Bryce Quick, from the food safety and inspection service at the US Department of Agriculture, highlighted current events in America that have raised concern over food safety, including an “unprecedented number of product recalls”.

Recent recalls in the US have involved spinach and onions, both contaminated with e coli, ground beef, pet food and, most recently, a US$143 million recall of beef over inhumane slaughter concerns.

Mr Quick lauded the communication systems established between government departments in Australia, especially between the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

Greg Reid, executive manager of the exports division at AQIS, predicted there would be an increased role for government certification of exports in coming years as importers become more concerned over food safety and quality.

“Our foreign customers demand safe, high quality food. Biosecurity plans can greatly assist in delivering quarantine protection and ensuring access to foreign markets for our producers," Mr Reid said.

Brian Jeffries, from the Australian Tuna Association, said there had been shifts in the Australian market that May impact on food safety concerns. These included the increased role of imports, especially from developing countries, such as China.