Food Safety and Recall Policy

Version: 2026-08-legal-l4

1. Status of this Policy

This Policy forms part of the Supplier Agreement and the Buyer Terms and is binding on suppliers and buyers. If there is an inconsistency between this Policy and the Supplier Agreement or the Buyer Terms, that agreement or those terms prevail. The Privacy Policy prevails over every other document on the handling of personal information.

2. Overview

Protein Link takes food safety seriously. While we do not manufacture, store, or inspect products, we facilitate communication between suppliers and buyers and support compliance with Australian food safety standards.

This Policy describes the steps we take and the obligations we impose on suppliers and buyers. It does not make us responsible for the safety or compliance of any product, and nothing in it is a warranty by us that a product is safe or compliant.

3. Supplier Obligations

• Products listed must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
• Suppliers must hold all required food handling and distribution licences for their State or Territory.
• Cold chain requirements must be accurately stated in listings (Frozen, Chilled, or Ambient storage types).
• Expiry dates, where applicable, must be accurately represented.
• Suppliers must have in place a system to ensure the recall of unsafe product, set out in a written document, as required by clause 12 of Standard 3.2.2 of the Food Standards Code, and must provide a copy to Protein Link on request.
• Suppliers must record the lot or batch identifier for every product listed, and must keep records allowing each unit of product supplied to be traced to that lot or batch and to the supplier’s own source.
• Suppliers must maintain and produce on request temperature records covering the period for which they bear risk in the product.
• Suppliers must hold product liability insurance and product recall or contamination insurance as required by the Supplier Agreement.

4. Recall Notification

If a product sold through Protein Link is subject to a recall (voluntary or mandatory), the supplier must:

1. Immediately notify Protein Link via the platform or by contacting support.
2. Identify all affected lots, batch numbers, and orders within 24 hours.
3. Cooperate with Protein Link to notify affected buyers.
4. Follow the recall procedures required by FSANZ and relevant State or Territory authorities.
5. Conduct the recall as sponsor of the product and bear its cost.
6. Notify the Commonwealth Minister of a voluntary recall within two days after taking that action, as required by section 128 of the Australian Consumer Law, and give Protein Link a copy of the notification at the same time.
7. Notify the Commonwealth Minister within two days after becoming aware of any death, serious injury or serious illness that was or may have been caused by a product supplied through the Platform, as required by section 131 of the Australian Consumer Law, and give Protein Link a copy of the notification at the same time.
8. Tell Protein Link within 24 hours of becoming aware of any incident that could require a notification under items 6 or 7.

5. Platform Response

Upon receiving a recall notification, Protein Link will use reasonable endeavours to:

• Immediately remove affected product from the Platform.
• Notify affected buyers with available recall details.
• Retain transaction records to support traceability.
• Cooperate with regulatory authorities as required.
• Suspend the supplier’s ability to list products pending resolution of the recall.

Removing a product listing or notifying a buyer is not an admission by Protein Link of any liability, and does not make Protein Link the sponsor of the recall or responsible for conducting it.

6. Buyer Responsibilities

Buyers who receive a recall notification must follow the instructions provided, quarantine affected product, and not distribute recalled products further. Buyers should report any food safety concerns to the supplier and to Protein Link.

Buyers must tell Protein Link within 24 hours of becoming aware of any death, serious injury or serious illness that may have been caused by a product acquired through the Platform, and must keep records allowing products they receive to be traced to their own customers.

7. Traceability

Protein Link retains order and transaction records to support product traceability. Batch numbers, supplier details, and buyer details are recorded for each transaction and suppliers must provide batch or lot identifiers as a condition of publishing a listing of product.

Protein Link retains transaction records for at least seven years, and retains records relating to a recall for at least seven years after the recall is completed.

8. Manufacturer and Importer Enquiries

If Protein Link receives a request to identify the manufacturer or importer of a product supplied through the Platform, it will refer the request to the supplier and provide the information within 20 business days. Suppliers must provide the information within five business days of being asked.

9. Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in this Policy excludes, restricts or modifies any guarantee, condition, warranty, right or remedy conferred on a person by the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), including the Australian Consumer Law, or by any other law, where to do so would be void or would contravene that law. Every other provision of this Policy is read subject to this clause.

10. Governing Law

This Policy is governed by the laws of New South Wales. Each party submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales and of any court that may hear appeals from them.

11. Review

Protein Link may amend this Policy on 30 days’ written notice to registered users.