CANBERRA: Australia government plans to increase seafood exports. Across Australia and internationally, restaurants and seafood retailers are increasingly looking for the reassurance of a tick of approval from independent, industry-standard certification.
Australian economy was accounting for AUD 4.8 billion of the record AUD 17.1 billion revenue in 2013–14,” Bignell said. Goverment of Australia aims to help businesses gain industry-standard third-party certifications to allow them to tap into new overseas markets.
Applications are opened for the Building South Australia’s Premium Food and Wine Credentials Grant Programme, with individual grants of up to AUD 30,000 (USD 23,500) awarded on a competitive basis.
Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell said the grant programme would help producers achieve an industry-aligned independent tick of approval, now sought after in international markets.“Overseas food and wine exports are a massive contributor to the South “The Government will work side by side with the seafood industry to make sure they are given every opportunity to export their quality produce into markets right around the world.
“This grant programme will help seafood harvesters, producers, processors and manufacturers to leverage their premium products and position themselves in the international marketplace.
“The backing of an achieved certification provides customers with assurance about what they are buying, by being assessed by an independent third party that certifies what it is and the environment where it was produced.”
Bignell said certification already benefits the local seafood industry with two of the State’s fisheries – the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery and the South Australian Lakes and Coorong Fishery – both gaining the prestigious Marine Stewardship Council certification.
“This is an internationally recognised environmental accreditation which rewards sustainable fishing practices and these fisheries are now able to compete internationally with endorsement of the MSC approval,” he said.
The AUD 250,000 (USD 195,900) grant programme is a key component of Building South Australia’s Premium Food and Wine Credentials Programme – which delivers on a State Labour election commitment to grow South Australia’s food and beverage sectors.
