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Imported Food Consultative Committee IFCC
The Imported Food Consultative Committee (IFCC) is a consultative forum for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and the food and beverage importing industry.
The objective of the IFCC is to be an effective consultative forum, involving other relevant stakeholders, that
- assists AQIS to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of AQIS controls on food and beverage imports.
- promotes the coordination of the activities of AQIS and industry to facilitate the clearance of food and beverage imports.
- provides technical input into policy development and regulatory changes that considers the recommendations of the National Competition Policy on the Imported Food Control Act 1992.
The scope of the IFCC is:
- technical and operational issues arising out of the administration of the Imported Food Control Act 1992
- technical and operational issues arising out of the application of quarantine legislation to food commodities
- matters related to the issuing of import permits for food commodities.
Some specific subjects that the Committee may consider are:
- proposed developments in, and proposed changes to, legislation, policy and operational procedures.
- key performance issues and priorities for resource allocation.
- food safety and quarantine matters that relate to, or affect, imported food or beverages.
- the development, implementation and maintenance of inspection schemes, including profiling, certification, documentation, rates of inspection, test selection and operational procedures.
- the development of alternative food safety measures to end-point inspection
- procedures relating to the issuing of import permits.
- other matters that the Committee regards as relevant to its scope.
The IFCC notes that it is part of a wider consultative framework between AQIS and industry, in which the AQIS Industry Cargo Consultative Committee (AICCC) is the principal advisory forum for AQIS and the cargo handling and importing industry to consult on all issues arising from the management of Australia’s Import Quarantine strategy. Another industry consultative committee of relevance to the IFCC is the Biologicals Working Group. The IFCC notes that the Quarantine and Exports Advisory Council (QEAC) has an overarching role.
Membership
IFCC membership consists of representatives from the following government bodies and industry categories:
Government
- AQIS
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
Industry
- Imported food for retail sale
- Imported food for further processing
- Local processor
- Imports of emerging production countries (such as Asian foods)
- High value, low volume imported food (i.e. specialty products)
- Seafood imports
- Fruit and vegetable imports
- General
- AQIS Appointed Analysts
Observers
IFCC is chaired by an industry representative (currently Mr Tony Beaver, Secretary, Food & Beverage Importers Association), with AQIS providing the secretariat.
Meetings
IFCC normally meets biannually in Canberra.
Contacts
For further information about IFCC contact the Secretariat.
AQIS Imported Food Program
Tel: 02 6272 5488
Fax: 02 6272 5423
Email: IFCC
IFCC Chair
Tel: 03 9639 3644
Fax: 03 9639 0638
Email: tony.beaver@fbia.org.au