The Abbott Government is continuing its election commitment to red tape reduction, with the food sector the beneficiary of a bill to remove the need for reporting of food-related deaths, serious illness and injury under section 131 of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
However, the mandatory reporting requirements will continue to apply to food businesses in relation to food packaging and promotional items as well as to all other consumer products provided by non-food businesses.
In their article today, Scott Bouvier and Melissa Monks explain the proposed changes as well as some challenges with the continuing obligations under section 131 of the ACL which should be taken into account by the Government.
The new bill will still need to pass the Senate and it will be interesting to see how the cross benchers react given the public sensitivities about food safety. We expect that the debate will continue and lobbying efforts will be intense.
Read the full article here.
