SAFEMEAT Operations

Summary

SAFEMEAT is a partnership between the red meat and livestock industry and the state and federal governments of Australia. This partnership ensures that Australian red meat and livestock products achieve the highest standards of safety and hygiene from the farm to the consumer. SAFEMEAT initiates research and development, develops communication linkages, monitors the status of Australia's products, reviews standards and examines emerging issues that could have an impact on the industry in the future. SAFEMEAT encourages rationalisation of regulation and standards within the industry, drives the direction of strategies that ensure meat safety standards and hygiene and monitors industry performance in respect of these.

SAFEMEAT oversees the implementation and provides advice and direction to a number of industry priorities including standards and regulations, emergency disease management, animal diseases, residues, pathogens, systems development and management and communication and education.
Every sector of the supply chain in Australia is represented by SAFEMEAT, from cattle, sheep and goat producers and lot feeders, livestock agents, through to saleyard operators, transportation operators, processors, exporters and state and federal government officials. SAFEMEAT members, committees and working groups work together to ensure safe and hygienic product was delivered to the market place.

SAFEMEAT Operations expenses include funding for the SAFEMEAT Secretariat, which is located within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, funding for the chairs of the SAFEMEAT Partnership and Executive Group, meeting costs and other operational expenses. Funding to attend meetings and undertake projects is provided by individual SAFEMEAT members.

SAFEMEAT produces an Annual Report of its activities and further information can be found on the Safemeat website.