Food and beverage industry regulations and compliance

Food safety regulations apply to each stage of food and beverage production, from production, processing and manufacture to distribution and sale.

You must be able to verify the safety and quality of your products to other businesses that you supply your products to, such as manufacturers, retailers and fast food franchises, as well as to export markets if you choose to export overseas.

Food safety standards

Queensland Health has overall responsibility for food safety in Queensland, including food safety for restaurants and food retailers.

Safe Food Production Queensland regulates industry-based food safety schemes for:

• meat
• eggs
• dairy
• seafood
• horticulture (seed sprouts).

Your local council may also require specific permits or licences for your area.

The Allergen Bureau shares information and experience within the food industry on the management of food allergens to ensure consumers receive relevant, consistent and easy to understand information on food allergens.

Alcohol

Liquor licensing applies to businesses selling or supplying liquor. Australian wine laws apply to wine producers and distributors.

Organic and bio-dynamic certification

To have your food product certified as organic or bio-dynamic and use the official mark or logo, apply to an approved organic certifying organisation.

To export your product as organic or bio-dynamic, you need to meet approved certification standards.

Genetically modified foods

In Queensland, GM foods are regulated under Standard 1.5.2 – Food produced using Gene Technology of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The Gene Technology Act (Qld) 2001 mirrors the Commonwealth legislation.

To sell genetically modified (GM) foods in Australia, you must submit your product for a safety evaluation by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator oversees development and release of GM organisms, including GM food, under the Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cwlth).