Rendering
If you are processing animal products into other materials, like meat & bone meal, tallow or processed dried blood, then you require an accreditation with Safe Food Production Queensland (Safe Food).
These activities are classified as Processing under the Meat Scheme of the Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2014.
What should I submit with my application?
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Application form
Please complete the Application form and select Processing (meat scheme) as your activity on page 2.
Note: If you want to complete this form on your mobile or desktop, please download or save it first.
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Payment of fees
Fees and payment details can be viewed within the application form.
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Rendered Product Program
A rendered product program documents the processes and procedures you will follow to minimise or eliminate risks and ensure the product you produce is safe. This is a detailed document that covers all aspects of your business, from inputs, process flow chart, product descriptions and temperatures, right through to cleaning, maintenance and pest control. It involves a risk assessment to identify where any possible issues may arise, how to recognise these issues, what the acceptable limits are around each step, and what to do to rectify an issue, should it occur.
A rendered product program can be developed in partnership with a food safety consultant or your industry association. However, you are not obliged to use these.
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Approval from local council
You must provide written confirmation from your local council that you are permitted to undertake your proposed activities at the site from which you intend to operate.
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Approval from DES
You must provide written confirmation from the Department of Environment and Science (DES) that your site complies with the requirements on odour control under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
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Site plan
Please submit a copy of your site plan outlining the position of raw material receival, tallow tanks, load out area, bulk or bag areas, etc.
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Floor plan & photos
Please submit a floor plan and photos of your processing facility that show:
- entry and exit points (indicated on floor plan)
- staff amenities, like staff room, toilets, etc. (on floor plan)
- staff movement flows (floor plan)
- hand washing facilities (floor plan & photos)
- drains (floor plan & photos)
- product label information applied to bags or bulk load out (photos only)**If you are producing multiple products, you must submit photos for each.
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Evidence of skills & knowledge
You must provide evidence that the person responsible for the management of your rendering plant has adequate skills and knowledge in the rendering process (e.g. training certificate in rendering, boiler ticket, relevant industry training or experience).
Submit your completed application to applications@safefood.qld.gov.au or PO Box 221, Greenslopes, Brisbane, QLD 4120.
When to apply
Under the Food Production (Safety) Act 2000, it is unlawful to engage in certain activities relating to primary production or processing of food until you have been granted an accreditation by Safe Food. As such, you should allow adequate time for your application to be reviewed by Safe Food before you begin operating.
Your application will aim to be assessed within 14 days, although applications submitted in their entirety (with all the items outlined above) are likely to be processed faster.
Upon submission of your application, a member of our Central Assessment Team will contact you for payment (if paying by credit card). Once payment has been received, your application will be assessed, and we will contact you if we require any further information.
You will be notified in writing about the outcome of your application (approved or refused).
Temporary Accreditations
As a meat processor, you will be undertaking activities deemed to be medium or high risk under the Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2014. As such, if your application is approved, you will be issued a temporary accreditation to start with.
A temporary accreditation is issued for a period of up to two months, prior to being considered for an open accreditation.
Under a temporary accreditation, you must have your rendered production system approved by Safe Food before you can begin supplying products that pose a higher risk. Your level of risk will be determined based on what is documented in your Rendered Product Program and compared against the Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2014.
If issued a temporary accreditation, you will be required to submit additional technical information to demonstrate that your nominated rendered product safety controls are effective in maintaining compliance with the requirements of the Meat Scheme. This required information is in addition to the application process and will incur additional costs. You will be notified in writing if you are issued a temporary accreditation and what you need to supply.
For more information about temporary accreditation requirements, please contact us.
Fees
Fees are based on the activities you are carrying out and are outlined in the Application form.
New applications will incur a one-time application fee that is non-refundable.
Our accreditation period runs from 1st January – 31st December*. You will therefore need to renew your accreditation on an annual basis.
For more information, please refer to our fees & charges.
*Our fees are not pro-rata.
Standards & guidelines
Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2014
Food Production (Safety) Act 2000
Standard 4.2.3 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Meat and Meat Products
Standard 4.2.2 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Poultry Meat
AS 5008:2007 Australian Standard for the Hygienic Rendering of Animal Products
Safe Food Notifications Protocol
Labelling Requirements for Animal Feed
Contaminant Standards and Animal Feed Labelling
Ruminant Feed Ban Requirements for Stockfeed Renderers, Manufacturers and Retailers