IN THIS UPDATE

SSA Network

Costs of Red Tape

Food Labelling Review

Trade & Market Access

Seafood Trade Database

Australian Seafood Brand

Seafood & Health Conference

SSA Mid-Term Review

AA 2010 Conference

New Products Available 

SSA on Facebook

From the SSA Managing Director

Welcome to SSA Update which aims to provide specialized information to help seafood industry businesses meet the challenges of today’s global business environment. 

The need for quality and timely information has never been greater as the viability of seafood businesses (from producers through to processors, exporters and retailers) continues to be challenged by the strong Australian dollar, increasing business costs, cost of regulatory red tape and competition on the domestic and export markets.

A core role for SSA is to provide information and services to help seafood businesses meet these challenges.

We welcome your feedback on SSA Update. Please also advise us of seafood industry development topics that you would like covered in future editions of SSA Update. More information ssa@seafoodservices.com.au.

Ted Loveday, SSA Managing Director

SSA Network Update

A successful SSA Network meeting was held in Brisbane on 25 February. SSA is pleased with the continuing increase in attendance at Network meetings which has been further boosted by the decision to hold meetings of the Seafood Access Forum in conjunction with the Network. Notes from the Network meeting and information on the next meeting are available on the Network website.

SSA Report on the Costs of Red Tape

SSA’s Report of The Cost of Regulatory Compliance in the Australian Seafood Industry has reaffirmed the need to eliminate unnecessary compliance costs throughout the seafood chain. SSA submitted this report to the Productivity Commission for its information and use in relevant reviews. SSA is also pursuing actions recommended in the report to help reduce or eliminate unnecessary regulatory compliance costs.

The SSA Board has adopted a key recommendation in the report for SSA to undertake the development of a formal Australian Standard for Seafood Safety which has the support of all relevant regulators, industry and seafood retailers (large and small). More about this proposed standard in future editions of SSA Update.

SSA certainly welcomes your feedback and comment. Download the SSA report here.

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Review Website

Review of Food Labelling Law & Policy

SSA is preparing a submission to the Federal Government's Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy. Seafood industry stakeholders are encouraged to make submissions to this review. Submissions can be made online via the review website. The closing date for submissions is 14 may 2010.

Key seafood labelling issues being addressed in SSA's submission include Country of Origin labelling, use of Standard Fish Names and ensuring consumers have adequate information to make an informed choice when they purchase seafood.

SSA welcomes your input on issues to be covered in our submission. Email ssa@seafoodservices.com.au.

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 seafood.net.au/trade/

Seafood Trade & Market Access Forum (SAF)

The Seafood Trade and Market Access Forum (SAF) is making inroads into long term and emerging seafood trade and market access barriers.  The SAF provides a rigorous and inclusive process for systematically and persistently tackling our trade and market access barriers and opportunities. It is an industry-driven process in which companies, associations and government agencies participate as equal partners on trade access.

Australian seafood industry stakeholders may apply to access the wealth of trade and market access information now available on the SAF Secure Website. Click here for details of the next SAF meeting.

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 seafood.net.au/trade

Seafood Trade & Market Access Database

Subject to access to the SAF secure website being approved, you will also have access to our comprehensive Seafood Trade & Market Access Database which contains information on certification requirements, trade issues, detainments, residue standards, tariffs and more, for over twenty countries that are important export destinations for Australian seafood. Logon to the SAF Secure Website here.

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Australian Seafood Brand

SSA and Seafood Experience Australia (SEA) are working in partnership with Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL) to provide a marketing platform that will allow Australian seafood producers to clearly brand and promote Australian seafood using the well established and trusted Australian Made, Australian Grown brand and logo.

SSA, SEA and AMCL are also developing an @@Australian Seafood” representation for use with the logo.  This customised representation directly addresses a high industry priority by providing a tool for industry to promote its world leading environmental management practices and promote the use of standard fish names.

As an introductory offer SSA will refund eligible Australian seafood businesses up to 50 per cent of the cost of new AMAG licenses to use the logo. More information ….

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International Seafood & Health Conference in Australia

Everyone involved in the seafood industry has a unique opportunity to participate in the International Seafood and Health Conference being held in Australia for the fist time this November.

The conference and associated exhibition, being hosted by Seafood Experience Australia (SEA) and SSA, will communicate information about the very latest medical research into all health aspects of seafood. The conference program covers topics such as Child Nutrition, Brain Nutrition, Obesity, Health Benefits of Fish Consumption, Nutrition and Public Health, the role of fish and seafood in human cognitive development, Diabetes, Heart Health, education issues in nutrition and public health, and importantly Sustainability of Fisheries Resources and the future of aquaculture. Put this important date in your diary now. More information on the conference website.

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SSA Mid-Term Review

The independent mid-term review into the performance of SSA has been completed. The review report, is currently with the FRDC Board. The review gave a positive report card on SSA’s performance. An overview will be included in a future SSA Update when the report is publicly available.

Australasian Aquaculture 2010 Conference

If you have not registered for Australasian Aquaculture 2010, now is the time to do so. The conference theme of ‘Keeping Pace With Change’ will provide an opportunity to come together and take stock on the position of the industry, to look ahead to what and where we want to be and to discuss various strategies for us to maximise our potential. Register here …

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New Products available from SSA

Australian Quality Index Manual

Click here for this manual which provides an accurate method for measuring changes in chilled seafood throughout the whole chain from point of harvest through transport, auction, distribution and sale. QI provides highly reliable information used for control of quality, management of product, and enhances marketing opportunities for seafood.

OH&S Induction for the Post Harvest Sector of Australian Seafood Industry

Click here to obtain this workbook and DVD package which has been developed by Sydney Fish Market Ltd, FRDC and SSA to assist businesses in the post-harvest sector of the Australian seafood industry in meeting their obligations to provide a safe place of work.

Updated Australian Seafood Industry Directory

Click here for the updated Australian Seafood Industry Directory. Online access or hard copy of the directory.

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Join SSA on Facebook

Join SSA on Facebook to access and share even more networks and information.  

Seafood Services Australia is a not for profit company supported by the Australian seafood industry and the Australian Government through funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.