Retail

AUS-MEAT INDUSTRY INFORMATION  

AUS-MEAT Limited is an industry owned company operating as a joint venture between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC). AUS-MEAT runs efficient, disciplined business practices operating under internationally recognised Quality Management Systems: ISO 9001: 2000.

AUS-MEAT is contracted by MSA to undertake annual compliance audits of the MSA Trade mark use and the integrity of MSA traded product. Every MSA licensed Wholesaler, Retailer and Food Service outlet is subject to an audit against MSA Standards.

AUS-MEAT's subsidiary company - AUS-QUAL Pty Ltd provides Certification services for a range of Food Safety Programs. AUS-QUAL is a certification body accredited by JAS-ANZ to provide conformity assessment services for a range of national and international programs. AUS-QUAL can also provide Organic Certification to the Australian National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce.

AUS-MEAT offers detailed technical specifications written for Overseas Customers, NPE's, Wholesale / Food Service and the general HRI industry. Our templates include the various parts of the AUS-MEAT Language and the other criteria that can be specified to ensure accurate and consistent purchasing. Your company logo forms an integral part of the specification. All species can be covered under this fee for service work. Our work with the UNECE Specialised committee for standardisation of meat keeps our knowledge and expertise at an internationally recognised level.

The Food Standards Code contains legislated requirements for Food Labelling covering both food for retail sale and food for catering purposes. Foods for catering purposes means those foods for use in restaurants, canteens, schools, caterers or self-catering institutions, where food is offered for immediate consumption. FSANZ has developed user guides to help manufacturers, retailers and food officers interpret and apply the Labelling requirements of the Food Standards Code.

.http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/thecode/assistanceforindustry/userguides/index.cfm

For Link to MSA Program Information, Click HERE 

Food Safety (HACCP) Management Systems:

-          For Link to ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management Systems, Click HERE

-          For Link to PrimeSafe Victoria, Click HERE

-          AUS-QUAL Certification Services (brochure link)

For Link to Food Standards Australia New Zealand - FSANZ, Click HERE

DOMESTIC TRADE DESCRIPTIONS

What does the terms "Budget" and "Manufacturing" mean on the domestic market.

The term Budget is defined as product that is sourced from steers and cows with 8 permanent incisor teeth. Primal cuts derived from carcases that have graded as Budget Cow or Budget OX must have been chiller assessed to a predetermine colour range for meat and fat colour. Carcases that do not qualify (or have not been chiller assessed) to the specification criteria are described as Manufacturing.     (Tenderloin primal cut is exempt from the Budget grading criteria).

• What does the category Beef and the cipher *A * mean for the domestic market?

Product identified as category BEEF or the cipher * A * can be derived from female, entire male or castrate animals with a dentition range from zero to 7 permanent incisor teeth. (No SSC). * SSC - Secondary Sexual characteristics.

Product items prepared from this category for the domestic trade in CHILLED condition MUST be identified as "BEEF" and not with the cipher * A *.

It is permissible to have FROZEN products identified with the cipher * A * on the domestic market.

• Some product descriptions promoted on the domestic retail market are open to question.

When purchasing products promoted as "A - Grade Quality Meat "or "Export - Quality Meat", the following information should be taken into account.

The term "A - Grade Quality Meat" is usually associated with the AUS-MEAT category cipher *A * (frozen meat) which indicates that the product is usually sourced from older animals up to and including 8 tooth cows.

The term "Export- Quality Meat" can mean any meat item processed to an export standard at an export establishment can lay claim to this statement, no matter what the age of the animal. The statement does not represent any criteria representing the actual eating quality of the product.

View on the AUS-MEAT web site: Users Guide promotional version : http://www.ausmeat.com.au/UGAM/Index.htm