The Queensland Government was determined to introduce a comprehensive and dedicated food safety program for eggs, Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said today.

Kens Comment: Egg legislation or fowl play by Smart State politicians??? You have got to be joking, mate.

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Primary Industries & Fisheries, Henry Palaszczuk
prim...@cabinet.qld.gov.au
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08/11/04

Speaking at the Queensland launch of the Food Safety Week in Queensland, Mr Palaszczuk said over the last seven years there had been 12 reports of food-borne illness outbreaks involving eggs and egg products.

"These outbreaks resulted in 796 cases of illness, 81 hospitalisations and two deaths," Mr Palaszczuk said.

Mr Palaszczuk said public comment on a draft food safety scheme, prepared by the Government's Safe Food Queensland, closed on 19 October.

"A key aim of this food safety scheme would be to reduce the incidence of, and the potential for, food borne illness from eggs and egg products," he said.

Major food safety risks from eggs and egg products include:

* cracked and dirty eggs;

* use of unpasteurised egg pulp;

* lack of traceability;

* lack of preparedness for emergence of egg-borne disease not yet endemic in this country.

The proposed regulation will address the above risks in the following manner:

* by requiring all cracked and pulped egg product be pasteurised;

* by requiring all egg producers do so under an accredited food safety program (except for own use);

* by requiring compliance from all commercial non-chicken producers;

* by requiring through chain traceability of all egg product.

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries estimated the gross value of egg production in Queensland to be $90 million last financial year.

It was also expected for the production of eggs in Queensland to be approximately 52 million dozen eggs last financial year.

Mr Palaszczuk said he strongly supported Food Safety Week and he was pleased at the supporting role of Safe Food Queensland and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries along with Queensland Health and Food Safety Information Council in publicising Food Safety Week.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3239 3004 or 0418 197 350