KEY industry bodies will meet every month for a forum that will work towards a collaborative approach to food safety in Canberra.

The announcement of the new forum follows a meeting yesterday between senior officials from the Health Directorate and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and ClubsACT to discuss food safety in the region.

The forum will help to improve industry understanding of the regulatory arrangements in the ACT and ensure collaboration on food safety issues in the ACT.

“It is important to be clear food safety standards in the ACT remain unchanged and it is important to have a transparent system that protects the health of the public,” Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher said.

“I believe these forums will help to address these concerns and strengthen communications between the regulator and food industry.”

According to the Government, the majority of food businesses continue to meet food safety standards and on an annual basis less than two per cent of the total food businesses in the ACT are closed for poor food safety standards.

“Whilst there has been a lot of community interest in recent food business closures following the introduction of new transparency laws in March 2012, the few businesses that have demonstrated poor food safety practices represent only a small proportion of the ACT’s food businesses – the overwhelming majority do the right thing,” she said.