Frequently asked questions – Berry, leafy vegetable and melon requirements

New national standards for producers and processors of berries, leafy vegetables and melons will apply in NSW from 12 February 2026.  

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the new requirements.

Have a question not covered here? Please email it to us at food.contact@dpird.nsw.gov.au

What do I need to do and when?

The new requirements take effect in NSW on 12 February 2026. What businesses need to do depends on size and existing accreditation.

We encourage all growers and primary processors of berries, leafy vegetables and melons captured by the new standards to notify their details or apply for their licence from 12 February 2026. 

We're initially adopting an educative and awareness approach to the new requirements.  

How do I apply for a licence or notify my details?

The Food Authority is finalising updates to its online notification and licence application forms and hopes to have these available to growers in December 2025.  

We encourage all growers and primary processors of berries, leafy vegetables and melons captured by the new standards to notify their details or apply for their licence from 12 February 2026.  We're initially adopting an educative and awareness approach to the new requirements.  

Will I need to change how my business operates?

Not unless current operations conflict with the minimum food safety requirements. The standards are outcomes-focused, meaning they do not prescribe any specific processes or procedures. Instead, they focus on achieving desired food safety outcomes.    

What will it cost?

Total costs will depend on how the business currently operates and its existing food safety measures.

Businesses already following good food safety practices will have lower costs. Others may need to change the way they do things, for example, train staff or develop new procedures.

Licence fees will be charged from 12 February 2027 for processing businesses and growers with more than 2ha under cultivation - these are outlined in the tables below.  

• Fees for growers are based on cultivated hectares (ha) – the size of the area used to grow berries, leafy vegetables, and/or melons.
• Fees for processors are based on the number of full time equivalent (FTE) food handlers working at the business.
• Discounts apply to large-scale leafy vegetable and melon processors already certified to industry food safety schemes. 

Licence fees for berry businesses from 12 February 2027

Licence fees for leafy vegetable and melon growers from 12 February 2027

Licence fees for leafy vegetable and melon processors from 12 February 2027

Note: The application fee will apply to new applications only from 12 February 2027, that is, if the business applies for their licence before 12 February 2027, they will not need to pay the application fee.  

What if I grow more than one produce type, for example berries and leafy vegetables?

The total area of cultivated produce applies. For example, if a grower uses 4ha to grow berries, and 1ha to grow leafy vegetables, they will need to apply for a Food Authority licence as a berry and leafy vegetable grower. The total cultivation area of 5ha would apply for licence fee calculation. 

What if I’m already certified to an industry food safety scheme?

The Food Authority will recognise growers and processors certified to the following Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) food safety schemes as meeting the requirements of the national standards:

• Freshcare
• SQF
• GLOBAL G.A.P
• BRCGS

Industry scheme-certified businesses need to:

• notify their details to the Food Authority (<2ha under cultivation) or apply for a Food Authority licence (all other businesses)
• comply with the national standards
• continue to have their audits delivered through the scheme.

Scheme certified businesses do not need an additional food safety management statement, or food safety program.

Licence fee discounts also apply to large-scale scheme certified processors. 

What does ‘cultivated hectares’ mean?

Cultivated hectares (ha) refer to the land used to grow berries, leafy vegetables, or melons, not the grower’s total land.

For example, if a grower has:

• 4ha of blueberries, they will need to apply for a licence with the Food Authority
• 40ha of land but only 1 ha is used to grow blueberries, they will need to notify their details to the Food Authority
• 3ha of mixed vegetable production but only 1 ha is used to grow leafy vegetables (and the rest is used for other crops like tomatoes and cucumbers), they only have 1 cultivated ha and will need to notify their details to the Food Authority.

What if I sell produce directly to the public?

Businesses selling produce directly to consumers, for example at the farm gate, through vegetable delivery boxes, or at farmers markets, will need to notify their local council of their business details – as well as the Food Authority.  

This is because local councils have oversight of retail food businesses in NSW. The Food Authority has jurisdiction of growing and processing practices and wholesale sales.  

If you sell the produce in a different council area – for example at a farmers market in another region – you need to notify the home council where you grow the produce, and you may need to arrange a temporary permit for the market where you're selling.  

Get in touch with your local council for more information.  

Will I be audited or inspected?

The Food Authority will take an educative approach for the first 12 months to build awareness and support implementation of the new requirements for all businesses.

Compliance activity (audits and inspections) will not start until 12 February 2027, unless action is required before in response to a risk to public health.

After 12 February 2027, compliance activity will vary depending on the business and associated risks. While audits and inspections are one of our regulatory methods, our goal is to minimise them for low-risk businesses and high performing businesses.

Businesses already certified to industry food safety schemes will continue to have routine food safety compliance delivered through the scheme, not the Food Authority.

The Food Authority will not undertake regular compliance inspections of businesses growing berries, leafy vegetables or melons on less than 2ha.

What is available to help me meet the requirements?

The Food Authority is developing a range of tools and resources, including an educational program that will include grower workshops, personalised advice, and informal farm/site visits, to help businesses comply.

Subscribe for updates on the Berries, leafy vegetables and melons page to be informed as resources become available.  

The Food Authority is also offering free water testing for leafy vegetable growers growing less than 10ha if they are not already certified to an industry scheme. For more information on free water testing, email food.contact@dpird.nsw.gov.au.

What happens if I don’t comply?

While the Food Authority’s focus will be on education and awareness for the first 12 months, it is a legal requirement for berry, leafy vegetable and melon businesses to either notify their details or apply for a licence, and follow the standards, from 12 February 2026.

Compliance activity will start from 12 February 2027 (unless action is required before in response to a risk to public health).

Businesses that do not comply from 12 February 2027 may be subject to compliance and enforcement action. Actions increase in severity depending on the circumstances and can range from warning letters through to prosecutions. Read more about compliance.

What if I’m already notified with the local council?

You will still need to notify the Food Authority, or apply for a Food Authority licence, and follow the standards.

Local councils will continue to have oversight of all retail sales of produce (sales to the public), while the Food Authority has jurisdiction of growing and processing practices and wholesale (business to business) sales.  

So businesses selling produce directly to consumers, for example at the farm gate, through vegetable delivery boxes, or at farmers markets, need to notify their local council and notify the Food Authority (or apply for Food Authority a licence for >2ha of produce).

Why is NSW different to other states?

The new standards, developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, apply nationally however, each state government has responsibility for implementing them. This means that some requirements might be different in each state.    

How do I create a food safety management statement?

The Food Authority is developing an online form to help businesses develop their food safety management statement. We hope to have this available to businesses before February 2026.

Growers and processors already certified to an industry food safety scheme do not need to develop a food safety management statement.

How do I create a food safety program?

The Food Authority has a customisable template businesses can use to develop their food safety program. See:

1. Guide to develop a food safety program (PDF, 226 KB)
2. Template for a food safety program (Word format, 56 KB)

Growers and processors already certified to an industry food safety scheme do not need to develop another food safety program or add to an existing one.