E.STK.2010 - Meat Industry Supply Chain Integrity Incident - Simulation Exercise

Summary

A simulation exercise of a potential industry crisis that involved commercial, industry-owned and government-controlled integrity systems was undertaken. The detailed aspects of the simulation were sourced from a range of actual historical failures and ‘near misses’ in integrity systems both in Australia and
overseas and as such represents a very real potential crisis for the industry in Australia.

Objectives

1. Develop the simulation ‘event’ in conjunction with the project steering committee
2. Review the simulation event to identify possible critical risks, failings and/ or breaches in systems,
controls, standards and regulation across the main groups involved
3. Review of adequacy of commercial system and controls involved in the simulated incident
4. Review of Industry integrity systems involvement in and response to the simulated event
5. Review of Industry and Commercial response to Regulators in the simulated event
6. Review of the Industry crisis management response during the simulated event

Key findings

Detailed recommendations were developed across the following areas:

• Commercial System and Controls
• Industry QA & Integrity systems
• Government
• Industry crisis management response

Benefits to industry

Recommendations put forward to improve preparedness in the case of an actual supply chain integrity incident.

MLA action

Recommendations included suggestions on future research projects for MLA to undertake as well as support MLA can provide in crisis coordination.

Future research

A series of recommendations were put forward, involving suggested actions by a number of industry integrity bodies.