The Centre for Food Safety has launched a rapid alert system so traders can take swift and proper action in food incidents.

The centre has been conducting surveillance daily to identify local and overseas food incidents of concern, assessing their implications for public health, and responding where necessary to reduce possible risks to the public.

Through the rapid alert system emails or faxes will be sent to the trade to alert them to food incidents with potential local impact. The system can also send short message service alerts.

The system has been on trial since September. As of January 31 this year, 47 rapid alerts have been sent and more than 800 local traders are on the distribution list.

To enable the rapid alerts to reach more traders the centre will write to 20,000 licensed food businesses, and food importers and distributors enrolled under the Pre-statutory Voluntary Notification Scheme, inviting them to register. The enrollment form can also be downloaded here.