Upcoming Weekend Outage to the ICS – Saturday 26 November 2016
Please be advised that the ICS will be unavailable for a period between Saturday 26 November and Sunday 27 November 2016.
The outage period will be from 23:00 AEDT on Saturday 26 November until 05:00 AEDT Sunday 27 November 2016 and is necessary to address some performance issues.
Industry clients should make arrangements to have cargo cleared outside of these hours.
Food Standards Notification Circular 29-16 (11 November 2016)
The latest Notification Circular (29–16) was published on 11 November 2016.
The Circular summarises work currently being undertaken or finalised by FSANZ including:
- P1043 – Code Revision (2016) (Call for comment)
Other matters
The Applicant has withdrawn the following Application
- A1122 – Thermolysin (Protease) as a Processing Aid
Call for submissons on minor changes to the Food Standards Code
11/11/2016
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on a minor proposal to make minor changes to the Food Standards Code.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the proposal sought to correct typographical errors, inconsistencies and formatting issues, and to update references.
“The proposed amendments are all relatively minor in nature. No potential public health and safety concerns have been identified,” Mr McCutcheon said.
“FSANZ is consulting on the proposed changes with government agencies and is notifying stakeholders. Members of the public are welcome to provide comments.”
All FSANZ decisions on proposals are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can decide to ask for a review or agree that the standard should become law.
The closing date for submissions is 16 December 2016.
More information
Read the call for submissions report
Media contact: 0401 714 265 (Australia) or +61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand) or [email protected]
The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s (AFGC) annual industry snapshot State of the Industry 2016, released today, shows a 14% increase in Australia’s food and grocery exports in 2015-16 to some extent moderated the challenging economic conditions confronting Australia’s $125.9 billion food and grocery processing sector.
AFGC CEO Mr Gary Dawson said the State of the Industry 2016, compiled by EY, highlights export growth and a lift in overall industry turnover, but falling capital investment and stalling job growth are clear warning signs for the future of Australia’s largest manufacturing sector.
“This year’s State of the Industry highlights the importance of the food and grocery sector to Australia’s economy, as well as its resilience in the face of the significant challenges it faces to stay competitive,” said Mr Dawson.
“The good news is that industry turnover continues to increase with food and grocery processing now making up 33% of total Australian manufacturing. This growth is largely on the back of strong growth in exports. In 2015-16 food and beverage exports grew by 11% to $26bn, fresh produce exports up 49% to $1.5bn and grocery (non-food) exports up 32% to $4bn.
“Yet low domestic growth, rising costs for energy and other inputs, and six years of retail price deflation in the ongoing supermarket price war has created relentless pressure back through the supply chain to become more efficient in order to stay competitive.
“In 2015-16 job growth stalled across the food and grocery sector reflecting the ongoing financial pressure the sector is under which is forcing food and grocery producers and processors to cut costs across every part of their business.
“A key concern is the continuing decline in capital Investment at a time when a step change upwards in investment is required to fully capitalise on improved market access and growing demand from middle class consumers in the emerging economies of Asia and the Middle East,” said Mr Dawson.
“Stimulating investment is critical. Company tax cuts for all businesses are more important than ever as a means of sparking investment, and targeted investment allowances must also be considered. We are now in danger of drifting into a low investment trap, where uncertainty about return on investment flowing from retail price deflation and sluggish growth is seeing investment decisions deferred or dumped.
Key facts from the State of the Industry 2016 report on the food, beverage and grocery sector, using the most up to date data from the ABS and other sources:
- Industry turnover $125.9 bn, up 3.9% in real terms; 2014-15 data
- Direct employment 307,169 people; 2015-16 data
- Industry made up of 27,745 businesses; 2015-16 data
- Capital investment of $2.7 bn, down 14.2%; 2014-15 data
- Total international trade $66.6 bn (up 14.5%); 2015-16 data
“The ability to realise premium prices for value-added food and beverage products in growing export markets is now a key source of growth and contrasts with the low growth, deflationary domestic trading environment. Without an ongoing push for trade competitiveness, a stable regulatory environment and reform to drive down input costs, suppliers run the risk of remaining forever at the mercy of the domestic supermarket price war.
“The food and grocery sector has shown great resilience and ability to adjust to the shifting market over the past five years, but it can’t be taken for granted. There is an enormous opportunity for Australia to capitalise on improved market access and growing demand from middle class consumers in the emerging economies of Asia and the Middle East but it will require favourable policy settings to drive a step change in investment in the food and grocery sector.”
Andrew Metcalfe AO, Federal Government Lead Partner, Agribusiness Lead Partner, EY similarly commented on the industry’s strengths and challenges. “The food and grocery sector continues to play a very important role in the Australian economy. The 2016 Australian Food and Grocery Council State of the Industry Report found that the industry contributes strongly to international trade and is a key employer, particularly outside of metropolitan areas,” said Mr Metcalfe.
“Growing markets in Asia and the improvement of market access through FTAs should further support the industry’s growing export market and provide additional opportunities. However, the report has highlighted that the industry faces a number of challenges including addressing the decline in productivity and investment to ensure the industry remains internationally competitive,” said Mr Metcalfe.
Click here to view a copy of the 2016 State of the Industry Report
Contact: James Mathews 0407 416 002
