The closing date for submissions was Thursday, 2 September 2010

The bill imposes a primary duty on all persons who trade in food to ensure that the food is safe and suitable.

It introduces substantial reforms to the regulatory regime for the safety and suitability of food. Once fully implemented, it will replace the Food Act 1981 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. The bill will also make consequential amendments to the Animal Products Act 1999 and the Wine Act 2003 to improve the interface of regulatory processes across food sectors.

The bill is available for download from the `Related documents´ panel. Print copies can be ordered online from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

The committee requires 2 copies of each submission if made in writing. Those wishing to include any information of a private or personal nature in a submission should first discuss this with the clerk of the committee, as submissions are usually released to the public by the committee. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a daytime telephone contact number. To assist with administration please supply your postcode and an email address if you have one.

Further guidance on making a submission can be found from the Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee link in the `Related documents´ panel.