MEDIA RELEASE
“FSQ5 represents Freshcare’s commitment to a standards development process that is thoughtful, evidence-based and industry-led,” Freshcare CEO, Jane Siebum
In September 2026, Freshcare will launch the Food Safety & Quality Standard Edition 5 (FSQ5). The revised standard is the culmination of a significant review of Freshcare Standards and industry’s compliance needs in more than 25 years.
Designed in consultation with industry, the Technical Steering Committee and informed by extensive research, FSQ5 responds to the challenges facing Australian producers which include increasing consumer expectations, evolving market requirements, biosecurity risks and the need to reduce compliance duplication and complexity.
FSQ5 is an accessible, integrated and user-friendly standard and the outcome of years of listening, learning and working alongside industry to understand what businesses need from their assurance programs.
Freshcare’s Standards Review remained focused on providing an assurance program which remained relevant and effective, evolving with the needs of industry. To ensure this evolution was informed by evidence, data and research rather than assumptions. Freshcare combined extensive stakeholder consultation and Standards Review submissions, with industry data and insights gathered through the RegTech Project, which ran in partnership with Hort Innovation.
The projects findings identified growers and supply chain businesses value certification and the market confidence it provides, but have faced increasing compliance complexity, duplication and the administration of multiple programs.
Over the course of the review, Freshcare received more than 180 submissions from growers, certification bodies, industry associations, supply chain stakeholders and technical experts. These insights helped shape a new framework for Freshcare Standards and every aspect of FSQ5, from its structure and language through to the introduction of new requirements and the streamlining of existing ones.
The result is a standard designed to remove duplication, improve usability and support certification across both on-farm and supply chain activities through a single integrated program.
For more information and to keep up to date with announcements visit the Freshcare FSQ5 page: www.freshcare.com.au/FSQ5
ENDS
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