{"id":"F2012L00023","name":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 4.2.6 – Production and Processing Standard for Seed Sprouts","slug":"australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-standard-4-2-6-production-and-processing-standard-for-seed","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":126258,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2012L00023-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 4.2.6 – Production and Processing Standard for Seed Sprouts","content":"![Description: Description: FS_Logo_K](image.001.png)\n\nStandard 4.2.6 – Production and Processing Standard for Seed Sprouts\n\nThe Board of Food Standards Australia New Zealand gives notice of the making of this Standard under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The Standard commences on 12 July 2013.\n\nDated 5 January 2012\n\n![H:\\cathieh\\Cathiesignature.jpg](image.002.jpeg)\n\nStandards Management Officer\n\nDelegate of the Board of Food Standards Australia New Zealand\n\n  \nStandard 4.2.6\n\nPRODUCTION AND PROCESSING STANDARD FOR\n\nSEED SPROUTS\n\n(Australia only)\n\nTable of Provisions\n\nDivision 1 – Preliminary\n\n1 Interpretation\n\n2 Application to retail sale\n\n3 Application of food safety standards\n\nDivision 2 – Processing of seed sprouts\n\n4 Meaning of sprout processor\n\n5 General food safety management\n\n6 Receiving seed\n\n7 Inputs\n\n8 Decontamination\n\n9 Traceability\n\n10 Sale or supply\n\nClauses\n\nDivision 1 – Preliminary\n\n1 Interpretation\n\n(1) Unless the contrary intention appears, and subject to Standard 4.1.1, the definitions in Chapter 3 of this Code apply in this Standard.\n\n(2) In this Standard –\n\ndecontamination means a process using a controlled environment to reduce the level of pathogenic organisms that may be present in seed sprouts.\n\nseed means seed for use in the production of seed sprouts.\n\nseed sprouts means sprouted seeds or sprouted beans for human consumption that include all or part of the seed.\n\nsprout processor has the meaning given by clause 4.\n\n2 Application to retail sale\n\nThis Standard does not apply to retail sale activities of a sprout processor.\n\n3 Application of food safety standards\n\nStandards 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 apply to a sprout processor.  \n\nDivision 2 – Processing of seed sprouts\n\n4 Meaning of sprout processor\n\n> A sprout processor means a business, enterprise or activity that involves any or all of the following for producing seed sprouts –\n\n      (a) decontamination of seed or seed sprouts;\n      (b) soaking of seed;\n      (c) germination or growth of seed;\n      (d) harvest of seed sprouts; or\n      (e) washing, drying or packing of seed sprouts.\n\n5 General food safety management requirements\n\nA sprout processor must comply with the general food safety management requirements.\n\n6 Receiving seed\n\nA sprout processor must not produce or process seed sprouts if the processor ought reasonably know or suspect that the seed is of a nature or in a condition that would make the seed sprouts unacceptable.\n\n7 Inputs\n\nA sprout processor must take all reasonable measures to ensure inputs do not make the seed sprouts unacceptable.\n\n8 Decontamination\n\nA sprout processor must implement effective decontamination processes prior to sale or supply of seed sprouts.\n\n9 Traceability\n\nA sprout processor must have a system to identify –\n\n(a) from whom seed or seed sprouts were received;\n\n(b) to whom seed or seed sprouts were supplied.\n\n10 Sale or supply\n\nA sprout processor must not sell or supply seed sprouts for human consumption if the sprout processor ought reasonably know or reasonably suspect that the seed sprouts are unacceptable.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Standard maintains its original narrow scope focused specifically on seed sprout production and processing. It has not expanded beyond its initial purpose of regulating food safety in the sprout processing sector."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (only 10 operative clauses across 2 divisions)","Minimal defined terms (only 4 specific definitions: decontamination, seed, seed sprouts, sprout processor)","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic","Simple structure with clear sequential obligations","Cross-references limited to Chapter 3 definitions, Standard 4.1.1, and Standards 3.2.2/3.2.3","Uses plain language obligations ('must not', 'must take all reasonable measures') rather than technical legal formulae"],"plain_english_summary":"This Standard sets mandatory food-safety rules for businesses that grow and package seed sprouts in Australia, requiring processors to ensure seeds and inputs are safe, to decontaminate seeds effectively, maintain traceability, and not sell product suspected to be contaminated. It does not apply to retail sale of prepackaged sprouts.\n\nBecause sprout-growing conditions readily amplify pathogens, the Standard reduces the risk of outbreaks by making commercial sprout processors manage contamination risks and comply with general food-safety requirements."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Standard's text explicitly defines its scope: it applies to sprout processors (clause 4) and excludes retail sale activities (clause 2), and cross‑references existing food safety Standards (clause 3). The document itself contains no indication that this scope was altered from some earlier intent; assessment is limited to the instrument as published."},"complexity_factors":["Defined scope limited to 'sprout processor' with an explicit retail‑sale exclusion (clause 4, clause 2) — requires businesses to assess whether they fall inside or outside the Standard.","Reliance on other food safety Standards (Standards 3.2.2 and 3.2.3) (clause 3) — operators must read and comply with multiple instruments, increasing compliance complexity.","Use of subjective standards such as 'ought reasonably know or suspect' (clauses 6 and 10) — creates enforcement and compliance uncertainty about when to stop production or supply.","'All reasonable measures' requirement for inputs (clause 7) and requirement to 'implement effective decontamination processes' (clause 8) — both are outcome‑oriented but lack technical specifications, shifting burden to businesses to design, document and justify controls.","Traceability obligation is simple in form (identify source and recipient) but requires operational systems and recordkeeping (clause 9) — an administrative cost for smaller processors.","General food safety management obligation (clause 5) delegates considerable operational detail to Standards 3.2.2/3.2.3 and business plans, increasing preparatory work and potential verification demands.","Enforcement and interpretation discretion rests with regulators due to open wording of key duties (clauses 5–10) — risk of variable compliance expectations across jurisdictions."],"plain_english_summary":"This Standard sets mandatory safety rules for businesses that produce or process seed sprouts in Australia. It defines a “sprout processor” and requires processors to maintain general food‑safety management, control inputs, implement decontamination, keep basic traceability, and not sell sprouts they know or suspect are unsafe. It affects anyone who soaks, germinates, washes, packs or decontaminates seeds (but not retail sale) and matters because it assigns operational duties and compliance costs to reduce contamination risk."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-standard-4-2-6-production-and-processing-standard-for-seed","history":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-standard-4-2-6-production-and-processing-standard-for-seed/history","analysis":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-standard-4-2-6-production-and-processing-standard-for-seed/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-standard-4-2-6-production-and-processing-standard-for-seed/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-standard-4-2-6-production-and-processing-standard-for-seed/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-standard-4-2-6-production-and-processing-standard-for-seed/documents"}}