The NSW Government’s Name and Shame Website has been embraced by the public with more than 25,000 hits since the website was set up on July 1, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald reported yesterday. The Minister advised that almost 50 offences have already been published, with consumers showing strong support for the site. “From today there are 46 offences listed on the Food Authority website and in just over three weeks, the name and shame register has had more than 25,000... ...Read more »
A tour of apple orchards in France and England has led to the discovery of 15 ‘new’ cider apple varieties in Australia.NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) technical officer, David Pickering, said the study tour was supported by Horticulture Australia Ltd to confirm the identity of what appeared to be cider apple varieties in Australian collections. “I had to visit the countries where the apples originated to positively identify the varieties which were growing here and confirm... ...Read more »
A dozen NSW food outlets are the first to be named and shamed on the State Government’s website for food law violations, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today.The new Food Authority website provides details of the 18 breaches and fines, valued at almost $7000, imposed on the 12 food businesses by the Authority and local councils. “The Iemma Government has delivered on its promise to give consumers better access to information about the performance of food outlets,”... ...Read more »
Changes to the NSW Liquor Act, which reduce red-tape for those seeking liquor licenses, came into effect today, while the ‘name and shame’ legislation is now also able to be enforced. Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, said the Food Amendment Act 2007 will formally recognise the food regulation responsibilities of 152 NSW councils and lead to many restaurants being named on the Food Authority website for unsafe or dodgy practices. “Within a year 100s of premises... ...Read more »
Farmers planning to get the best returns on a winter crop this season are advised to get their hands on the latest copy of NSW Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) 2008 Gross Margin Budgets for Winter Crops for Northern New South Wales. Changes to input costs and market conditions will make it even harder to decide on the cropping mix this year and budgeting may provide the answers. Produced annually, the budgets are a guide to the costs and returns associated with major broadacre winter crop... ...Read more »