Agriculture Victoria is supporting berry, melon and leafy vegetable growers to implement new national food safety standards.
These standards are found in the Food Standards Code (the Code), and each state or territory has an obligation to interpret, implement and enforce them.
Regulations introduced last year aim to meet Victoria's obligation to implement the Code and to maintain and advance the state's reputation as a responsible and safe producer of food.
The regulations help industry to provide continued food safety assurance and reduce risks associated with foodborne illness.
Robust food safety standards underpin Victoria's access to important interstate and international markets, as well as supporting consumer confidence.
Agriculture Victoria's Horticulture Engagement Officer, Emily Scott is helping growers to meet their food safety compliance obligations.
'To help growers navigate the registration process to comply with the new food safety standards for berries, leafy vegetables, and melons, Agriculture Victoria has created a step-by-step Food Safety Registration Guide,' she said.
Agriculture Victoria will be communicating directly with many unregistered businesses to ensure they register and are meeting compliance obligations, noting that action on unregistered businesses may be considered during 2026.
For growers who completed a food safety registration in 2025, renewals will begin to be due from early this year.
Renewal (and registration) fees will continue to have a 50% discount applied for 2026 to support business registration.
The Food Safety Standards apply to all berry, melon and leafy vegetable businesses that grow or complete primary or 'early-stage' processing, including small producers operating farm-gate, u-pick or local market stands.
Under the Food (Primary Production and Processing) Regulations 2025 registration with Agriculture Victoria is a legal requirement for all Victorian leafy vegetable, berry, and melon businesses.
