Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to advise brokers and importers about upcoming changes to the inspection and analysis of cooked and processed meat that is ready-to-eat. This notice also applies to the inspection and analysis of cooked and manufactured meat that is ready-to-eat.

These changes are being made following the department’s consideration of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) risk statement for ready-to-eat cooked and processed meat products. This risk statement is available here.

What has changed?

From 14 December 2016, cooked and processed meat that is ready-to-eat will be inspected and analysed on the basis of whether the food is either:
•cooked and processed dried meat that is ready-to-eat. This includes cooked and manufactured dried meat that is ready-to-eat; or
•cooked and processed meat, other than dried meat, that is ready-to-eat. This includes cooked and manufactured meat, other than dried meat, that is ready-to-eat.

To implement this change an amended lodgement question will apply for cooked and processed meat.
From 14 December 2016, the following Community Protection (CP) question (lodgement question) will apply to goods lodged in the ICS:

IFIS: ARE THE GOODS COOKED AND PROCESSED MEAT THAT REQUIRE REFRIGERATION (CHILLED OR FROZEN) AND DO NOT REQUIRE FURTHER COOKING?

Answering ‘No’ to this lodgement question will mean that the cooked and processed meat will not be referred to the Imported Food Inspection Scheme for inspection and analysis as a risk food.

Cooked and processed dried meat that is ready-to-eat

From 14 December 2016, cooked and processed dried meat that is ready-to-eat may continue to be analysed for pesticide residues and will not be analysed for Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli or coagulase positive staphylococci.

Cooked and processed meat, other than dried meat, that is ready-to-eat

From 14 December 2016, the following changes will apply to cooked and processed meat that is ready-to-eat (other than cooked and processed dried meat that is ready-to-eat):
•The analysis for Listeria monocytogenes will continue to apply.
•The analysis for Salmonella spp. will continue to apply but the rate will be reduced to 5 per cent of consignments.
•The analysis for Escherichia coli will no longer apply.
•The analysis for coagulase-positive staphylococci will no longer apply.

Cooked and processed meat that is ready-to-eat (other than cooked and processed dried meat that is ready-to-eat) may continue to be analysed for pesticide residues.

Further details of the new requirements are available on the Tests applied to risk food webpage.

The Compendium of Microbiological Criteria for Food (FSANZ) is available at this link.

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/food/notices/ifn-20-16