Companies have been invited to make submissions on a ‘Draft National Code of Practice for Chemicals of Security Concern’ published by the Attorney-General’s Department.

As part of the Australian government’s anti-terrorism measures, the Draft Code seeks to regulate the usage of eleven particular chemicals.

Proposed measures include inventory control measures, theft and diversion procedures, safety control and transportation policies.

The Draft Code addresses the following chemicals and notes their pertinence to the food industry in terms of equipment cleaning and food preservation:

–          Hydrogen peroxide

–          Nitric acid

–          Sodium nitrate

–          Potassium nitrate

–          Sodium chlorate

The Attorney-General’s Department estimates that nitric acid, for example, is used by roughly 6,300 food and beverage manufacturing organisations across Australia.

Food producer groups and food industry representatives are invited to make submissions to the Attorney-General’s Department, with submissions required prior to 1 March, 2013.

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