New regulator Safe Food Victoria starts operation

Victoria’s new streamlined food regulator Safe Food Victoria is designed to help cut the red tape for food businesses in the state.

Meredith Dairy is one of the 12,000 regulated food producers in Victoria set to benefit from the new regulator. Victorian Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle visited the business on 1 July 2026, together with Safe Food Victoria Chair Luke Wilson and CEO Mike Gooey, to mark the start of operations.

“Food safety and great food go hand-in-hand — we’re proud of Meredith Dairy’s products and look forward to working with the new regulator,” said Meredith Dairy co-owner Julie Cameron.

Safe Food Victoria consolidates multiple regulators including Dairy Safe Food Victoria, Primesafe and other regulators to simplify arrangements for businesses. There will be no redundancies and transferring staff will keep their current employment conditions.

Reporting to the Minister for Agriculture, the new regulator brings Victoria in line with other jurisdictions and is designed to create a simpler and more streamlined regulatory system. It will work closely with local government to deliver food safety regulatory services and provide a stronger and more flexible food safety system that mitigates risks.

Further work will modernise and streamline laws, and improve the tools and responsibilities to manage food safety. Food safety functions performed by Agriculture Victoria will transition from late 2027.

“Safe Food Victoria is a really good example of a collaborative and commonsense approach to managing and regulating food safety,” said Minister for Health Harriet Shing.

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