Aim
Reform the joint food regulation system to keep it strong, robust and agile.
Leads
On behalf of the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) the leads for this activity are:
- New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- NSW Department of Primary Industries.
FRSC members are the leads for project work.
Authorisation
At their April 2017 meeting, the ministers agreed on the 2017 to 2021 priorities for the food regulation system.
At their November 2019 meeting, the ministers endorsed an ambitious plan to reform the joint food regulation system.
They recognised that governments, industry, consumers and public health advocates in both countries play a critical role. The reform process will involve all relevant stakeholders.
Status
The reform plan originally consisted of 3 interconnected activities. It has evolved to deliver recommendations for consideration, including an updated Strategic Statement and a strategic plan.
We will present the recommendations and reform proposals to the FRSC and the food ministers for:
- decisions about the future of the system
- further scoping and consultation.
The reform proposals were informed by:
- a large body of work and effort from several jurisdictions
- engagement from stakeholders and consultants
- past reviews and evidence in regulatory practice and delivery.
They provide a regulatory, legislative and operational basis for a cohesive and modern system.
Separately, but in close collaboration, the Australian Government is reviewing the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Act 1991.
|
Activity type |
Activity name and aim |
|---|---|
|
Reform activity |
Review the Food Regulation Agreement (FRA) Stage 1 – describe a vision for the food regulatory system to provide strategic direction for reform and feed into Stage 2. Stage 2 – Review the FRA to create a new foundational document to underpin the food regulation system. |
|
Reform activity |
Increase consistency across jurisdictions Identify key areas of inconsistency in food regulatory approaches based on the impacts on industry and government. |
|
Reform activity |
Review how the food regulation system operates Develop and implement new operational processes to support the system’s governance. |
|
Supporting activity |
Review the effectiveness of the FSANZ Act and the operations and responsibilities of FSANZ. |
The reforms will:
- be mindful of the food standards treaty between Australia and New Zealand
- engage bilaterally about potential changes to the FSANZ Act and FRA.
Supporting documents
These documents support the FRSC’s work on the future of the food regulation system. They do not represent the views of FRSC members.
- Theory paper on contemporary regulatory models
- Ensuring consistency across Australia and New Zealand’s bi-national food regulatory system
- Key areas of inconsistency in food regulation
Related information
View all the activities to maintain a strong and agile food regulation system.