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NSW leads nation on "Name and Shame" legislation
28 Feb 2008
The Iemma Government is introducing tough new laws that will give New South Wales consumers unprecedented access to information about breaches of food safety law, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today.
The Minister said legislative amendments supported by the Government will allow the NSW Food Authority to publish on its website details of food businesses that receive penalty notices for food law breaches.
"This is a big victory for consumers who deserve to know which food businesses are doing the wrong thing," he said.
"This is about choice – if there was a serious problem with a venue customers have the right to know.
"NSW is taking the national lead on divulging this important information that will help reduce potential health risks related to food.
"The Authority already publishes details of food safety law convictions on its website, this latest development will see businesses and people who are issued with penalty notices added to that list.”
Minister Macdonald said the new laws should be debated in Parliament within the next month.
"The result will be that if the Food Authority issues a penalty notice about a serious offence the outlet will be named," he said.
"For example, we had a case of a man issued with a penalty notice for mixing baby octopus in an old rusty cement mixer – he would be named under the new legislation.
"Also, a consumer purchased a chicken burger with a white pill embedded in the bottom – that outlet too would be named.
"Relatively minor offences, like poor floor maintenance - where grout is missing between floor tiles, would not see an outlet named, however."
"The public has a right to know which retailers and food service businesses are being convicted for breaches of the law or are receiving penalty notices for serious matters so they can decide where to eat and where to shop.
"The vast majority of NSW food businesses comply with food laws, but a tiny minority of operators endanger public health.
"This legislation achieves a balance between the public’s right to know and the rights of food businesses to their good reputation.
"Dodgy food businesses that cut corners with food safety are now on notice: if they do not put food safety first then they could suffer the consequences.
"This is a very important initiative that has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders such as local government, the food industry and consumer groups.
"There has been a lot of constructive input from stakeholders into framing the new laws and general support for the intent of the legislation."
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