Victoria’s new food safety regulator, Safe Food Victoria, has officially commenced operations, bringing together several existing regulatory bodies under a single organisation.
The new regulator will oversee around 12,000 food producers across the state and is intended to cut red tape and simplify regulatory arrangements while maintaining Victoria’s food safety standards.
Minister for agriculture Michaela Settle visited Meredith Dairy to mark the start of operations alongside Safe Food Victoria chair Luke Wilson and chief executive officer Mike Gooey.
“Whether it’s milk in the fridge or dinner on the table, Victorian families should know their food is safe,” said Settle.
“A trusted food safety system is good for families, good for farmers and good for exports. Safe Food Victoria will help Victoria keep leading the nation.”
Safe Food Victoria consolidates the functions of Dairy Food Safety Victoria, PrimeSafe and other regulatory bodies into a single agency. The regulator will report to the minister for agriculture and work with local governments to deliver food safety regulatory services.
“Food safety and great food go hand-in-hand – we’re proud of Meredith Dairy’s products and look forward to working with the new regulator,” said Meredith Dairy co-owner Julie Cameron.
According to the Victorian Government, the changes are designed to streamline food regulation, reduce administrative complexity for businesses and align Victoria’s regulatory framework with those operating in other Australian jurisdictions.
The government said the new regulator will retain existing technical expertise while maintaining the state’s focus on food safety and consumer protection.
No redundancies are planned as part of the transition, with transferring employees retaining their current employment conditions.
The establishment of Safe Food Victoria also marks the beginning of further work to modernise food safety legislation and regulatory processes. The government said future reforms will focus on updating regulatory tools, clarifying responsibilities and creating a more flexible food safety system capable of responding to emerging risks.
The consolidation forms part of Victoria’s Economic Growth Statement, which includes measures aimed at reducing regulatory burden and making it easier for businesses to operate.
“Food safety is a public health priority, which is why consumers are such an important focus of this new regulator’s work,” said minister for health Harriet Shing.
“Safe Food Victoria is a really good example of a collaborative and common-sense approach to managing and regulating food safety.”
