Draft Food Regulation 2025

The NSW Food Authority sought feedback on proposed updates to the Draft NSW Food Regulation in December 2024 and considered all submissions. 

We are now redrafting the Regulation in response to feedback from industry about how the national berry, leafy vegetable and melon standards will be implemented in NSW.  

The draft Food Regulation 2025 proposed licensing requirements for berry, leafy vegetable and melon growers and processors under the NSW Plant Products Food Safety Scheme. 

Changes to the draft include:

• commencing the national standards for berries, leafy vegetables and melons on 12 February 2026 in NSW
• changing land thresholds for growers from total hectares to cultivated hectares
• removing licensing and audit costs from very small berry, leafy vegetable and melon producers with less than 2 hectares under cultivation. These businesses will still need to notify their details to the Food Authority and comply with the national standards
• removing the food safety management statement requirement for very small berry, leafy vegetable and melon producers (with less than 2 cultivated hectares)
• removing food licence requirements for vehicles that only transport berries, leafy vegetables or melons
• removing licensing for businesses that only store berries, leafy vegetables or melons
• deleting wash water testing requirements for leafy vegetable and melon businesses
• introducing a flat licensing fee for all leafy vegetable and melon producers with more than 10 cultivated hectares
• removing regulatory ambiguity in the NSW Plant Products Food Safey Scheme between existing and new plant products.  

Next steps

The Food Authority is progressing these changes with a view to having the Food Regulation 2025 finalised on or before 1 September 2025.

Until it is finalised and officially made, no licensing requirements, on-farm inspections or fees will be imposed on producers and processors in the berry, leafy vegetable or melon sectors.  

To stay informed, subscribe for updates on the berries, leafy vegetables and melons page.  

Learn more about the NSW Food Regulation on our legislation page.