Ensuring Protection From Harmful Contaminants

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How are contaminants regulated?

Contaminants are regulated in Schedule 19 of Standard 1.4.1 Contaminants and Natural Toxicants1 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (The Code). This standard was reviewed in the late 1990s using the following key principles (ANZFA, 1998; Abbott et al., 2003; Szabo et al., 2009):

What is a contaminant?

There is currently no official definition of a contaminant in The Code. However, the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193-1995; GSCTF)3 provides the following definition:

How do I prevent food contamination?

Working with food means that you are responsible for practicing good personal hygiene. To prevent food contamination: cover all cuts and wounds with a waterproof, brightly coloured bandage and a glove. The bright colour makes it easier to find if it drops in the food and the glove will stop it falling into the food.

Why is identifying contamination important?

Identifying contamination is important because it can cause harm to human health and the environment. Where a site is contaminated, the local environment, including the soil, indoor or outdoor air, surface water or groundwater, may be unsafe for site occupants.

How can a contaminated site be prevented?

1. Prevention 1.1 Contamination, or further contamination, of a site should be prevented. Steps need to be taken to minimise the creation of additional contaminated sites and to prevent the further contamination of already contaminated sites. 2. Management

Who provides advice on a site contamination?

Advice on the particulars of the contamination, or potential contamination, of a site is usually provided by an environmental consultant who assesses the site. This assessment is then reviewed by an approved auditor. This information may be subject to commercial in confidence considerations.

What is the primary purpose of management of potentially contaminated land?

The primary purpose of management of potentially contaminated land is to avoid risk to the health of future occupants of the land, as they may be affected by exposure to contamination. The risk of contamination should be assessed as early in the planning process as possible.

What Is Protection From Contaminants

1. https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/fact-sheets/storing-food-safely
2. https://www.aia.edu.au/what-is-food-safety-and-why-is-it-important/
3. https://www.aifst.asn.au/resources/Documents/Regulation%20of%20contaminants%20in%20food%20%20Long%20form%20January%202022.pdf
4. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety
5. https://blog.foodsafety.com.au/different-types-of-food-contamination
6. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/food-safety
7. https://help.foodsafety.com.au/en/articles/7157397-what-are-the-different-types-of-food-contamination
8. https://www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/resources/protecting-food-from-contamination
9. https://dofoodsafely.health.vic.gov.au/index.php/en/component/topics/section/good-personal-hygiene

Protection From Contaminants Information

1. https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/city-services/contaminated-sites
2. https://www.csiro.au/en/research/natural-environment/ecosystems/Contaminant-assessment
3. https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/guides-and-resources/guides/all-guides/contaminated-land-and-planning
4. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/exposure-standards-airborne-contaminants
5. https://www.nepc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/asc-nepm-key-principles-summary-remediation-management-final-draft.pdf
6. https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/laws-and-your-business/manage-contaminated-land/about-contamination/why-its-important-to-investigate-contamination
7. https://www.pfas.gov.au/