As a major retailer announces the requirement for brewers to have a recall plan in place, the Independent Brewers Association has created a Beer Recall Information Pack and Recall Plan to help brewers comply with Australian beer recall requirements.

The resource, available to all brewers regardless of whether they are a member of the association of not, provides information about pre-recall preparedness requirements and steps to take in the event of a product recall or withdrawal.

It includes a draft recall plan, which is a modified version of the FSANZ Food Recall Template.

In a media release the association acknowledged that industry growth presents challenges.

“As our sector expands – alongside the individual businesses within it – more and more of our members are branching out beyond their tap rooms into on-premise and packaged beer supply,” the release said.

“One of the challenges for brewers entering the commercial market is navigating the increase in regulatory requirements and responsibilities, including the requirement to have a written recall plan in place.

“We’ve created the IBA Beer Recall Plan and Beer Recall Information Pack to make it easier for you to understand and meet these requirements, and to help you prepare your business for the event of a recall.”

The IBA initiative comes at a time of increased focus on product quality following a spate of issues with beer in trade.

Diarmaid O’Mordha, Quality & SustainabilityManager at Endeavour Drinks, who has been a strong voice in the promotion of product quality said at Brews News’ recent How to manage a recall trade panel that the number of issues has increased.

“Twelve months ago we had no recorded incidences [of packaged beer exploding], but as of May last year we have had 12 instances, two of which resulted in a recall,” he said.

Endeavour Drinks Group, which owns the Dan Murphy’s and BWS retail chains, recently took the unprecedented step of writing to suppliers to reinforce the group’s commitment to quality. This included a requirement that suppliers must have a food safety program and a food recall plan in place.

It also reinforced that all products with a shelf life less that two years must carry a Best Before date this is clearly visible and indelible, describing an additional Packed On date as ‘Gold Standard’.

The group’s recommended maximum shelf life for unpasteurised beer and unpasteurised and preservative-free cider is nine months.

You can hear the Good Beer Week discussion, featuring Diarmaid O’Mordha, Stone & Wood‘s head of productionRichard Crowe,Julian Barclay from Ramsden Lawyers andJustin Williams – from CorpSure Insurance Brokers below.