What is implementation and enforcement
Implementation and enforcement are the actions we take to:
- put into effect the Food Standards Code
- communicate the requirements to the food industry
- ensure the food industry understands and complies with the requirements
- handle any breaches of the food standards.
Who implements and enforces food laws
Government agencies implement, monitor and enforce food regulation. They include the:
- Ministry for Primary Industries, public health units and territorial authorities in New Zealand
- state and territory agencies in Australia (sometimes local governments too)
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Australia – in relation to food imports.
These food enforcement agencies work together through the Implementation Subcommittee for Food Regulation (ISFR).
How food laws are implemented and enforced
The food enforcement agencies conduct activities to:
- encourage compliance with food laws
- monitor and assess compliance
- respond to compliance issues.
They:
- focus on different topics or priorities as issues arise
- respond to non-compliance in proportion to the risk.
Where appropriate, they work together through the ISFR to:
- discuss common approaches to implement food standards
- develop agreed strategies to implement, interpret and enforce standards in a consistent way.
Find out more about how the ISFR works.
Support documents
Compliance, monitoring and enforcement guidance
This collection contains guidance to assist food regulation agencies with consistent compliance, monitoring and enforcement actions. The Implementation Subcommittee for Food Regulation (ISFR) developed this guidance.
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