The food safety agency Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) this month issued a Food Industry Recall Protocol, which provides information on recalling food in Australia and guidance for food businesses on developing a written food recall plan.

This Protocol helps food businesses plan for and respond to a need to recall potentially unsafe food by setting out:

  • the roles and responsibilities of food businesses and government during a food recall
  • the key steps in the food recall process
  • the legal requirements for food businesses in relation to food recalls
  • important elements of a food recall plan.

Attachments provided include:

  • writing a food recall plan for your food business
  • contact details for FSANZ and state/territory food enforcement agencies
  • an explanation of how recalls are classified
  • flow diagram to assist with deciding if food should be recalled or withdrawn
  • examples of problems and suggested actions
  • examples of recall notifications and press advertisements.

Download the full, 48-page Food Industry Recall Protocol here (pdf, 1.9 MB) | (Word document, 3.3 MB).


Author(s): Heidi Parsons