About B-QUAL
About
B-QUAL
It is well recognised in the honey industry that quality standards, in relation to food safety, are demanded by customers, wholesalers and governments. Also, it is necessary to comply with the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Safety Standard, which requires food businesses to develop a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based food safety program.
B-QUAL Objective
B-QUAL Australia Pty Limited has been established by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) as an independently developed and audited food safety program.
B-QUAL aims to ensure that 90% of honey produced in Australia is quality assured for both the domestic and export markets. The specific requirements of the European Union (EU) for the export of honey and honey products will be met. B-QUAL meets the requirements of FSANZ Food Safety Standard. The adoption of these standards will enable continued market access both in Australia and overseas. B-QUAL aims to address the current industry biosecurity codes of practice which includes an auditable biosecurity plan.
It is also proposed that the adoption of a national quality standard will form the basis of an ongoing program, to ensure industry best practice and ongoing industry training.
Product standards include all facets of production and services of the industry including honey, queen bees, pollination and honey packing. The resulting system provides a self-policing means of ensuring standards are kept at industry best practice and meet the domestic and international market demands.
What does B-QUAL cover?
What does
B-QUAL cover?
As the industry quality assurance program, B-QUAL includes the production and delivery of the:
- Industry Food Safety Program;
- ‘Honey Quality Standard’ booklet;
- QA (quality assurance) templates to assist beekeepers with the writing of a QA manual;
- Training materials for industry facilitators;
- Auditor training manual;
- National ‘Auditor Training Workshops’; and
- Development of an industry biosecurity plan.
Who owns and operates B-QUAL?
B-QUAL is owned by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) through B-QUAL Australia Pty Ltd. The program is administered by Safe Food Australia and is managed by the B-QUAL Australia Pty Ltd Board. The board has the following responsibilities:
- The effective management and operation of the B-QUAL by recommending changes to it;
- assessing recommendations from Safe Food Australia on the certification status of individual participants and auditors; and,
- report to the wider community on the status of the Australian Honey Bee industry based on objective information generated from monitoring of the B-QUAL program.
The B-QUAL Board
Wayne Fuller – Chairman (NSW)
0428 663 366
Paul Costa (NSW)
0499 775 664
Don Muir (VIC)
0404 381 942
Rodney Ruge (QLD)
0427 271 580
Stephen Targett (NSW)
0428 649 321