SAFEMEAT Terms of Reference drafting

Summary

Australia's reputation as a world leading producer of high quality and safe red meat is underpinned by strict meat safety and traceability systems. To support these systems, the Australian government and the red meat and livestock industry established SAFEMEAT, a consultative partnership consisting of representatives from government and industry.

SAFEMEAT is dedicated to promoting Australia's best practice management systems that ensure when customers purchase red meat or livestock from Australia, they can be confident in the quality and safety of their choice.

This project was undertaken to develop a draft Terms of Reference for SAFEMEAT in line with the recommendations arising from the SAFEMEAT Partners Terms of Reference Review, which were endorsed by SAFEMEAT Partners in June 2019.

Objectives

To develop the core governance documents to underpin SAFEMEAT's operations, in line with the endorsed SAFEMEAT Partners Terms of Reference Review recommendations:

• SAFEMEAT Terms of Reference
• SAFEMEAT Members Code of Conduct
• SAFEMEAT Meeting Protocols
• SAFEMEAT Partners Chair skill set and selection process.

Benefits to industry

SAFEMEAT is a partnership between industry and government that provides a platform for engagement and collaboration on policy that ensures Australian meat products adhere to the highest standards of safety - from the paddock to the plate. SAFEMEAT provides strategic input and advice on the meat safety systems that are in place throughout the production supply chain and regularly reviews its governance processes in line with best practices.

MLA action

The governance documents developed through this project were endorsed by SAFEMEAT in December 2020 and are now underpinning SAFEMEAT's operations.