The Australian Food Cold Chain Council (AFCCC) was established at a meeting in Queensland on 7 August, 2017, attended by a cross section of senior figures in manufacturing, food transport, refrigeration and cold chain services.

This is Australia's first advocacy group devoted to improving compliance and standards in the handling of food at all levels of the cold chain.

Against a mounting background of community pressure about the costs and environmental damage of food wastage, AFCCC sees itself as an important part of the solution, encouraging innovation, compliance, waste reduction and safety across the Australian food cold chain.

From the chairman, Mark Mitchell:

'The AFCCC is not about promoting an industry – we want to change the industry for the better.

'One of our priorities will be to apply whatever pressure is needed in industry and in government to make sure the existing Australian standards for cold chain food handling are properly followed.

'There's plenty of rhetoric in government programs, associations and among food handlers and suppliers about commitments to food waste reduction and cold chain compliance. Little, however, is being done at any level about improving the cold chain, and ensuring that standards are followed.

Australia's track record in efficient cold food handling, from farm to plate, is far from perfect.'

HOW AFCCC WORKS
The AFCCC wants to be seen as a high quality, industry-focused, extremely capable and responsible advisory and lobbying group at government, industry and consumer levels.

It will establish knowledge sharing and supporting relationships with:

• Commonwealth, state and territory governments and their ministers, heads of departments and senior executives, covering environment, food wastage and sustainability, food standards and innovation
• Organisations, NGOs, industry bodies that share the AFCCC ideals in relation to cold chain standards and tackling food wastage
• Universities, colleges and schools, where there is growing focus on food wastage and its economic and environmental effects
• Local councils and other community conduits to promote messages relating to food wastage and cold food management
• The community at large, who must accept some responsibility for food waste – AFCCC will encourage better food management and provide consumers with knowledge and resources
• Media, both trade and consumer

AFCCC exists to help improve cold food management standards, and is committed to innovation and actions that can limit food wastage at all levels of the cold chain.

AFCCC is the go-to source for government, industry, consumers and media seeking independent news and information about cold chain issues in Australia and internationally.