The following summarises the current options:

Approved Supplier Programs are those developed by individual retail, wholesale, food service or processor customers to address specific food safety and possibly quality hazards. Some of these programs are at a level below Freshcare such as the SPC Ardmona program; some like Spotless Catering, Pepsico, Tricon, McDonalds and airline caterers may exceed the requirements of SQF 2000CM. A Guide to developing an Approved Supplier Program is available by contacting Richard Bennett at Horticulture Australia.

Freshcare is an externally audited Code of Practice that is based on a HACCP approach rather than requiring a individual HACCP Plan for each business. It is a prescriptive approach designed for growers that supply packers and processors. It is also acceptable for packers that are indirect suppliers to Woolworths and direct/indirect suppliers to Coles. Over 4000 growers have participated in Freshcare training to date. This is an ideal step for businesses that may need to move into full HACCP in the future. Freshcare is being sought by many wholesalers and is owned, managed and endorsed by most of the major peak industry associations. It costs less to implement and maintain compared to the other externally audited systems. For further information contact Clare Hamilton-Bate on 02 9764 3244 or www.freshcare.com.au

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is an internationally recognised preventative approach to managing food safety hazards. It is an auditable code in its own right and forms the basis for a number of other codes because of its capability and credibility. It is acceptable for indirect and direct suppliers to Coles and indirect suppliers to Woolworths. Contact any of the certification bodies for further information.

SQF 2000cm and SQF 1000cm incorporate full HACCP with a small number of additional requirements from ISO 9000. SQF 2000CM is now gaining recognition by European retailers and there are businesses certified to SQF 2000CM in the USA, Japan, Thailand and a number of other countries. SQF 1000CM and SQF 2000CM are acceptable for direct and indirect suppliers to Coles and indirect suppliers to Woolworths. Both Codes have recently been amended to bring the documents into line with international requirements. Contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or Graham McAlpine at the Australian SQF Information Desk on 1800 77 33 77.

Woolworths Vendor Quality Management Standard (WVQMS) is mandatory for all Woolworths direct suppliers of fresh food and indirect suppliers that pack Woolworths-branded produce. It is available by invitation only and focuses on the quality and safety of individual products. WVQMS includes a HACCP Plan, significant support programs and the need for an (unspecified) Approved Supplier Program. Approximately 500 produce packers have been invited by Woolworths to participate in WVQMS. Contact the Woolworths buyer or merchandise manager in your state for further information.

ISO 9000 and ISO 9000 plus HACCP are most likely to apply to larger processors and larger packers. There are approximately 80 horticultural businesses, including wholesalers, certified to these standards. Contact Standards Australia International Ltd at www.standards.com.au or your state Standards Australia office.

Other programs being considered at the moment include the European retailers Good Agricultural Practice protocol (EUREPGAP, www.eurep.org ) and a range of environmental programs