The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) is the Peak Council that represents retailers, processors and smallgoods manufacturers and is the only industry association representing the post-farm-gate Australian meat industry. As the Peak Council, the Australian Meat Industry Council confers with members, governments and industry groups to influence policy and provide technical and other advice to
the industry. The Australian Meat Industry Council represents its members on many committees - ranging from technical, food standards, food safety, communications and export - to ensure the best trading environment for members and the industry. Member input is actively encouraged with regular meetings held at state and national level. Major issues currently facing the Australian retail meat industry include:
- Regulation and certification reform
- HR and IR reform
- Food safety
- Workplace health and safety
- Environmental challenges
- Animal welfare
- Exotic disease preparedness
- Extended shopping hours
- Lifestyle and eating habit changes
- Convenient fast food The organisation was first registered on 10 December 1928, under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration ACT 1904-1928, as an association of employers known as the Master Butchers Meat and Allied Trades Federation of Australia (MATFA). Its members were defined as "Master Butchers and/or employers in the meat and allied trades and affiliated associations of such traders". In June 1942, processors and smallgoods operators were admitted to membership, and the words "Master Butchers" were deleted from the name. Whilst there were various state based associations of Master Butchers formed before 1928, MATFA was the first "national" organisation. It was founded by Frederick Paul OBE who remained National President from 1928 right up until his death in 1964. Some years ago the National and New South Wales office occupied the Paul Buildings in the Sydney CBD, which were named in his honour. The bronze wall plaque is still kept in the archives. In March 1996, the name was changed to the National Meat Association of Australia and this changed again in August 2003 to the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) following a merger with a similar organisation. Although there have been name changes, the broad purpose of the organisation and member composition has largely remained the same.
