News

PrimeSafe licensees can use alternative techniques to those described in the Australian and Victorian Food Safety Standards, as long they can demonstrate the food produced is equally as safe.

More specifically, both the Australian and Victorian Standards for the production of meat and poultry products allows for the application of alternative techniques. But the food safety outcome must be equivalent to or better than the outcome that is required in the relevant Standard.

PrimeSafe has procedures to ensure licensees demonstate compliance with the requirements of the relevant standards. Alternative approvals can be granted for a process or construction and equipment.

Examples of alternative techniques can include cooking processes, cooling process, curing processes such a cold smoking of meat and seafood; and technically challenging processes such as dry ageing, sous vide and high-pressure processing.

To apply to use an alternative technique, PrimeSafe licensees must submit a proposal that includes:

• A detailed submission describing the alternative proposal including the sections of the National Standards that are applicable.
• Validation of the alternative proposal using microbiological analysis (where appropriate) to confirm that the proposal demonstrate equivalence to the required outcome of the relevant Standard. The microbiological analysis must include a comparison of the microbiological results achieved using procedures that comply with the relevant Standard and the results achieved using the proposed alternative techniques.

If a microbiological analysis is not appropriate, you can refer to a validated scientific source. See more information in validation and verification below.

• A HACCP plan including procedures to verify that the equivalence status of the alternative technique is maintained.

Steps to apply for an alternative technique.

For more information about alternative approvals, you can contact PrimeSafe through the PrimeSafe Licensee Portal or directly on 9685 7333.

Validation and verification.

You must provide data in your application to use an alternative techniques that shows the food safety outcome is equivalent or better than the requirement of the Standard. This can be achieved by either validation or verification.

Validation is achieved through a trial process where the data from the alternative technique is compared with data achieved from the standard process and it must be equivalent if not better than the standard process.

Verification is achieved when data from a recognised scientific or credible source that has been validated for the alternative technique is referenced and monitoring data collected to ensure that the alternative technique is still valid for the facility where the alternative technique is applied. The microbiological analysis must include a comparison of the microbiological results achieved using procedures that comply with the relevant Standard and the results achieved using the proposed alternative technique.