative’ to Freshcare : ‘F5 – Fertilisers and Soil Additives’

• Timeline:• 30 June 2017 – first draft • August – update presentation @ Freshcare Forum• Sept – Dec – consultation and completion• Late 2017 – available to industry, uptake encouraged /

mandated through Salad Producer Forum members

• Reporting via FreshcareOnline


Research, extension and outreach• Pathogen Persistence from Paddock to Plate

(FPSC/Usyd/AHR/Freshcare) 2017-2019

• Food Safety in the Fresh Produce Industry (ARC/Usyd) 2017-2022

• Fresh Produce Safety Centre (FPSC)

• ASEAN-GAP collaboration - update

• ACIAR – project collaboration – Philippines & Myanmar

• Summerfruit Australia – China Delegation

• GLOBALG.A.P. collaboration


Delivering Global Assurance

Mountain = Food Safety / Market Compliance

Paths = Schemes / Standards

Some paths appear easier than others

Some paths appear harder than others

Not all paths reach right to the top

Not all paths allow you to see the full view


Drivers for Global Assurance

• Government driven compliance• Industry / aid program driven compliance• Customer driven compliance

…………………..each with a slightly different agenda


Government Driven Compliance• Indonesia – Country Recognition Agreement (CRA)

• Biosecurity

• Verification testing

• System compliance

• USA - Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA)• US domestic production

• Imports:• Foreign Supplier Verification Program

• determine hazards

• evaluate risk

• evaluate performance

• Verification activities

• US-AUS-NZ – Food Safety Recognition Agreement (regulatory oversight)


Industry / Aid Driven Compliance• ASEANGAP (2001) - to facilitate inter-ASEAN

trade • Viet-GAP

• Phil-GAP

• Thai GAP

• GFSI Global Markets Program (GFSI) entry level food safety solution for small, developing companies in local markets

• FAO – Standards & Trade Development Facility (STDF)

Paths to GLOBALG.A.P. & export market access???


Customer Driven ComplianceTwo International Compliance Frameworks:

• Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)• US + EU/UK

• GLOBALG.A.P.• EU/UK + Middle East + Asia

Preferred Certification Standards

e.g. GLOBALG.A.P. + benchmark schemes (Freshcare, NZGAP), BRC, SQF

Customer Specific ‘Bolt-ons’

e.g. Sedex / Smeta, Natures Choice


Delivering Global Assurance –Meeting the Challenge• Clear Communication

• Clear Process

• Clear Steps

• Clear Pathway……up that mountain!

• Customer driven & recognised Certification

• Mechanism for input to and compliance with Government driven certification and market access protocols

• Scope extension…..there’s more around the corner!


Partnering for Global Assurance

To know the road ahead ……ask those coming back


Thank You

Assurance for today and a Safe, Sustainable tomorrow

Freshcare Update Focus on Global Assurance · Largest on farm food safety program in Australia...

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