12 April 2022
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise Australian manufacturers and exporters of food products to China of GACC’s release of 2 updated technical guidelines on the management of COVID-19 in cold food chains. GACC recommended this information be conveyed to manufacturers of cold chain foods, including edible agricultural products such as fruit.
Summary of changes and key points
- GACC recently released an official English translation of the following guidelines provided in Attachment 1:
- Technical guidelines for the prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 in cold-chain food production and operation (second edition)
- Technical guidelines for disinfection in prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 in cold-chain food production and operation (second edition)
- The guidelines are an update to existing GACC requirements and protocol to manage and respond to COVID-19 within the cold chain.
- Information around personal hygiene for staff and disinfection measures for surfaces as well as approved disinfectant products are included.
- GACC notes the guidelines are prepared considering advice contained in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) updated ‘Guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 within food businesses’ issued August 2021.
- The GACC guidelines are written as instruction for domestic use in China.
- We understand that whilst GACC have not requested overseas manufacturers comply with the guidelines, they do ask that manufacturers exporting product to China ensure adequate prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 in their production and operation.
- Australian manufacturers and exporters of cold chain foods to China should be aware that some of the content of these documents has been included in the scope of international audits.
Download
Attachment 1 - GACC technical guidelines relating to COVID-19 [PDF 8.5MB]
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch