MINTRACker May 2020

April 2020

From the CEO's desk.

Whilst the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic have been significant to our lives at work and privately, it is reassuring to see how resilient the Meat Industry has proven itself to be during this crisis. The classification as an essential service industry has enabled the Meat sector to continue to operate as close to normal as possible with the exception of rigorous health and safety protocols that processors have put in place to prevent COVID19 outbreaks. The recent outbreak at the Victorian based Cedar Meats site demonstrates that the industry as a whole needs to remain vigilant to protect its operating plants, its workers and meat products. Unlike the United States where we have seen the Meat Industry crippled by COVID19 outbreaks and plant shut downs, the Australian Meat Industry has managed to avoid this thanks to our more widely distributed share of total market production. The US on the other hand, relies on a duopoly of two major meat production suppliers who own close to 50% of total meat production. With a more concentrated share of market ownership, the resulting pressures on the Meat Industry are being seen.
Continue reading here.

MINTRAC needs your help.

Meat Inspection and Quality Assurance
Conference 2020

Before we get started planning this event WE WANT YOUR HELP. We are interested in your thoughts and feedback about turning the Meat Inspection and Quality Assurance Conference into an online event
Is this an event you would be interested in attending, or perhaps even sponsoring? Please take a few moments to answer this short survey – it should take no more than 2-3 minutes to complete.

Meat Inspection and Quality Assurance Conference Survey

Training Package developments update - May 2020

The following four AMP Training Package development projects are nearing completion and these developments have been through a number of stages since July 2019.

Review of the Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications
New units and skill sets for halal meat processing
New unit and skill set for wild game harvesting auditing
Addressing gaps in poultry processing training

Read the full details here including what happens next.

HACCP refresher online course

Expressions Of Interest

In conjunction with Response Learning (RTO 30879) MINTRAC are seeking Expression of Interest for an online HACCP Refresher course.

Minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 participants per course.
The training will be provided over 2 sessions of realtime coaching online with a gap between for workplace practice.
The second coaching session will be a chance for participants to ask all those questions that pop up once you are offline.

On successful completion participants will be issued with a Statement of Attainment.

Project update
PMID alternative techniques to Schedules 2 and 3
of AS4696:2007.
See the full details here

Have you attended an EAD & Response Plan training session at your domestic premises?

We would love to hear your opinion.
This is your chance to have your say and let us know if there could be improvements or establish any future training needs. The responses will be anonymous and only used for reporting and to establish any future training needs.

EAD Awareness and Preparedness Survey

Handwashing and personal hygiene in the meat industry webinar

Given the current pandemic situation hygiene and sanitation practices are more important than they have ever been and it is critical that all meat industry employees understand how to apply a high standard of personal hygiene.

This one-hour webinar is not accredited, but is based in part on the MINTRAC Training and Assessment Materials for the unit of competency ‘Apply hygiene and sanitation practices’. It will help attendees to understand the basics of personal hygiene and handwashing in the meat industry and why it is so important to ensure workplace policies and procedures for personal hygiene are followed at all times.

The webinar topics will include:

Preventing physical and bacterial contamination
General information in most personal hygiene SOPS
General rules for personal hygiene
Handwashing

This webinar is perfect for people new to the meat industry, or as a refresher for people already working in the industry.
All attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Date: Thursday 28 May, 3pm-4pm NSW time
Cost: $40.00 per person plus GST.
or
$30.00 plus GST per person for 3 or more from the same company.

What else can we do for you?

We would like to hear from you about topics for future webinars – what would you like to see offered?

Topics may include:

Essential skills for supervisors
Effective inductions
Communication in the meat industry
Following safe work policies and procedures
Introduction to the meat industry
Developing an enterprise training system in the Australian meat industry
Effective work instructions and SOPs
Conducting training in the:
- Abattoir sector
- Food Services sector
- Meat Retailing sector
- Meat Safety sector
- Smallgoods sector
- Poultry Processing sector
- Feedlots sector

Contact mintrac@mintrac.com.au to express an interest in the webinar topics above.

Beef Central has put together a great list of webinars.

Check them out here

Upcoming bioMérieux STEC Webinar in June 2020

Title: STEC Detection in Beef
Day: Friday 26th June 2020
Time: 3pm AEST

Topic: Reliable and Rapid STEC detection in export meat products is becoming more and more important as we try to work more efficiently in a global market. Dr. Robert Barlow from CSIRO in Brisbane, will speak about current methods available in the market today which reduces Potential Positives (PP’s) in routine STEC testing. For more information and to register for the event please contact: Gary Boniface gary.boniface@biomerieux.com or 0477 300 045.

We look forward to hearing from you to register your interest for the webinar and to share the latest news in the market for reliable and rapid routine pathogen screening for export meat products