Dairy Industry Consultative Committee
The NSW Dairy Industry Consultative Committee (DICC) was established to provide the NSW Minister for Agriculture and the NSW Food Authority with a consistent and concise forum for consulting on matters relating to the Dairy Food Safety Scheme.
In particular, it consults on matters including:
- the continuing operation of the Dairy Food Safety Scheme
- any proposed amendment of the Dairy Food Safety Scheme.
Section 105 of the Food Act 2003 requires the Food Authority to consult with industry sectors affected by a regulatory Food Safety Scheme, in accordance with provisions of that Scheme.
The Dairy Food Safety Scheme under Food Regulation 2015 commenced in November 2014.
The committee performs a consultative role with government to ensure the safe and suitable supply of dairy products for human consumption and advises the Food Authority on policies and practices that may be introduced into Dairy Food Safety Schemes.
DICC members are appointed by the CEO of the Food Authority with membership drawn from a broad skills base across the dairy sector. Each member has expertise in specific fields enabling them to provide the Food Authority with a broad range of expert advice and new ideas to enhance strategic focus and issue resolution across the dairy sector.
Members are appointed for a term of up to 2 years and the DICC is chaired by the Food Authority.
Functions of the Dairy Industry Consultative Committee
The DICC provides feedback to the NSW Minister for Agriculture and the Food Authority on issues relating to dairy industries, including:
- food safety policy and practices
- the Dairy Food Safety Scheme
- labelling, handling and hygiene
- investigating and prosecuting businesses and individuals engaged in deceptive or misleading conduct.
Meetings
The DICC meets approximately every 6 months, with agenda items called for 1 month before each meeting.
Meeting outcomes
- Outcomes of meeting held 25 October 2023
- Outcomes of meeting held 14 June 2023
- Outcomes of meeting held 26 October 2022
- Outcomes of meeting held 15 June 2022
- Outcomes of meeting held 20 October 2021
- Outcomes of meeting held 16 June 2021
- Outcomes of meeting held 21 October 2020
- Outcomes of meeting held 17 June 2020
- Outcomes of meeting held 10 September 2019
- Outcomes of meeting held 12 June 2019
- Outcomes of meeting held 18 September 2018
- Outcomes of meeting held 22 May 2018
- Outcomes of meeting held 19 September 2017
- Outcomes of meeting held 23 May 2017
- Outcomes of meeting held 20 September 2016
- Outcomes of meeting held 10 May 2016
- Outcomes of meeting held 2 September 2015
Key issues from committee meetings are reported in Foodwise.
Contact your industry representative for more information.
Terms of Reference
The primary objective of the DICC is to contribute to the Food Authority’s goal of ensuring the production and sale of dairy products that are safe and suitable for human consumption, by advising on policy and practices introduced into diary food safety schemes and developed through a consultative process.
The DICC consults with the Food Authority on food safety schemes under the Food Act 2003 relating to the dairy industry.
The DICC is also consulted on other dairy industry matters covered by the provisions of the Food Regulation 2015. This may include:
- Conducting consultation with the Food Authority for the purposes of section 105 of the Act in relation to the dairy food safety scheme
- The ongoing review of the operation of the dairy food safety scheme.
Where considered appropriate, the DICC may establish sub-committees to address specific issues between scheduled DICC meetings.
In addressing issues, the DICC will take into account, where appropriate, the policies and practices of interstate and overseas government food agencies and industry organisations.
Where appropriate, members will provide industry updates and current issues at each DICC meeting.
The Food Authority may continue to provide the Minister with its own advice on issues that come before the DICC.
DICC Charter and Procedural Guidelines
DICC Membership
NSW Dairy Industry Consultative Committee | ||||||
Representation | Name / Address | Contacts | Appointment date / term end | |||
EastAUSmilk (Advocacy for NSW and QLD dairy farms) | MRS RUTH KYDD “Avonmore” | P 03 5883 0225 M 0417 687 097 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
NSW Farmers Association (Advocacy for NSW dairy farms) | MR PHIL RYAN Dairy Delegate | P 6493 2273 M 0414 703 920 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
Bega Cheese (Dairy processor) | MRS BIMI SINGH Site Quality Manager | P 6499 1846 M 0438 457 053 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
The Riverina Dairy (Dairy producer) | MR JUSTIN WILSON Quality Assurance Manager | M 0427 865 576
| 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
Pecora Dairy (Dairy processor) | MR MICHAEL CAINS Director | M 0413 584 464 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
Norco Foods (Dairy processor)
| MRS SUSAN STANTON Quality Manager Norco Foods, a Division of Norco Co-operative 1 North Street, Raleigh NSW 2454 | P 02 5641 6100 Direct 611 M 0448 579 545 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
Star Combo Australia Pty Ltd (Dairy Processor) | MS SU ZHANG Chief Executive Officer | M 0432 718 716 P 02 9756 6555 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
Dairy Australia (Advocacy and service provider to support Australian dairy farms and industry)
| MRS HELEN DORNOM Manager, Sustainability including Food Safety & Integrity | T 03 9694 3897 F 03 9694 3833 M 0419 395 374 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
Dairy NSW (NSW dairy research and development) | Dr JAMES NEAL 40 Neals Lane Oxley Island NSW 2430 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | ||||
NSW Department of Primary Industries | MS SHEENA CARTER | M 0488 277 133 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
NSW Department of Primary Industries
| DR HELEN SCHAEFER Team Leader Animal Welfare Policy & Programs,
| M 0429 476 136 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
NSW Department of Primary Industries | JO COOMBE NSW Chief Veterinary Officer and Group Director Animal Biosecurity & Food Safety 105 Prince Street, Locked Bag 21, Orange NSW 2800 | P 02 6391 3410 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
NSW Department of Primary Industries | MR GREG VAKACI | P 02 9741 4807 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
NSW Department of Primary Industries | DR LISA SZABO Director Food Safety & CEO NSW Food Authority | P 02 9741 4700 | 3 December 2020 30 November 2023 | |||
Contact
Enquiries regarding the DICC can be made by contacting the relevant industry representative or the NSW Food Authority helpline at:
contact@foodauthority.nsw.gov.au
on 1300 552 406
or by fax 02 9647 0026.