Notify Safe Food Victoria (Dairy)

Pathogen management

The Compendium of Microbiological Criteria for Food was developed by state regulators in conjunction with FSANZ. It is a nationally consistent reference on microbiological criteria for foods and supports the microbiological standards in the Food Standards Code (Standard 1.6.1).

The Dairy Chapter of the Compendium of Microbiological Criteria for Food includes guidance on sampling plans and acceptable limits for pathogens and indicator organisms for verifying food safety controls in dairy products. It also outlines corrective actions that may be appropriate where product does not meet the microbiological criteria. These include notifying the regulator (SFV), investigating and following up the root cause, and clearance programs where appropriate.

Licensees’ food safety programs are expected to include details of testing programs and associated actions.

Product recalls

If results from licensee or SFV testing indicate a potential health and safety risk to consumers, then a product recall may be required. The steps in the recall process and roles and responsibilities are set out in the FSANZ Food Industry Recall Protocol.

Notifications to SFV

SFV licensees are encouraged to notify SFV when circumstances arise during primary production or processing of dairy food that may compromise the acceptability of product for consumption or otherwise present a potential food safety risk or failure to meet regulatory requirements.

Examples include (but are not limited to):

Select the category that matches your situation to see the relevant form and how to submit it.

When to use the SFV AB Notification Form
Use the SFV AB Notification Form if there is:
- the presence of antibiotics in raw milk
SFV AB Notification Form
PDF 738.54 KB

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When to use the SFV Notification Advice Form - Farm Incident
Use the SFV Notification Advice Form - Farm Incident if milk is:
- not compliant with maximum levels of contaminants and natural toxicants (ML), maximum residue limits (MRL) or extraneous residue limits (ERL) specified in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code), or
- not, or may not be, conformant with the licensee's approved food safety program to meet importing country requirements
SFV Notification Advice Form - Farm Incident
PDF 661.75 KB

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Completed forms are to be emailed to notify@dairysafe.vic.gov.au
When to use this form
Use the SFV Notification Advice Form (Dairy) if a product is:
- not, or may not be, compliant with the standards in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code)
- not, or may not be, compliant with the requirements for food to be safe and suitable under the Food Act 1984 (the Food Act)
- produced in a way that is not, or may not be, conformant with the licensee's approved food safety program (including any importing country requirements)
- subject to in-process failures of critical controls or other manufacturing specifications
- affected by any other unforeseen circumstances with the potential to impact food safety or the ability to meet regulatory obligations
SFV Notification Advice Form (Dairy)
PDF 647.25 KB

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Why notify SFV

This process allows for SFV to assist your business to assess the situation and determine an appropriate course of action to ensure food safety outcomes, suitability for market and compliance with legislative requirements.
Many licensees’ food safety programs state that SFV will be notified of certain events. This form provides a means of submitting this information to SFV and ensures that all required information is provided.
Licensees are expected to assess the impact of the situation on the food safety or acceptability of the product or raw milk (in the case of an on-farm incident) and propose appropriate remediation and/or product disposition arrangements. Impacted product must be appropriately identified and controlled pending SFVs evaluation of the business’ proposal.

If you are unsure whether you need to notify SFV of an event, please contact your Food Safety Manager or SFV on (03) 9810 5900 or via email at info@dairysafe.vic.gov.au

Updated 5 August 2026